Personality
Belgian Sheepdogs are bred to be highly intelligent, alert and sensitive to everything going on around them. These types of traits means they require significant socializing as puppies, lifelong activity outlets, and will seek to be with "their human" all the time. They can find it very difficult to be left alone, and during their juvenile years can go through irrational fears (similar to the child who believes there is a monster in the closet).
Trainability
Belgian Sheepdogs can have a tendency to overreact badly to "negative" (punishment or deterrence based) training, so as a rule their training should be based on rewards. Overly permissive training can also cause problems however, so it is important for the owner to have previous knowledge training dogs or to enroll in dog training classes. Professional training is highly recommended by trainers/academies specific to this type of dog, as well as continued training or development beyond the basics; obedience, agility, herding and other sports. As a rule, this dog requires both mental and physical stimulation. Most Belgian owners know that rote or pattern-based training is not the ideal for Belgians. Nor is drilling a particular activity going to prove successful. If a Belgian does something right 3 times in a row, he does not see the sense in doing it the fourth time.
Activity Level
All the Belgian Shepherd breeds need a lot of activity and close interaction with people. Like most herding breeds, they need a job to do (be it herding, learning tricks, dog agility). Throwing a toy endlessly for the dog to fetch works for some breeds, but the Belgian breeds are intelligent and sociable dogs who can easily become bored with such simple and undemanding repetition. Many Belgians make superb assistance dogs who thrive on knowing that their jobs are indeed necessary for their chosen person.