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Breed Characteristics
1 paw - breed exhibits the least amount of this characteristic
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Dutch Shepherd
| Other Names | Hollandse Herder |
| Nicknames | Dutchie |
| Country of Origin | Netherlands |
| Weight | 50 - 70 lbs. (23 - 32 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 22.5 - 24.5 in. (57 - 62 cm) Females: 21.5 - 23.5 in. (55 - 60 cm) |
| Coat | Short-hair: Short hair : All over the body, quite hard, close-fitting, not too short coat with woolly undercoat. Ruff, breeches and tail plume are clearly visible. Long-hair: All over the body, long, straight, well fitting, harsh to the touch, without curls or waves and with a woolly undercoat. Distinct ruff and breeches. Tail abundantly coated. Head, ears and feet and also the hind legs below the hocks are short and densely coated. The backsides of the forelegs show a strongly developed coat, shortening in length towards the feet, the so-called feathering. No fringes at the ears. Rough-hair: Dense, harsh tousled coat and a woolly, dense undercoat all over the body except for the head. Upper- and lower lip should be well-covered with hair, the whiskers and beard, and two well defined, coarse rough eyebrows that are distinct but not exaggerated. Furnishings are not soft. The hair on the skull and on the cheeks is less strongly developed. In profile it seems as if the head has a more square appearance. Strongly developed breeches are desirable. Tail is covered all round with hair. The brindle colour may be less pronounced because of the tousled coat |
| Colour | Colour Brindle. The basic colour is golden or silver. Golden can vary from light sand- coloured to chestnut red. The brindle is clearly present all over the body, in the ruff, breeches and tail. Too much black is undesirable. A black mask is preferable. Heavy white markings on chest or feet is not desirable. |
| Litter Size | 2 - 8 average of 5 |
| Life Span | 12 - 15 years |
| Origin & History | Origins of the Northern European Shepherds The Dutch Shepherd was discovered as a naturally occurring shepherd's dog type living in the rural areas of the larger region that today includes The Netherlands. When the first breed standard was written in 1898, the coat could be any colour. But, in 1914, it was decided to allow only brindle to distinguish the breed from the then similar German Shepherd and Belgian Shepherd. The breeds eventually diverged into the three distinct breeds as known today. However, the Dutch Shepherd remains nearly the same dog it was more than 100 years ago. Today, the Dutch Shepherd is distinguished from the Belgian and German Shepherds by the details specified in the breed standard, primarily of the head. Function; Originally the main function of the Dutch Shepherd Dog was that of a shepherd’s dog in the countryside. From early times, the Dutch had an arable culture that was maintained by flocks of sheep. The dogs had to keep the flock away from the crops, which they did by patrolling the borders of the road and the fields. They also accompanied the flocks on their way to the common meadows, markets and ports. At the farm, they kept the hens away from the kitchen garden, they herded the cows together for milking and pulled the milk carts. They also alerted the farmers when strangers entered the farmyard. Around 1900, sheep flocks had for the greater part disappeared in the Netherlands. The versatile skills of the Dutch Shepherd Dog made him suitable for dog training, which was then starting to become popular. They were then trained and used as police dogs, as search and tracking dogs, and as guide dogs for the blind. They are, however, still capable of herding sheep. Near Extinction; The population of the Dutch Shepherd was greatly reduced due to modern farming techniques nearly eliminating the need for the breed as a sheep tender, and in the 1940s and 1950s the breed was almost exterminated. The Second World War put a stop to breeding of most dog breeds in The Netherlands. Dogs died from lack of food, or were taken to Germany by the German military. Many bloodlines became extinct. After the war, breeding began anew and new blood was needed to diversify the gene pool. Sometimes dogs of unknown origin were used. The Malinois was used for a time, but the practice was stopped because the buyers of those puppies did not have the same goals as the Dutch Breed Club. In 1959, with permission from the breed club, a Belgian Laekenois was used to expand the rough-hair population. With time, the popularity of the breed grew and expanded into other countries. Today the Dutch Shepherd is still a rare breed. The Dutch Breed Club encourages all owners of dogs meeting the minimum conformation standards to breed them, and guidelines are laid out so as to increase their number and diversify the gene pool while preserving the health of the breed. |
| Personality | The Dutch Shepherds are among the most competent of all shepherd dogs at such tasks as agility, catch, obedience competitions, guard work, herding, field trailing and companionship. Attached to its territory, and an enthusiastic worker, this affectionate, happy-to-be-around dog is obedient, sober and very loyal to its handler and family. Friendly, loving, playful and highly energetic, this very happy dog is cunningly smart. Provided children are seen as pack leaders, they can also be good friends with them. Unwanted visitors will be stopped in their tracks, while known family friends will be greeted enthusiastically. Dutch Shepherds enjoy the company of their own kind and get along fine with other animals. Intelligent, easy to obedience train and eager to learn—they learn new commands quite easily. This breed makes an excellent watch and guard dog. Active, lively and alert. The shorthaired variety is the most common sort for defense/police dog trials. It needs little care and can withstand fatigue and bad weather. The objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in its pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined and rules are set. Because a dog communicates his displeasure with growling and eventually biting, all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. The humans must be the ones making the decisions, not the dogs. That is the only way your relationship with your dog can be a complete success. |
Care Requirements
| Health | The Dutch Breed Club initiated a hotline in 2008 for reporting health and behavioral problems. Most genetic health problems occur at a low rate in this breed. Confirmed genetic diseases diagnosed in Dutch Shepherd Dogs include allergies (atopy), masticatory myositis, pannus, cryptorchidism, and inflammatory bowel disease. Hip dysplasia is present at a current rate of 9 percent and elbow dysplasia is present at a rate of 2.5 percent. Within the rough-hair population care should be taken to screen for goniodysplasia before breeding. This is a condition where the outflow of fluid from the eye is restricted and under certain circumstances can cause blindness. The link between genetics and goniodysplasia is uncertain. Two dogs who have a risk of goniodysplasia can still have puppies who are not at risk. The Dutch Breed Club regulations requires the testing for GD for rough-hairs. As with any breed, thoroughly research your prospective breeder before making your final decision. |
| Grooming | Both long and shorthaired varieties require regular grooming with a comb and brush to remove the dead and loose hairs. The wire-haired coat should be plucked professionally twice a year. The hair can be clipped in a few places as a finishing touch. The excess hair on the ears should be removed. The wire-haired variety should never be brushed, although combing is fine in moderation. A coarse comb should always be used. Bathe the all-weather coat only when necessary, as it will remove the natural oils in the skin. |
| Exercise | Dutch Shepherds need to be kept both physically and mentally exercised. They need to be walked or jogged daily, where the dog is made to heel beside or behind the human holding the lead, as instinct tells a dog the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. Because they want to work, run them through a regular drill at least twice per week. They make great jogging companions. Let your dog run beside a bicycle, or take it into the woods or open countryside where it can run to its heart’s content. |
| Other Considerations | The Dutch Shepherd will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. Its all-weather coat enables it to do well in cold climates. |
