Dutch Shepherd Dog
History
The Dutch Shepherd or Hollandse Herdershond is one of the Nine Dutch breeds of dog and belongs to the authentic farm animal breeds of The Netherlands. Their origin lies in the rural areas where in past centuries, farmers and shepherds needed a versatile dog that was easy to maintain and able to adapted to the harsh and sparse existence of that time. In addition to herding sheep, this dog was also used on farms to guard the chickens, the geese, the laundry and all things of value as well as the small children.
They helped with rounding up the cows as well as pulling a dog cart to transport milk and other goods. These varied tasks explains the origin of the character traits of the Dutch shepherd dog, which have remained very much unchanged to this day.
The versatility of the Dutch Shepherd Dog makes it not only capable of performing its original task as a shepherd dog but also suitable for training in dog sport such as IPO, tracking, obedience, agility and flyball. In addition the breed has found success in a variety of working roles such as a police dog, search and rescue dog and assistance dog.
Characteristics
The Dutch Shepherd has three distinctive breed types:
- Longhaired (long, straight, flat and harsh coat)
- Shorthaired (quite hard, not too short coat)
- Wire-haired (medium length-dense harsh and tousled-more curly-coated than wire-coated) known as Ruwhaar in The Netherlands.
The coat colour is different variations of brindle with black, brown gold and silver as the base colours. The brindle or striped effect is more noticeable in the short coat variety and less so in the rough coat where it tends to blend together. Large areas of white are undesirable in the show ring.
It is a medium-sized, medium-weight, well-muscled dog that is powerful and proportionally built. It is a dog with a lot of endurance, a lively temperament and an intelligent expression. The height at the withers of the males is between 57 and 62 cm and that of the bitches between 55 and 60 cm with a weight of approximately 28 kg for the males and approximately 23 kg for the bitches.
The Dutch Shepherd Dog is very loyal and reliable, always attentive, vigilant and active. It is independent, social, and intelligent, has perseverance and a willingness to obey. They are very affectionate to their owners. The short coat variety has a very high activity level while the long coat and rough coat although still active dogs are considered to be calmer. Thanks to these characteristics, it is not only a sought after working dog but also a very suitable family pet.
Taking care of the Dutch Shepherd is easy. Regular exercise keeps him in condition. He makes no special demands on his feed. Both long and shorthaired varieties can be groomed with a comb and brush to remove the dead and loose hairs. The wire-haired coat should be plucked or stripped 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.
Health
The breed clubs (Dutch Shepherd Dogs Club and Association for the Dutch Shepherd) are concerned with the health of the Dutch shepherd dog, As a part of the club breeding regulations the Association for the Dutch Shepherd makes x rays for hip and elbow dysplasia compulsory. Breeding stock are also required to be eye tested with the test for Goniodysplasia compulsory. Breeding stock are also required to be DNA surveyed with a Canine DNA certificate ISAG2006 certificate.
Recommended Health Tests
More Information
Historical Average Puppy Prices
| Year | 2019 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (£) | 950 | 950 |
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