Alertness and resistance combined in a cocktail typical of herding dog breeds are the main Characteristics of the Dutch Shepherd Loyal, confident and very affectionate, so are these adorable dogs, which we will talk about in the next article on our site. This dog of Dutch origin is one of the most widely used herding dogs in his country, along with the Schapendoes and the Aaarlooswolfhond. Do you know that Dutch Shepherds are also considered to be one of the best police dog breeds? Keep reading to discover more curiosities and learn about it all about the Dutch Shepherd
Origin of the Dutch Shepherd
As their name indicates, Dutch shepherds originate in Holland It was there that shepherds used them as guide dogs of the flocks of sheep, its main function not only directing these sheep, but also ensuring that they do not exceed certain limits, preserving irrigation and plantations, as well as keeping them united.
However, they were not only in charge of the sheep herds, since they also fulfilled very diverse functions on the estates or farms. These functions ranged from keeping an eye on the hens, preventing them from entering the farmers or kitchens, to herding the cows during milking tasks. As if all this were not enough, the Dutch Shepherds were and are wonderful watchdogs, alerting farmers and shepherds to the slightest danger.
It is because of all these abilities that even when the flocks of sheep began to dwindle, the Dutch Shepherds were not as affected as other herding breeds, as their versatility meant that their abilities were redirected to other tasks, like police dog Likewise, the breed became very popular, reaching urban homes in a short time. It is a fairly old breed, whose official standard was established on June 12, 1898.
Dutch Shepherd Characteristics
Dutch Shepherds are medium-sized dogs, weighing approximately 30 kilograms, with the height at the withers in females being between 55 and 60 centimeters and between 57 and 62 in males, with little difference due to sex. Their life expectancy is usually between 12 and 15 years.
Going now into the physical characteristics of the Dutch Shepherd, we can say that his body is of medium complexion, fibrous, with good muscles and strengthIt is a long dog, with a tail slightly curved upwards and always straight. The head of a Dutchman must be of a size proportional to that of the body, keeping harmonic proportions. It has a flat skull, with a slight stop and a elongated snout ending in a black nose. The eyes are medium and almond-shaped, with a dark color. Their ears are medium-sized and erect, being especially upright when on alert.
As for the coat, we can distinguish three varieties of Dutch Shepherd:
- On the one hand, we find the short-haired Dutch Shepherds, with coarse hair close to the body.
- On the other hand there is the shepherd with long hair, whose coat is smoother and longer on the legs.
- Finally, Wire-haired Dutch Shepherds have dense and particularly coarse hair, lying close to the body.
In all cases the hair is rough to the touch and has a woolly undercoat. Likewise, the accepted color pattern of the Dutch Shepherd is brindle, with gold or the base silver. The totally black Dutch Shepherd is not accepted, unless it is brindle. It is accepted that the Dutch Sheepdog has a black mask.
Dutch Shepherd Character
Because these dogs arise from the continuous selection for decades of the strongest, most energetic and resistant Dutch Shepherds, this breed is characterized by being extremely activeThis means that they are tireless, so they may not be the best companion if we cannot allow them to do a lot of daily exercise, as they are considered hyperactive dogs. On the contrary, if we know how to handle that overflowing energy we will have at our side a dog very faithful, affectionate and docile, who learns very quickly and is always attentive to the needs of their fellow humans.
Continuing with the character of the Dutch Shepherd, it should be noted that it is a very familiar dog, who loves to be with his family, including children and the elderly, with whom they are very patient and affectionate In the same way, their interaction with other animals is outstanding, since the breed has always been exposed to dealing with them, so living with other pets will not result hard.
Dutch Shepherd Care
The Dutch Shepherd dog breed is very grateful in terms of their care, since the most demanding factor that can result in them is the one referring to the performance of daily physical activity, including high-intensity exercises that allow them to release all their energy.
It is recommended to prepare games or activities that are physically and mentally stimulating, thus preventing them from getting bored and this may have negative consequences for their he alth and coexistence. To do this, the practice of dog sports such as agility is highly recommended, as well as intelligence games for dogs
Regarding hygiene care for the Dutch Shepherd, it is recommended to brush his coat regularly, especially the coated variety long, bathe it approximately once a month and check it after walks to make sure it is free of parasites such as fleas or ticks.
Dutch Shepherd Education
Dutch Shepherds are dogs docile and intelligent, it is usually easy to teach them anything, as they are also very attentive. They learn tricks and commands in just a few trials and many train them to compete in agility circuits, since this ease of learning combined with the energy they have makes them incredibly good at this type of event.
One of the aspects that may need more attention regarding their training is that these dogs are wonderful guardians of their home, so they can sometimes be excessively suspicious and hostile with visitors. they are unknown to them. To avoid this, it is important that they are socialized properly, as well as getting them used to contact with new people and preventing them from barking at any stranger who crosses their path.
On the other hand, it should be noted that training and education is another way of keeping these dogs properly stimulated, since these types of techniques include the physical and mental involvement of the animal. Of course, to obtain the best results it is essential to carry out a positive training, with the Dutch Shepherd and with all the dogs, since the use of punishment or screaming only promotes fear, stress and anxiety of the animal. In this way, whether we adopt a Dutch Shepherd puppy or an adult dog, from the first moment we will try to gain their trust and reward good behavior.
Dutch Shepherd He alth
Dutch Shepherds have been selected for their strength and resistance, unlike other breeds, such as German Shepherds, in whose selection beauty has prevailed. This fact gives them a great advantage, such as having a firm he alth, not being so predisposed to developing diseases that do affect breeds bred to meet purely aesthetic standards.
Although they play with that advantage, this does not mean that they cannot present pathologies of their size, for example, because they can suffer from hip dysplasia, just like any other large or giant breed. That is why, especially when they are puppies, we must go regularly to the vet to assess the risk of developing it and be aware of the joint he alth of our pet.
In the same way, it is recommended that, in order to preserve its joints in good condition, our animal should be prevented from making sudden movements or that put stress on your joints, especially during the first year of life. A good idea is to give our Dutch Shepherd supplements such as chondroprotectors, which help maintain joints, preventing wear and tear on them.
Apart from this, it is important that we offer our Dutch Shepherd puppy an adequate schedule of vaccinations and deworming, as well as that we implant the identification chip. Once they reach adulthood, we will have to monitor and keep their eyes, mouth and ears clean.
