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Dutch Shepherd Dog Breed Introduction
Dutch Shepherd is a medium-sized herding dog breed from Netherlands developed as an all-purpose farm dog. It is a highly intelligent and trainable dog that is currently used for police work, guide for the blind, and search & rescue work. Dutch Shepherds may either have a smooth, long-haired, or rough-haired coat. This is a rare Shepherd Dog as compared to German Shepherds and Belgian Shepherds. However, it is relatively healthy as compared to other Shepherds.
Dutch Shepherd Origin| History
This is a naturally occurring Shepherd dog-type from The Netherlands. Dutch Shepherds were used by farmers and Shepherds who needed a versatile dog with few demands, and a dog that was able to adapt to a meager and harsh existence. This is an all purpose farm dog that had a role of herding the cows together for milking, keeping the hens away from the kitchen garden, watching the children, alerting the farmers if intruders entered the farmyard, and pulling the cart laden with milk or other farm produce to the market.
The first breed standard was written in June 1898. According to the standard, all coat colors were permitted. However, it was decided that Dutch Shepherds should only be Brindle in 1914 so as to distinguish them from other similar breeds of the time, Belgian Shepherd and German Shepherd. Around the 20th century, sheep flocks had disappeared in the Netherlands.
Fortunately, the versatile skills of the Dutch Shepherds made them suitable for dog training which was gaining popularity. Later, they were trained and used as guide dogs for the blind, search and tracking dogs, and police dogs. A Dutch Shepherd has still retained its ability to herd and it is still used for this purpose.
Dutch Shepherd Lifespan | Life Expectancy
According to AKC, Dutch Shepherds have a lifespan of 14 years. Although, some may live up to the age of 15 years.
Dutch Shepherd Grooming
As earlier mentioned, Dutch Shepherds may either have a short, long, or rough coat. Short-haired Dutch Shepherds need a weekly brushing and daily brushing during the heavy shedding season in Spring and Fall. A Dutch Shepherd with a long-haired coat needs to be brushed three times a week to prevent matting and tangling and daily during the heavy shedding season. Rough-haired Dutch Shepherds a weekly brushing and a monthly combing. The coat should also be hand stripped twice a year to remove the dead hair and promote new hair growth.
Regardless of the coat, Dutch Shepherds shed at moderate levels all-year round and heavily when experiencing seasonal change. Dutch Shepherds need an occasional bath every 6 to 8 weeks using a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner. After bath, thoroughly rinse off the grooming products from the coat to prevent skin irritation. Wipe the face using unscented canine wipes or a damp washcloth instead of soapy water that irritates the eyes.
Trim the nails every 3 to 5 weeks using nail clippers or a grinder to avoid cracking, splitting, and overgrowth. Brush the teeth of a Dutch Shepherd at least twice a week if not daily using a dog-formulated toothpaste and finger toothbrush to remove excess tartar. Clean the ears once a week using cotton balls and ear cleanser solution to remove excess wax, dirt, or debris. While cleaning the ears, check out for signs of dog’s ear infection such as odor, redness, and a dark discharge.
Dutch Shepherd Shedding
A Dutch Shepherd sheds moderately throughout the year and heavily when blowing off the coat in Spring and Fall due to seasonal change.
Dutch Shepherd Coat
A Dutch Shepherd has a double-layered coat that may either be short, long, or rough.
Dutch Shepherd Hypoallergenic
Dutch Shepherds are not hypoallergenic. They shed at moderate levels all-year round and heavily in Spring and Fall. A Shedding coat allows dander and hair to spread around the house. The dander, hair, saliva, urine, and mucus of a dog contain a protein allergen that aggravates allergies.
How To Train A Dutch Shepherd | Dutch Shepherd Training
A Dutch Shepherd is an alert, active, loyal, and reliable dog that is highly trainable. This is also an intelligent dog that loves a challenge and is prepared to be obedient. Dutch Shepherds have a keen intelligence hence they perform better with shorter and challenging training sessions with minimal repetitions. This breed becomes more driven as the work becomes more mentally stimulating. Due to their herding ancestry, Dutch Shepherds have a strong character and they are independent. Without training Dutch Shepherds will be very independent with a stubborn streak making their own decisions. Therefore, obedience training is highly recommended.
To set up a dog for a successful training, create a functional pecking order. This is where the owner establishes and identifies him or herself as the pack leader. Naturally, dogs thrive in social groups where a hierarchy has been established. A parent can become a pack leader by making the dog to sit calmly as it waits for the food and joining them in their personal space when invited. Use positive reinforcements methods such as the use of treats, toys, verbal praise, playtime, and petting. Avoid use of harsh corrections methods such as yelling, beating, punching, kicking, shoving, or use of choke or prong collars.
These methods make the dog fearful leading to fear aggression. It also destroys the relationship between humans and dogs. Keep the training sessions short, fun, and challenging for a period of 5 to 10 minutes distributed throughout the day. To raise a well-mannered and well-adjusted Dutch Shepherd, socialize the dog. Socialization training starts from the age of 3 weeks while the puppy is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after the pup has settled in its new home. Normally, parents take their pets home from the age of 8 weeks.
To socialize a Dutch Shepherd, expose it to a wide range of people, animals, situations, experiences, surfaces, sights, smell, and sounds such as sirens, baby crying sounds, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, whistles, and lawn mowers. Enrolling a Dutch Shepherd in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes ensure canines interact in a controlled environment. Puppy classes also enables the owner to not only have access to training information and assistance but also have identify and correct bad behaviors.
Start teaching your pet basic obedience command words such as sit, come, lie down, stay, heel, leave it, etc. once the pup joins you home from the age of 8 weeks. Teach one command word at a time until the dog understands before proceeding to the next command word. Never issue a command word while too excited or frustrated since it doesn’t sound the same for your pet. Effectively housebreak a Dutch Shepherd by creating a feeding schedule, crate training, and potty training.
A crate is an indispensable tool that allows the owner to monitor the pet for signs that it wants to eliminate outside such as whining, sniffing, restlessness, circling, squatting, and trying to lift a leg against the crate door. To get positive outcomes when potty training, take a Dutch Shepherd to the designated toilet area immediately it wakes up, every 2 to 3 hours, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, after naptime, following an exciting activity such as a car ride and playtime, and before bedtime. The bladder and bowel muscles of a pup strengthens as the puppy matures. Therefore, after the age of 8 months, the potty breaks will be after every 6 to 8 hours.
Dutch Shepherd Personality | Temperament | Traits
- Intuitive.
- Intelligent.
- Loyal.
- Watchful.
- Active.
- Alert.
- Independent.
- Reliable.
- Athletic.
- Lively.
- Affectionate.
- Obedient.
- Playful.
Dutch Shepherd Exercise
A Dutch Shepherd is a highly energetic dog that needs ample exercise and mental stimulation. Daily exercise to serve as an outlet for their energy level. This breed will happily run or hike along with their pet parents. Dutch Shepherds have the strength and stamina to go all day long. These dogs can also compete in obedience, agility, dock jumping, rally obedience, search and rescue, tracking, disc dog, flyball, nose work, and weight pulling.
Dutch Shepherd Barking
This is an alert and watchful dog that will bark at strangers and visitors to alert the owner.
Dutch Shepherd Height
A female Dutch Shepherd may have a height 21 to 24 inches ( approx. 53 to 61 cm ) while its male counterparts has a height of 22 to 25 inches ( approx. 56 to 64 cm ).
Dutch Shepherd Weight
A full-grown Dutch Shepherd may have a weight of 42 to 75 pounds ( approx. 19 to 34 kg ).
Dutch Shepherd Size
Dutch Shepherds are medium-sized herding dogs that have a weight of 42 to 75 pounds ( approx. 19 to 34 kg ) and a height of 21 to 25 inches ( approx. 53 to 64 cm ).
Dutch Shepherd Aggressive
A Dutch Shepherd is neither shy nor aggressive. However, if poorly socialized it can bit, nip, or snarl at strangers due to its herding instinct. Use of harsh correction methods also makes this breed to have fear aggression.
Dutch Shepherd Bite Force
Reportedly, Dutch Shepherds have a bite force of 224 PSI.
Dutch Shepherd Health Issues
This is a relatively health breed due to the Dutch breeding rules. Dutch Shepherds are less popular which lows the cases of irresponsible breeding. However, they are affected by several health issues such as hip dysplasia, Spongy Cerebellar Degeneration 1 & 2( short-haired varieties), Von Willebrand Type I( long-haired variety), gonio dysplasia( rough haired), hypothyroidism ( long-haired), allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, cryptorchidism, masticatory myositis, and pannus.
Apart from Dutch Shepherds, other dog breeds include:
Dutch Shepherd Names
A Dutch Shepherd parent may get a name for the pet before it leaves the shelter or a few days after joining them home to understand better the personality of the particular dog. Owners may get name inspirations from the Dutch heritage, brindle coat color, personality, celebrity Dutch Shepherds, books, movies, songs, pop culture, historical figures, and nature.
Regardless of where you get your inspiration, ensure the name chosen freely rolls off your tongue and won’t make you embarrassed when uttered out loud in the public places. Dutch Shepherds and other breeds better understand names that have vowels. If a pup has a long name, the owner should make an effort of finding a nickname.
Avoid giving your Dutch Shepherd a name that rhymes with the command words. If a Dutch Shepherd dog shares a name with any family member or guests who frequent your household, it will result to confusion.
Female Dutch Shepherd Names
- Rita.
- Brenda.
- Maud.
- Bella.
- Zoe.
- Lily.
- Mia.
- Dakota.
- Blu.
- Lucy, etc.
Dutch Shepherd Neck Size
A Dutch Shepherd may have a neck size of 16 to 22 inches ( approx. 41 to 56 cm ).
Male Dutch Sherd Names
- Rex.
- Max.
- Diesel.
- Cleo.
- Ruger.
- Vixen.
- Cleo.
- Tank.
- Hansel.
- Hunter.
- Otto.
- Otis, etc.
Dutch Shepherd Feeding
The amount of food that a Dutch Shepherd feeds on depend on its age, size, metabolism, activity level, and body build. Puppies tend to have a high metabolism rate as compared to adults and seniors. A Dutch Shepherd pup should be fed a total of 3 or 4 meals in a day from when it starts weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, it should feed a total of 2 meals in a day. These dogs should also feed on food formulated for highly-energetic dogs.
Like other dogs, Dutch Shepherds need to feed on the right amount of minerals, protein, amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, water, and fats to maintain a healthy bone structure and weight. Depending on the budget and the time of preparation needed, owners may feed a Dutch Shepherd with dry food, wet food, home made meals, or a raw diet. The first three ingredients listed in dog commercial food should be proteins from a known source.
The dry or wet commercial food should neither have fillers, chemicals, meat by-products, additives, nor preservatives. This also applies to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for medium-sized puppies, adults, and senior depending on the age of your Dutch Shepherd. Check the physique of your pooch to tell whether it is overweight or underweight.
If you can see the ribs, chances are that the pet is underweight. Although, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, the dog has an ideal weight. If the ribs can’t be felt, a Dutch Shepherd is overweight and should be exercised. Parents who want to switch dog food should gradually do this over a period of four weeks by mixing both new food and old food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Dutch Shepherd is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
Dutch Shepherd Colors
A Dutch Shepherd has a brindle coat color that may either have a silver or golden base color. The Golden base color may vary from light sand color to chestnut red. The brindle may be dark brown or black and is clearly present all over the body, tail, ruff, and breeches. A small amount of white is permitted on the toes or chest. A Black mask is also preferred.
Dutch Shepherd Brindle | Black
A Dutch Shepherd has a brindle coat color that is either black or dark brown. The Brindle should be clearly present on the tail, breeches, ruff, and body. However, too much black is a fault.
Dutch Shepherd Types
There is only one type of pure bred Dutch Shepherd that may either have a short, rough, or long coat.
Dutch Shepherd Short Hair
A Short-haired Dutch Shepherd has a woolly undercoat with a short coat all over the body. The coat is plume and clearly visible on the tail, breeches, and ruff.
Dutch Shepherd Long Hair
A Dutch Shepherd with a long-haired coat has a woolly undercoat. The coat is harsh to the touch, long, straight, and well fitting. It should not have curls or wave. The breeches and ruff are distinct. The tail is abundantly coated. However, the feet, head, ears, and hind legs below the hocks are short and densely coated. The forelegs’ backsides have a strongly developed coat that is shortening in length towards the feet. The ears have no fringes.
Dutch Shepherd Allergies
A Dutch Shepherd is predisposed to various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Food allergies – Although rare, Dutch Shepherds may suffer from a true food allergy that results to an immune response. A true food allergy is accompanied with skin issues symptoms such as hives, sores, crusting lesions, pruritus, and dermatitis as well as gastrointestinal stress such as acute vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. Apart from food allergies, Dutch Shepherds also suffer from food intolerance or sensitivity.
Skin allergies – Dutch Shepherds are predisposed to food allergies due to environmental, food, and contact allergies that manifest on the skin.
Contact allergies – This allergy causes inflammation once the skin of a Dutch Shepherd comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that affect the Dutch Shepherds include plastics, grooming products, bed linens, carpet cleaning detergents, lawn chemicals, latex, and medication.
Environmental allergies – One of the environmental allergies, flea cause flea allergy dermatitis. This insect usually bites the back legs or underneath the tail causing intense scratching and biting until the skin around the bite area is raw. Apart from fleas, other environmental allergens include mites, ragweed, pollen, grass, trees, house molds, and dust & dust mites.
Dutch Shepherd Vs Belgian Malinois
Both Dutch Shepherds and Belgian Malinois are medium-sized herding dogs. However, the former was bred in the Netherlands while the latter was bred in Belgian. Belgian Malinois tend to live longer having a lifespan of 14 to 16 years while Dutch Shepherds have a lifespan of 11 to 14 years. a Belgian Malinois has a short weather resistant double coat while Dutch Shepherds may either have a short, long, or rough-haired coat. The former has a rich fawn to mahogany coat color while the latter has a brindled coat that may either be black or dark brown.
Dutch Shepherd Vs German Shepherd
Both German Shepherds and Dutch Shepherds are medium-sized dogs that are used for police work, search and rescue, and companion dogs. However, the former is from German while the latter is from the Netherlands. German Shepherds have a lifespan of 9 to 13 years while Dutch Shepherds have a lifespan of 11 to 14 years. Both breeds have the same height range, although, German Shepherds are heavier with a weight range of 60 to 90 pounds ( approx. 27.2 to 41 kg) while Dutch Shepherds have a weight range of 42 to 75 pounds ( approx. 19 to 34 kg ). German Shepherds may either have a short or a long coat while Dutch Shepherds may either have a rough, short, or long coat. Dutch Shepherds have a brindle color while most German Shepherds have a tan/black or red/black colors.
Dutch Shepherd Ears | With Floppy Ears
A Dutch Shepherd has medium-sized ears that are stiff and erect. However, the puppies of this breed are born with floppy ears that perk up over time as the cartilage and muscles develop.
Dutch Shepherd Tail
A Dutch Shepherd has a long tail that reaches to the hock. At rest, the tail hangs straight down and carried gracefully upwards while in action.
Are Dutch Shepherds Dangerous
No. Dutch Shepherds are neither aggressive or shy. However, they may become dangerous if poorly bred and socialized.
Are Dutch Shepherds Good Guard Dogs
Yes. Dutch Shepherds are alert and watchful. They bark at strangers to notify the owner.
Are Dutch Shepherds Hypoallergenic
No. Dutch Shepherds shed all-year round at moderate levels and heavily when experiencing seasonal change. Moulting allows dander and hair to spread around the house aggravating allergies.
Are Dutch Shepherds Aggressive
No. Dutch Shepherds are neither shy or aggressive. However, they may develop fear aggression if harsh correction methods are used on them during training.
Are Dutch Shepherds Good Family Dogs
Yes. Dutch Shepherds are intelligent, playful, affectionate, watchful, reliable, intuitive, lively, and loving dogs.
Do Dutch Shepherds Shed
Yes. Dutch Shepherds shed all-year round at moderate levels and heavily while blowing off their coats in Spring and Fall.
Do Dutch Shepherds Bark A Lot
No. However, Dutch Shepherds will bark to notify the owner if the strangers or visitors are approaching.
Dutch Shepherds Quick Facts
- They are intelligent and highly trainable dogs that are used for police work, search and rescue, and guide for the blind.
- Dutch Shepherds may either have a short, long, or rough coat.
- They are relatively healthy dogs that have a lifespan of 11 to 14 years.
