Group: Herding

Weight: 65-67 lbs

Height: 22-25 inches



History

Dutch Shepherd is very similar to the Belgian Shepherd dog - the Dutch Shepherd has more German shepherd blood in its lineage though. Dutch Shepherds are fairly rare, and are not very popular outside of the Netherlands were about 400 is registered every year. The Dutch Shepherd is prized for their skills as herders and also for the quick reflexes they possess. The Dutch Shepherd was developed during the first part of the 1800s in the province of Brabant, Netherlands.

Characteristics

The Dutch Shepherd is a very loving dog that is keen on learning. These dogs are very clever and obedient - they also have sober habits and are very loyal toward their owners. The Dutch Shepherd is honourable and energetic - and they are also very watchful.

Temperament

Dutch Shepherds are one of the most capable of all the shepherd dogs - they excel at tasks such as catch, agility, obedience competitions, herding and companionship. These dogs are very protective of their territories and they are passionate workers. This breed is very affectionate, friendly and fond of playing. These dogs are very crafty, and they get along well with children that will give them space when needed. These dogs are wary of unknown visitors, but those known to them will be welcomed with open arms. The Dutch Shepherd is a wonderful watch and guard dog seeing that they are so alert.

Care

These dogs are fairly high maintenance when it comes to grooming them. They should be combed and brushed o a regular basis in order to remove any dead and loose hairs. The coat of the Dutch Shepherd dog should also be plucked twice during the course of the year. These dogs should only be bathed when it is deemed necessary in order to keep the natural oils on the skin. For more detailed info, take a look at the Dutch Shepherd Grooming page.

Training

Dutch Shepherds are very flexible dogs, and happy in general. They learn very quickly, and teaching them new commands should not be a problem. These dogs do extremely well in sports such as fly-ball, obedience competitions and agility. The Dutch Shepherd with the short coat is mostly used for police dog trials.

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