The Breed

The Dutch Shepherd is a lively, athletic, alert and intelligent breed, and has retained its herding instinct for which it was originally developed. Having an independent nature, it can be slightly obstinate and have a mind of its own. Since its original duties were to keep flocks of sheep in a particular location, it is able to run all day, and that is reflected in its physique and structure. The Dutch Shepherd was discovered as a naturally occurring shepherd's dog living in rural areas. It was developed as an all-purpose farm dog, working originally as a farm guard, drover, and livestock dog. A well known dog fancier wrote about the Dutch Shepherd in 1910: "...bearing a great resemblance to the wolf." Of course this is not entirely true, but it is another aspect that shows that the Dutch Shepherd still has many of the characteristics of its wild forebears. Although it is not a widely known breed, the Dutch Shepherd is a loyal companion and competent working dog used for obedience, dog sports, herding, tracking, search and rescue, and as a police dog.

 

The Dutch Shepherd is a natural land-breed originating in The Netherlands. Long ago, shepherds and farmers needed a versatile dog, a "Jack-of-all-trades", well-adapted to the harsh and sparse existence of the time. In addition to its role as a shepherd's dog, at the farm they kept the hens away from the kitchen garden, herded the cows together for milking, and pulled carts laden with milk or produce to market. They also watched the children and alerted the farmer if strangers entered the farmyard.

 

The first breed standard dates from June 12, 1898. In this original standard, any coat color was permitted, but by 1914, it was decided the Dutch Shepherd should only be brindle so as to distinguish it from other similar breeds of the time, the German Shepherd and Belgian Shepherd. Around 1900, sheep flocks in The Netherlands, and the shepherd dogs which tended them, had been mostly replaced by industrialization, and the reclamation of land for other purposes. The versatile skills of the Dutch Shepherd made it suitable for new careers such as a police dog, search and rescue, and guide dog for the blind. The breed has retained its original herding ability, and is still used for this purpose.

 

(Nederlandse Herdershonden Club') was founded in the Netherlands in 1898, and similar to the Belgian Shepherd, the Dutch Shepherd comes in different varieties. The three varieties are - short coat, long coat and rough coat.