Dutch Shepherd – a shepherd dog in a tiger skin

What distinguishes the Dutch Shepherd from other dog breeds? This dog is both incredibly functional and visually stunning with its striking brindle coat and versatile skills. Dutch Shepherds are renowned for their intelligence and adaptability, having been bred originally for herding.

These dogs are ideal companions for families and individuals who enjoy outdoor activities because they thrive in active environments. They’re great watchdogs because of their loyalty and protectiveness, and kids like them because they’re silly.

This article will examine the special qualities of the Dutch Shepherd, including its temperament, history, and maintenance requirements. There’s much to learn about this amazing breed, whether you intend to add one to your family or you just want to know more.

Breed	Dutch Shepherd
Coat Pattern	Tiger stripes
Origin	Netherlands
Size	Medium to large
Temperament	Intelligent, loyal, active
Exercise Needs	High
Training	Easy to train

Brief historical background

Official records indicate that the breed has a little over 200 years of history. Though it’s possible that earlier Herderhunder-like dogs existed in Holland. Their ancestors are thought to have been Belgian shepherd dogs, or Malinoïs, who migrated across borders with herds of sheep and engaged in centuries-long intermarriage with native dogs.

The literal translation of "herderhunder" is "shepherd." Professionals in the same field bred dogs, giving total disregard to outward appearances and concentrating only on functional traits.

In the Netherlands, clubs catering to enthusiasts of this breed started to emerge after 1860. Known only as "local shepherds," the Dutch Shepherd Dogs made their debut in 1874 at an exhibition in Amsterdam. In 1878, they were given the breed name Hollandse Herdershond. On June 12, 1898, the breed’s official birthday, the National Club of Dutch Shepherds was established, and 17 dogs were immediately registered in the stud book. But the initial standard wasn’t described until 1935.

There have only been two modifications to the Dutch Shepherd standard, making it one of the oldest.

The Netherlands views the Dutch Shepherd as a national treasure.

In 1960, the International Cynological Society recognized the breed and modified the standard requirements at the same time. Dutch Shepherds can be found under number 223 (1st group – "Shepherd and cattle dogs", Section 1 – "Shepherds") in the FCI registry. The date of the current standard is October 21, 2009.

Only in 2013 was the first litter of Dutch Shepherds registered in Russia; the first pair arrived from the USA in the early 2000s.

Description of the Dutch Shepherd Dog

Dutch Shepherds are primarily used for shepherding; in certain parts of the Netherlands, they are still employed for this purpose. But more often than not, they serve as companions and pets as well as athletes, guides, and rescue dogs.

Breed standard

Visually similar to a wolf, the Dutch Shepherd is a fairly tall, light, and agile dog with a dry build, well-developed muscles, and big, strong bones. A well-proportioned, somewhat elongated body with a deep, rounded chest, a straight, short back, a powerful, but not overly long loin, and a smooth transition into the bottom line. The body’s length to height at the withers is 10:9.

The Dutch Shepherd breed of dog is rather large.

• A dry, elongated head, proportional to the overall build, with tightly stretched skin (without folds and wrinkles) is set on an elegant (without dewlap), smoothly flowing into the body neck. A flat skull is somewhat shorter than the mode. Stop is barely noticeable, smooth.
• Powerful jaws with a full row of teeth in a correct scissor bite. Tightly compressed lips fit well.
• The nose is only black.
• Slanted almond-shaped eyes are of medium size. Iris of dark shades. The look is intelligent and lively.
• Pointed, small, triangular ears are set high.
• Slightly curved tail hangs down when calm, when excited or in motion rises up strictly vertically (does not hang to the sides).
• Dry, well-muscled, powerful limbs are absolutely straight and parallel. Paws with long fingers curled into a ball, elastic dark pads and black claws.
• Height at the withers:

• for females – 55–60 cm;
• males – 57-62 cm.

The movement of the Dutch Shepherd is fluid, flexible, and graceful; it is neither overly rigid nor sweeping.

Features of the coat

Representatives of this breed are classified into three varieties based on the type of coat they have:

Long-haired (the rarest, almost dying out). The coat is straight (without waves and curls), lying tightly, elongated, rather coarse and hard to the touch. The undercoat is thick and dense. The hair on the head, ears, hind legs and paws is noticeably shorter. The tail is covered with thick hair, there are feathers on the ears.

The Dutch Shepherd breed with long hair has longer hair that is closer to the body.

The coat of the wire-haired Dutch Shepherd is atypically coarse and disheveled.

The color of the Dutch Shepherd is distinctively brindle.

The standard permits black with golden spots of different intensities and brightnesses, as well as gray with silver markings. The entire body, including the tail, collar, feathering, etc., is evenly covered in colored areas. On the muzzle, a black mask is preferable. Spots are less noticeable in wire-haired people, and other colors—pepper and salt and gray-bluish with spots—are also acceptable (silver or gold).

The Dutch Shepherd standard accepts gray with silver as a color.

Disadvantages

• non-black nose;
• ears are rounded, drooping or cropped;
• jaw problems (overbite, skewed, underbite);
• incorrect coloring (inclusions of non-standard colors, too much black in the upper layer, very large white spots on the chest and paws, white stripes and markings on other parts of the body).

Breed character

Dutch Shepherds are known for their easygoing, energetic personalities that are nevertheless calm and balanced. They are utterly devoted to their cherished owner, to whom they are unable to sit still as they strive to obey his commands as fast as possible. Dogs are capable of exercising self-reliance and judgment. The perceptive and vigilant Dutch make excellent bodyguards and watchmen because they skillfully blend bravery with cunning and intelligence.

The breed finds it difficult to put up with prolonged loneliness, neglect, and a lack of close human connection. The pet is not scared of strangers and treats them with mistrust, but it also doesn’t often act aggressively. The dog only barks when it is absolutely necessary; it never even does so in vain. The Dutch are highly adaptable and quickly become accustomed to any environment.

Dutch shepherds are known to always be watchful over the land that is entrusted to them.

It has been observed that Dutch shepherds only become aggressive toward outsiders when they attempt to enter the home. Outside of the enclosed area, dogs have no interest in interacting with strangers.

For example, when herding sheep, shepherds who are approachable and friendly can work with multiple dogs. They coexist peacefully with other animals, guarding them and making an effort to keep everyone together. Adorably and gently, children are included in a variety of outdoor games and playful antics with pleasure. Adoring animals watch over and shield young ones.

How to choose a tiger shepherd puppy

Purchasing a Dutch shepherd is a very challenging task, as the majority of the three hundred registered puppies worldwide are born in their historical homeland. It is advised to only buy animals from reputable nurseries with a stellar reputation and lots of positive reviews. A responsible and diligent breeder supplies the required documentation (parents’ pedigrees, puppy metrics, etc.) attesting to the puppy’s lineage.

Dutch shepherds are nearly black at birth; the distinctive breed brindle only starts to show after two months. Not even the kind of coat can be predicted with certainty at first.

Average cost

Purebred Dutch Shepherds can cost anywhere between 500 and 700 euros in European nurseries. These dogs can be purchased in our nation for between 35 and 60 thousand rubles. The precise amount is determined by the coat type, color, pedigree, and titles of the parents.

A purebred Dutch Shepherd cannot be found through an advertisement or by hand. In these situations, they typically provide a visually identical puppy. Before making a purchase, it is best to get advice from a knowledgeable dog handler who is familiar with the subtleties of this specific breed.

Puppies of the Dutch Shepherd breed are nearly black at birth, but they eventually take on the breed’s brindle color.

Being a shepherd dog from the peasant breed, the shepherd requires room to roam around. She will feel most at ease in a suburban or private home with a spacious courtyard or aviary where she can run and walk (you will need to set up a warm booth there).

Dutch Shepherds cannot be chained or kept in a locked space.

Although members of the breed can adjust to living in small apartments, their excessive energy and mobility can occasionally turn them into destructive animals.

Care features

It is not difficult to take care of Dutch Shepherds.

Hygiene

There is a standard set of hygiene procedures.

• Weekly comb with a strong brush, during the period of active shedding this should be done daily. Trim wire-haired varieties once every six months.
• Examine the ears and eyes once every 5-7 days, clean with cotton pads with zoolotion.
• Brush teeth once every 7-10 days, using animal paste and a special brush.
• Trim the claws, if they do not wear down on their own, about once a month.
• Bathe as rarely as possible, only if absolutely necessary (no more than once a year).

Walking

Dutch shepherds should be able to approach and run into people; otherwise, their personalities will suffer. These dogs require 1.5 to 2 hours of daily walks; in addition to walking, you should allow the dog to play, jump, run, and engage in other physical activities (like using a dog platform).

The breed is appropriate for energetic and fidgety pet owners who can provide their animals the right amount of exercise, such as going for morning runs in the park, bike rides, vacations outside of town, etc.

You must walk with shepherds for a considerable amount of time.

Nutrition

The diet of Dutch shepherds is utterly unpretentious. They can be fed both homemade freshly prepared food and factory freeze-dried food, as well as products of a class not lower than super premium (Pro Plan Adult Large Athletic, Royal Canin H.E Club, and others). Puppies receive food three to six times a day, whereas adult dogs receive it twice.

An all-natural diet includes:

• low -fat raw meat (horses, rabbits, veals, etc.);
• offal and meat scraps;
• cereals (rice, buckwheat, etc.);
• eggs;
• fermented milk products with low fat content (cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, kefir, etc.);
• unrefined vegetable oils;
• greens, seasonal fruits and vegetables;
• ocean fish (boiled, boneless);
• vitamin and mineral complexes.

Feeding fatty, sweet, smoked, or fried foods to shepherds is prohibited.Citrus fruits, legumes, and tubular bones are also prohibited.

Health

The Netherlands Shepherd breed is blessed with good health and immunity, free from any inherited genetic diseases. This breed of dog has a maximum lifespan of 15 years.

Dogs need to be vaccinated once a year, have their worming done once every six months, and have skin parasites treated with collars, sprays, drops on the withers, etc.

Training and education

Dutch shepherds are incredibly flexible, alert, and simple to train. Dogs pick things up quickly; they remember instructions right away and can grasp anything.

The puppy may grow up fearful and reticent if you don’t teach it the rules of behavior and socialize it from a young age. Since independent shepherds are often stubborn, it is crucial to act calmly, steadily, and patiently when training them. For the dog, the owner must be a figurehead and authority.

Dutch shepherds can compete in a variety of dog events and are simple to train.

When working with Dutch women, physical punishment and cruelty are not tolerated.

The best nicknames for representatives of the breed

Dutch shepherds have a unique, yet straightforward appearance, which suggests equally interesting names.

For boys, the following nicknames work well:

Girls may be referred to as follows:

In the club, pedigree puppies already have nicknames. For instance, when the German dothaar that our dog’s dog’s dog had puppies, all of their names began with the letter "o." The puppy metrics included these official nicknames, but the new owners called them by whatever name they pleased.

The Dutch Shepherd is a versatile and intelligent breed that is well-known for its loyalty and work ethic. It is frequently recognized for its striking tiger-striped coat. These dogs, who were originally bred for herding, are excellent in a variety of capacities, such as search and rescue and obedience training. They provide security and affection and are great companions for both individuals and families because of their kind but guarded demeanor. Acknowledging the distinct characteristics and requirements of the Dutch Shepherd can aid prospective proprietors in appreciating this exceptional breed.

Video: everything about the Dutch Shepherd

The Dutch Shepherd is a unique breed that is distinguished by both its remarkable appearance and intelligence. This dog captivates everyone who sees it because of its coat, which has stripes similar to those of a tiger. Their adaptability and distinctive appearance combine to make them great working dogs and cherished family companions.

These dogs have a solid relationship and are renowned for being devoted to their owners. They need constant mental and physical stimulation and thrive in company. Because Dutch Shepherds are eager to learn and excel in a variety of activities, from obedience to agility, training them can be a rewarding experience.

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