The Dutch Shepherd closely resembles the German Shepherd Dog but there are some important differences in character and in conformation as well. It also resembles in some respects the Belgian Sheepdog, which is said to be the "foundation stock" from which the breed was developed. For some years the breed wavered on the point of extinction but was saved in 1898 when a Dutch Shepherd Club was formed. In the Netherlands today, this breed is flourishing and is often the dog of choice for both police utility and family guardian and companion. They are considered to be among the most competent of herding dogs also, since their history is closely intertwined with that of the Belgian sheepdog, with a later infusion of German shepherd bloodlines.

Although they are not known as much outside the Netherlands, they are often used in Holland as Search dogs, Drug dogs and Police dogs besides being used still as herding dogs, which is their original purpose. In most respects one could compare their sense of duty and their temperament to that of the German Shepherd. The Dutch breeders have consistently bred for inherited characteristics of protective instinct and the Dutch Shepherd in recent years has been more frequently used as a police dog and a "sniffing" dog for narcotics and bomb detector at the airports in many other countries as well.

The Dutch Shepherd can come in a variety of colors and coat texture. There are three coat textures. The smooth coat or "short coated" is flat lying, close and sleek, with longer hairs on the neck, the back of the thighs and the tail. The long coat or "rough coated" should be neither wavy nor curly and the hairs are longer all over. The third type of coat is the "wire-haired", in which the hairs are of a definite harsh character and the head should have eyebrows, a beard and whiskers. In all three coats the color of the Dutch shepherd is always a brindling, from a black to a steel blue or red, but always a brindle coloration. The Dutch Shepherd is a breed that has remained true to type through the centuries and closely resembles the Belgian Shepherd in many areas. The registry of the Dutch shepherd is F.C.I. (it has not yet been accepted into the American Kennel club.)

The Dutch Shepherd is a breed that endears itself quickly to its owners and many swear that they will never have another type of dog. In many respects their temperament is much like that of the other "shepherd" breeds, intelligent and inquisitive, highly motivated for play and with strong and stubborn personalities. A Dutch Shepherd owner needs to be somewhat of an "alpha" personality, as this is a dog that will test his boundaries and is considered to be a "thinking" dog, always interested and never fearful of his surroundings and strongly motivated for protection work. Since the dog also carries a strong herding instinct it is certainly a dog that needs a fenced enclosure. This is a faithfully and loyal dog, often becoming a "one person" dog in its orientation. This is a breed that does not do well as a kennel dog, kept in a pen, without a job to do.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Dogs