Dutch Shepherd Dog Breed Guide: Info, Pictures & Care

The Dutch Shepherd is a mid-sized breed with plenty of muscle. It’s generally calm and makes a great family pet but will also work as a herder, and some law enforcement agencies use them for tracking.

Breed Overview

It’s a relaxed dog that is also alert and will make a great watchdog. If you would like to learn more about this interesting breed, keep reading while we take a deep dive to learn all we can learn about the Dutch Shepherd dog to see if it would make a good pet in your home.

Dutch Shepherd Dog Characteristics

Dutch Shepherd Puppies

Higher quality breeders are going to be expensive, but you are more likely to receive a healthy dog with no genetic defects. If you didn’t pay for breeding rights, you would likely need to get the dog spayed or neutered as part of your contract.

You will also need to purchase vaccines and get your dog regular checkups to catch any potential illnesses early. Dog food treats and toys will be an ongoing expense that can add significantly to your costs each year.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Dutch Shepherd

The Dutch Shepherd is an extremely loyal dog that builds a strong bond with family members and will protect them with its life. It’s very active and enjoys going for long walks. If it doesn’t get the attention and activity it needs, it might get destructive and tear up your furniture, bark, or dig holes in the yard.  It’s well behaved and gets along with children and other pets and can be quite friendly if socialized as a puppy.

The Dutch Shepherd dog is also extremely intelligent and easy to train to perform complex tasks. Many law enforcement agencies use them for tracking, but they also make great watchdogs, stable hands, and even pull heavy carts.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Yes. As we mentioned earlier, the Dutch Shepherd makes a fantastic pet that makes a great watchdog that will fiercely protect your home. It’s affectionate to family members and gets along well with small children and guests that come to your home. Early socialization will help your pet be more open to meeting strangers. It requires plenty of exercise, so a large family will find it easier to get the dog enough activity. More people will also make it easy to give your dog the attention it requires. It doesn’t like being ignored and can misbehave if it gets bored.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

Your Dutch Shepherd will get along with most other dog breeds without any trouble. It usually makes friends with strange dogs quickly and shouldn’t have a problem making friends with any other dogs you have, and it doesn’t get into a lot of fights with other dogs when out on a walk, even when aggressive dogs approach it. However, it has a strong prey drive, so it will likely chase any rabbits and squirrels that come into your yard. It may also chase after your cats, but you might be able to get them to coexist with plenty of early socialization.

Things to Know When Owning a Dutch Shepherd Dog:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Your Dutch Shepherd is a high-energy dog and will require plenty of high-quality protein to develop strong muscle. Protein will also provide your dog with energy and will help it feel full longer, so it doesn’t come looking for food. We recommend looking at the ingredients list and choosing brands that don’t use a lot of chemicals or dyes. It should contain chicken, beef, turkey, or other meat and include real fruits and vegetables. Brands fortified with omega3 fatty acids can help reduce inflammation and will help promote a shiny and healthy coat. Probiotics can help balance the digestive system and can help reduce the frequency of diarrhea and constipation.

Exercise 🐕

Your Dutch Shepherd is a hard-working dog with plenty of energy. We recommend setting aside at least one hour each day to make sure your dog gets enough activity. Long walks are its favorite, but it also enjoys running after a tennis ball or chasing a frisbee. Having multiple family members in the home will make it a lot easier to split up the hour into smaller, easier-to-manage segments.

Training 🎾

Your Dutch Shepherd is highly intelligent and easy to train. Holding short training sessions at the same time each day will help get your dog into a routine. It will look forward to learning new tricks and will arrive focused and ready. Plenty of positive reinforcement with treats and pets will make sure your dog is having a good time, and it will believe you are too. Consistency, patience, and keeping a light, fun atmosphere are critical to success. While this breed is smart, it can still take several weeks for your pet to learn a new trick.

Grooming ✂️

The Dutch Shepherd is available in three coats, and the amount of maintenance required will depend on the length of the coat. Shorter coats will only require weekly brushing, while the long fur will need brushing three times a week or more, especially during the shedding seasons of spring and fall. Some owners may even get the long coat professionally groomed every few months to keep it manageable and tangle-free.

We recommend manually brushing your pet’s teeth as frequently as possible to help slow the progression of dental disease, and you will need to clip the nails if you hear them clicking on the floor.

Health and Conditions 🏥

Male vs Female

The Dutch Shepherd is one of the few pure breeds to have very little difference between males and females, with both having the same standard height, weight, and temperament.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Dutch Shepherd Dog

1. Some Dutch Shepherds are so curly that you cannot see the brindle pattern.

The Dutch Shepherd is known for its distinctive brindle coat, but in the long-haired and rough-coated variety, the curls can be so dense and wavy that the pattern is barely even visible.

2. Dutch Shepherd dogs are often charged with taking the sheep out to the pasture in the morning and returning them at night.

Traditionally used for farming, the Dutch Shepherd played a key role in managing livestock. One of the breed’s daily tasks would be to independently guide the sheep to pasture in the morning and bring them back at night, and their ability to do this is what built their reputation as trustworthy and responsible companions.

3. The Dutch Shepherd Dog first appeared in 1898. 

The Dutch Shepherd was officially recorded as a distinct breed in 1898, although it had been working alongside farmers for much longer. Developed in the Netherlands to be an all-purpose farm dog, it was prized for its versatility, capable of herding, guarding, and even pulling carts.

Final Thoughts

The Dutch Shepherd is an amazing dog that makes a great family pet and is also suitable as a working dog. It’s strong enough to pull carts, smart enough to learn complex tasks, and help search for missing people, and it also makes a great watchdog that doesn’t bark too much. It can get into trouble if left unattended too long or you are not giving it enough attention, but a large family can help it stay entertained and active.

We hope you have enjoyed our look into this somewhat rare breed and have learned something new. If we have convinced you to get one of these dogs for your home, please share this guide to the Dutch Shepherd dog on Facebook and Twitter.

• See also: Dutch Smoushond Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Care

Featured Image Credit: baerle97, Pixabay