Dutch Shepherd
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| Other names |
Dutch Shepherd Hollandse Herder |
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| Origin | Netherlands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patronage | FCI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Notes | The AKC does not have its own standard and instead links to that of the FCI This breed is also accepted by ARBA |
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| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traits | |||
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| Weight | 30–40 kg (66–88 lb) | ||
| Height | 22-24in | ||
| Male | 57–62 cm (22–24 in) | ||
| Female | 55–60 cm (22–24 in) | ||
| Coat | Both short and long hair varieties. | ||
| Colour | Brindle. The basic colour is golden or silver. | ||
| Classification / standards | |||
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| FCI | Group 1, Section 1 Sheepdogs #223 | standard | |
| AKC | FSS | standard | |
| The AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS) is an optional recording service for purebred dogs that are not yet eligible for AKC registration. | |||
| ANKC | Group 5 (Working Dogs) | standard | |
| NZKC | Working | standard | |
| UKC | Herding | standard | |
The Dutch Shepherd is a herding dog of Dutch origin. They were used by shepherds and farmers who needed a versatile dog, with few demands, and a dog that was able to adapt to a harsh and meager existence.
The Dutch Shepherd was discovered as a naturally occurring shepherd's dog type living in the rural areas of the larger region that today includes The Netherlands. When the first breed standard was written in 1898, the coat could be any colour. But, in 1914, it was decided to allow only brindle to distinguish the breed from the then similar German Shepherd and Belgian Shepherd. The breeds eventually diverged into the three distinct breeds as known today. However, the Dutch Shepherd remains nearly the same dog it was more than 100 years ago. Today, the Dutch Shepherd is distinguished from the Belgian and German Shepherds by the details specified in the breed standard, primarily of the head.
Originally the main function of the Dutch Shepherd was that of a shepherd’s dog in the countryside. From early times, the Dutch had an arable culture that was maintained by flocks of sheep. The dogs had to keep the flock away from the crops, which they did by patrolling the borders of the road and the fields. They also accompanied the flocks on their way to the common meadows, markets and ports.
At the farm, they kept the hens away from the kitchen garden, they herded the cows together for milking and pulled the milk carts. They also alerted the farmers when strangers entered the farmyard. Around 1900, sheep flocks had for the greater part disappeared in the Netherlands. The versatile skills of the Dutch Shepherd made him suitable for dog training, which was then starting to become popular. They were then trained and used as police dogs, as search and tracking dogs, and as guide dogs for the blind. They are, however, still capable of herding sheep.
The population of the Dutch Shepherd was greatly reduced due to modern farming techniques nearly eliminating the need for the breed as a sheep tender, and in the 1940s and 1950s the breed was almost exterminated. The Second World War put a stop to breeding of most dog breeds in The Netherlands. Dogs died from lack of food, or were taken to Germany by the German military. Many bloodlines became extinct.
After the war, breeding began anew and new blood was needed to diversify the gene pool. Sometimes dogs of unknown origin were used. The Malinois was used for a time, but the practice was stopped because the buyers of those puppies did not have the same goals as the Dutch Breed Club. In 1959, with permission from the breed club, a Laekenois dog was used to expand the rough-hair population. With time, the popularity of the breed grew and expanded into other countries.
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Wikipedia