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Welcome to the Dutch Shepherd Dog Club of America!
Breed Characteristics
The Dutch Shepherd is a lively, athletic dog with a strong herding instinct and independent nature. It is very devoted to its owner, obedient, and eager to please and oblige.
They are good guardians, are very faithful and reliable, undemanding, with plenty of stamina, is vigilant, active and is gifted with a typical shepherd temperament. They may be somewhat reserved and should be well socialized.
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The breed typically:
- Is intelligent, obedient and very athletic
- Weighs 45 to 75 pounds and stands 21.5 to 24.5 inches tall
- Has a life expectancy of 11 to 14 years
- Was first bred in the Netherlands in 1898 and used as a sheepdog or all purpose farm dog
- Is now used in herding, competitive obedience, agility, nosework, protection sports, search and rescue and as a police dog
- Requires extensive mental and physical exercise
- Is easily trained with a responsive temperament
The Dutch Shepherd has a higher than average intelligence so obedience training is highly recommended, but must be trained in short, mentally stimulating sessions with minimal repetitions.
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Coat types
Short Coat
The outer coat is rather hard, smooth, and close-lying all over the body A too-short coat is not desired.
There is a woolly undercoat. A ruff, trousers, and feathered tail are clearly evident.
Rough Coat
The entire body is covered with a rough, harsh, tousled outer coat. There is a dense, woolly undercoat. The hair on the head forms eyebrows, which must be strong and off-standing. The hair on the cheeks and ears is less strongly developed. Both the upper and lower lips must be well-covered with hair, forming a moustache and a beard.
Well-developed trousers are preferred. The tail is abundantly feathered.
Well-developed trousers are preferred. The tail is abundantly feathered.
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Long Coat
The long, sturdy hair is straight and close-lying all over the body There are no curls or waves. There is a woolly undercoat.
The head, ears, feet, and the hind legs below the hock are covered with short, dense hair. There is no feathering on the ears. The back of the forelegs are feathered, which gets shorter toward the feet.
The tail is well-covered with long hair.
The head, ears, feet, and the hind legs below the hock are covered with short, dense hair. There is no feathering on the ears. The back of the forelegs are feathered, which gets shorter toward the feet.
The tail is well-covered with long hair.
Coat Colors
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Must be brindle. Brindle is defined as a black or very dark streaked or striped effect, with hairs of a lighter background color. Very small white accents may occur on the breast and/or on the feet.
SHORT COAT & LONG COATBrindle, on either brown or gray ground; and brindle all over the body, including the collar, trousers, or tail. A black mask is preferred.
ROUGH COATBrindle, on either brown or gray ground; and brindle all over the body, including the collar, trousers, or tail. A black mask is preferred. Compared to the other coat types, the brindle is less pronounced in the outer coat.
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Dutch Shepherd Health
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Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
The OFA recommends health screening tests for all breeding stock and compiles a list of results by breed.
The OFA recommends the following health screening tests for the Dutch Shepherd breed: ACVO Eye Examination and OFA Radiographic Hip and Elbow Evaluation.
The OFA also coordinates with the University of Minnesota to list Inflamatory Myopathy test results for each dog submitted.
Inflammatory Myopathy
The Dutch Shepherd Dog Club of America financed a seven year research study spearheaded by DSDCA veterinary counsel Karen Wroblewski DVM which resulted in a genetic discovery by the University of Minnesota Canine Genetics Laboratory of an inflammatory myopathy (myositis) in Dutch Shepherd Dogs, identifying this disease as IM: Inflammatory Myopathy.
The University of Minnesota offers a genetic test to determine a dog's status for this mutation (clear, carrier, or affected) to guide future breeding decisions and to definitively diagnose affected dogs.
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