Pastoral group · Netherlands
Dutch Shepherd
Also called Hollandse Herder, Dutchie.
Large dog, high energy, learns almost anything, fast.
- Reliable
- Alert
- Obedient
- Loyal
- Athletic
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 19 to 34 kg42 to 75 lb
- Lives
- 11 to 14 years
- Energy
- High
- Trains
- Very High
- Barks
- Moderate
Training
Training a Dutch Shepherd
Pastoral breeds. Give the brain a job or it will find one. Chasing, nipping and fixating are the breed doing its work.
Working Drive
Start here
Strong working drive requires outlets, excellent for police/military work, sports, or intensive training.
Early Socialisation
Natural wariness of strangers requires extensive positive exposure early.
Versatile Athlete
Excels in protection sports, agility, herding, and detection work.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Dutch Shepherd and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, on video with Atlas and Shango.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to herd and guard livestock. Watchful, responsive, and wired to control movement.
Gets on with
- ChildrenHigh
- Other dogsModerate
- StrangersLow
- CatsModerate
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 2+ hours daily. Intense physical and mental exercise required.
- Grooming
- Varies by coat type. Weekly brushing for short; more for long/rough.
- Drool
- Low
- Coat
- Short, Long, Rough/Wire, all with dense undercoatBrindle. Gold or Silver base with dark striping
- In a flat
- Needs more space than a flat gives.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Hip Dysplasia
Moderate
Joint condition common in large, active breeds
Inflammatory Myopathy
Moderate
Muscle disease in some bloodlines
Thyroid Problems
Mild
Hypothyroidism can occur
Where they come from
History
Developed in the Netherlands as an all-purpose farm dog for herding, guarding, and cart-pulling. Less specialised than Belgian or German Shepherds. Three coat varieties exist: short, long, and rough/wire.
