KNPV Dutch Shepherd Breed Characteristics and Traits

The KNPV Dutch Shepherd is a versatile breed that excels in various roles, including police work, search and rescue, and family companionship. They are highly intelligent and trainable.

Their intelligence and trainability are due in part to their strong work ethic and willingness to please their handlers. This breed is known for being loyal and protective of their families.

The KNPV Dutch Shepherd is a medium to large-sized dog with a muscular build and a short, dense coat that requires regular grooming. They typically weigh between 70-90 pounds and stand between 22-26 inches tall at the shoulder.

The Dutch Shepherd has a rich history that dates back to the rural parts of the Netherlands, where it was discovered as a naturally occurring shepherd's dog type. The breed was first standardized in 1898, with the coat being any color at the time.

The breed's early standard allowed for any color, but in 1914, it was decided to allow only brindle to distinguish the breed from the German Shepherd and Belgian Shepherds. This decision was made to differentiate the Dutch Shepherd from other similar breeds.

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The Dutch Shepherd was nearly the same dog it was more than 100 years ago, with the breed standard specifying details such as the head. The breed eventually diverged into the six distinct breeds we know today, including the Dutch Shepherd.

During World War I and World War II, the Dutch Shepherd was under threat, with hardly enough dogs to keep breeding with fresh lines. To address this issue, breeders mixed the Dutch Shepherd with the Malinois Shepherd, a Belgian Shepherd with similar temperament and characteristics.

There is a strong division between two types of Dutch Shepherds: the FCI registered Dutch Shepherd and the KNPV Dutch Shepherd. The FCI registered Dutch Shepherd was bred mostly for the FCI standard, while the KNPV Dutch Shepherd was bred mostly as working dogs.

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The Dutch Shepherd is a medium-sized breed, weighing between 50-70 pounds and standing between 22-25 inches tall at the withers.

The breed comes in three different coat types: short-haired, long-haired, and rough-haired.

Short-haired Dutch Shepherds have a hard, close-fitting coat all over their body, with a woolly undercoat. A ruff, breeches, and tail plume are clearly visible.

Long-haired Dutch Shepherds have a long, straight coat all over their body, with a woolly undercoat. Their ruff and breeches are distinct, and their tail is abundantly coated.

Rough-haired Dutch Shepherds have a dense, harsh tousled coat all over their body, with a woolly undercoat. Their face is well-covered with hair, and their eyebrows are coarse and well-defined.

Brindle is the most common color for Dutch Shepherds, with a golden or silver base coat that can vary from near-white to chestnut red. A true silver brindle is rare, as too much white is considered a fault.

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The Dutch Shepherd's original function was that of a shepherd's dog in the countryside, where they would keep flocks away from crops and accompany them on journeys to markets and ports.

Their versatility made them suitable for dog training, which was then becoming popular, and they were trained as police dogs, search and tracking dogs, and guide dogs for the blind.

Dutch Shepherds are loyal and reliable, with a strong character and independence passed down from their herding ancestry.

They are also intelligent and intuitive, making them capable of working independently with their owners.

Their temperament is not aggressive and they are not shy, which makes them a great companion for people who need a dog that can work alongside them.

With the right training, Dutch Shepherds can achieve remarkable obedience and discipline results.

The Dutch Shepherd's health is generally good, but there are some genetic issues to be aware of. Most health problems occur at a low rate in this breed.

Genetic diseases like allergies, masticatory myositis, pannus, cryptorchidism, and inflammatory bowel disease have been confirmed in Dutch Shepherds. Hip dysplasia affects about 9% of the breed, while elbow dysplasia affects around 5.5%.

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A previously unknown condition called Inflammatory Myopathy (Myositis) has been identified in Dutch Shepherds. It causes painful inflammation of skeletal muscle tissue, and affected dogs may exhibit a "bunny hopping" gait and rear leg stiffness.

Regular grooming is essential for the Dutch Shepherd's rough-hair variety, which needs to be thoroughly brushed once a week. Dead hair will also need to be hand stripped twice a year.

The short-haired variety requires occasional combing, except during shedding periods when daily brushing is necessary. The long-haired variety needs to be groomed about once a week, or more frequently depending on work and environment.

The Dutch Shepherd is generally a healthy breed, but like all breeds, they can be prone to certain health issues. Most genetic health problems occur at a low rate in this breed.

Allergies, also known as atopy, are a confirmed genetic disease in Dutch Shepherds. This can cause skin issues and other allergic reactions.

Masticatory myositis is another confirmed genetic disease in Dutch Shepherds, which affects the muscles in the jaw. Pannus, a condition that affects the eyes, is also a known issue in this breed.

Cryptorchidism, a condition where one or both testicles fail to descend, can be a problem in Dutch Shepherds. Inflammatory bowel disease is another confirmed genetic disease in this breed.

Rough-haired Dutch Shepherds are at risk for goniodysplasia, a condition that can cause blindness. The Dutch Breed Club requires testing for this condition before breeding.

Hip dysplasia affects about 9% of Dutch Shepherds, according to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Elbow dysplasia affects around 5.5% of the breed.

A previously unknown inflammatory and necrotizing myopathy, known as IM, was genetically mapped in 2018. This disease causes progressive, painful inflammation of skeletal muscle tissue.

The first symptoms of IM typically appear between three and eight months of age, and can include a "bunny hopping" gait and rear leg stiffness. If you're a Dutch Shepherd owner, it's essential to be aware of these symptoms and seek veterinary care if you notice anything unusual.

Grooming is an essential part of your pet's overall health. The short-haired variety needs occasional combing, with the exception during the shedding period in the spring and fall when a daily thorough brushing is needed.

For the long-haired variety, grooming is a weekly task, or more frequently depending on their work and environment. This can be a great bonding experience for you and your pet.

The rough-hair variety requires a weekly thorough brushing, and twice a year, you'll need to hand strip the dead hair. Regular grooming will help prevent matting and tangling, keeping your pet comfortable and happy.

Dutch Shepherds are an active and versatile breed, competing in various dog sports and activities.

They excel in dog agility, obedience, rally obedience, flyball, dock jumping, disc dog, tracking, herding, search and rescue, nosework, and weight pulling.

Dutch Shepherds are also employed as herders in the Netherlands, where their herding instinct remains strong.

Internationally, they're sought after for police and military use due to their impressive performance in the KNPV program.

Dutch Shepherds are an incredibly versatile breed, exceling in a wide range of activities.

They're highly active and can be found competing in dog agility, obedience, rally obedience, flyball, dock jumping, disc dog, tracking, herding, search and rescue, nosework, and weight pulling.

In addition to these sports, Dutch Shepherds also participate in protection sports like Schutzhund, French Ring, Belgian Ring, mondioring, PSA, and others.

Their herding instinct is still strong, and in the Netherlands, they're still employed as herders.

Internationally, they're best known for their use in law enforcement under the KNPV program.

Dutch Shepherds with KNPV titles are highly sought after for police and military use, as well as sport competitors and personal-protection dogs.

Here's a list of some of the activities Dutch Shepherds participate in:

The FCI and Belgian Malinois are two popular breeds, but they have distinct characteristics. The FCI is a breed of dog developed in the 19th century, originating from England and Ireland.

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The FCI is a medium-sized dog, typically weighing between 30-40 pounds and standing 17-20 inches tall at the shoulder. In contrast, the Belgian Malinois is a larger breed, weighing between 40-80 pounds and standing 22-26 inches tall.

The FCI is known for its calm and gentle nature, making it a great family pet. The Belgian Malinois, on the other hand, is a high-energy breed that requires regular exercise and mental stimulation.

FCI dogs are highly intelligent and trainable, but they can be stubborn at times. Belgian Malinois are also highly intelligent and trainable, but they have a strong prey drive and can be challenging to manage.

Overall, the FCI and Belgian Malinois have different strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different types of owners and lifestyles.

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The Dutch Shepherd's population was greatly reduced due to modern farming techniques, nearly eliminating the need for the breed as a sheep tender.

The breed was almost exterminated in the 1940s and 1950s, and the Second World War put a stop to breeding of most dog breeds in the Netherlands.

Many bloodlines became extinct due to a lack of food and dogs being taken to Germany by the German military.

The breed was revived after the war, and new blood was needed to diversify the gene pool.

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The Dutch Shepherd breed was on the brink of extinction due to modern farming techniques that reduced their need as sheep tenders. Many bloodlines became extinct during this time.

The Second World War was another significant blow to the breed, as dogs died from lack of food or were taken to Germany by the military. This led to a drastic decline in the breed's population.

In the 1940s and 1950s, the breed was almost exterminated, but breeding began anew after the war. This time, new blood was needed to diversify the gene pool.

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Dogs of unknown origin were sometimes used for breeding, but this practice was eventually stopped due to disagreements between breeders. The Belgian Malinois was used for a time, but its introduction was short-lived.

A Belgian Laekenois was used to expand the rough-haired variety in 1959, with permission from the breed club. This move helped to increase the breed's diversity.

Today, the Dutch Shepherd remains a rare breed, and the Dutch Breed Club encourages owners to breed dogs that meet the minimum conformation standards. This effort aims to increase the breed's numbers while preserving its health.

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The ancestors of many species that went extinct were often quite different from their modern descendants.

Species like the woolly mammoth and the saber-toothed cat had ancestors that lived during the Paleocene epoch, around 60 million years ago.

These early ancestors were much smaller than their modern relatives, but they shared many of the same characteristics.

The ancestors of the passenger pigeon, for example, were once abundant in North America, but by the time of European settlement, their populations had begun to decline.

In fact, the ancestors of the passenger pigeon were so abundant that they were considered a nuisance by early European settlers.