Schapendoes

Other names: Nederlandse Schapendoes, Dutch Sheepdog

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Hair type	Long
Origin	Netherlands
Template	Average
Head shape	Round

Weight and size
Sex	Weight	Cut
Female	From 13 kg to 16 kg	From 40 cm to 47 cm
Male	From 14 kg to 18 kg	From 43 cm to 50 cm

History of the breed

The creation of the Schapendoes breed is attributed to a certain PMC Toepoel, judge and dog lover. Until the early ^20th century, it was common to see this type of dog on Dutch heathland, accompanying the shepherds and their sheep. He has always known how to showcase his intelligence and endurance in this area. At the end of the Second World War, breeders worked to revive the breed , which, like many others in Europe, had been damaged by the conflict. This is how the Dutch Schapendoes club was born in 1947 and its standard was set 7 years later, with the first registrations in the studbook.

Schapendoes Pictures

See all Schapendoes photos from Woopets members

Physical features

His hair: long (about 7 cm, more on the hindquarters), dense, tight, slightly wavy, fine, dry and forming, in places, shaggy tufts, as well as a mustache and a beard. The outer coat is associated with an equally well-supplied undercoat.
Its color: ideally blue-gray tending towards black, but all colors are accepted.
His head: round, generously covered with a long and dense hair which accentuates the volume. The skull is almost flat and rather broad, the frontal furrow moderately pronounced, the eyebrow arches well marked, the stop clearly marked also without being abrupt, the muzzle high, wide and rounded at its end, the jaws articulated in scissors (the lower one well visible) and the prominent zygomatic arch.
His ears: hanging, lively, set high and covered with a long hair.
His eyes: brown, round, rather large and displaying a look of frankness, liveliness and loyalty.
Its body: writable in a rectangle, its length being slightly greater than its height at the withers. The top line is raised in the lumbar region, the chest well let down, the ribs moderately arched, the bottom line and the belly very slightly raised.
Its tail: long, fringed, hanging down when the dog is at rest, but carried high, curved and swinging to the sides when trotting. It can be raised when it is on alert.

Behavior and character

Behavior with others

The Schapendoes is the herding dog par excellence , endowed with all the natural aptitudes associated with this particularly demanding role: endurance, mobility, flexibility, intelligence, vigilance, courage and a certain independence. Outside of work, the Schapendoes are affectionate and loyal to their owner and family. Like any herding dog, he is alert and therefore remains attentive to any attempt to approach the property from a stranger.

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Education

The intelligence and the pronounced taste for work which characterize the Schapendoes are all assets to be exploited in his education. By relying on rewards and encouragement , we manage to make them a companion of excellent quality as well as an efficient and dedicated work partner.

Living conditions

The Schapendoes adapts to many lifestyles and environments as long as it is sufficiently stimulated both physically and sensory. He still prefers to enjoy the great outdoors .

Health

The Schapendoes is a generally robust dog , cut for work in the mountains and resistant to the cold thanks to its double coat. There is no predisposition to a particular disease in this breed.

To protect yourself from these risks and insure your companion in the event of health problems, Woopets recommends Schapendoes dog insurance .

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Life expectancy

Maintenance and hygiene

Surprisingly enough, the Schapendoes molt and therefore sheds very little hair . Its maintenance must nevertheless be regular and followed scrupulously.

It is recommended to brush the dog at least once a week to prevent knots from forming in his long, thick coat. It is nevertheless advisable to preserve its rustic aspect, characteristic of the breed. Regularly, the inside of its ears, its pads, its skin and its eyes are to be examined and cleaned to avoid the deposits of debris or external parasites.

His teeth need to be brushed frequently to remove tartar build-up and the proliferation of bacteria. Finally, if they do not wear out naturally, its claws need to be cut. If you are new to this, it is recommended that you seek advice from a veterinarian or groomer.

Price and budget

No name is currently proposed. Use our tool to find the name of your Schapendoes!

Food

The Schapendoes need a high quality diet suitable for their level of physical activity, age and size.

Physical activity

The Schapendoes need to stay active by taking part in long daily walks . The ideal for him would be to be able to indulge in dog sports disciplines such as agility, because he has a lot of energy and talent to express in this area.

Competitions

Others

FCI Information