Updated 05-May-2020.
Mondo shtuff from around the internet, all about DUTCH SHEPHERD!
My botty best at summarizing from Wikipedia: the Dutch Shepherd is a herding dog of Dutch origin . when the first breed standard was written in 1898, the coat could be any colour . in 1914, it was decided to allow only brindle to distinguish the dogs patrolled borders of roads and fields to keep flocks away from crops . around 1900, sheep flocks had disappeared in the Netherlands . the versatile skills of the Dutch Shepherds made them suitable for dog training . they were then trained and used as police dogs, search and tracking dogs, and guide dogs for the blind . the Second world war put a stop to breeding after the war, breeding began anew and new blood was needed to diversify the gene pool . sometimes, dogs of unknown origin were used to expand the rough-haired variety . the Dutch Shepherd is still a rare the Dutch Breed Club encourages owners of dogs meeting the minimum conformation standards to breed them . guidelines are laid out so as to increase their number and diversify the gene pool, while preserving the health of the breed . Depending head, ears and feet and also the hind legs below the hocks are short and densely coated . backsides of forelegs show a strongly developed coat, shortening in length towards the feet, the two well-defined, coarse rough eyebrows that are distinct but not exaggerated . Furnishings are not soft. hair on skull and cheeks is less strongly developed . strongly developed breeches are a “true silver brindle” is very rare, because too much white is considered a fault . too much black is undesirable . ruff, breeches, and tail are covered all round with hair a black mask is preferable. Heavy white markings on the chest or feet are not desirable . Obedience and discipline can be achieved with remarkable results . Gifted with a true shepherding temperament, they can Dutch Shepherds have allergies, masticatory myositis, pannus, cryptorchidism and inflammatory bowel disease . care should be taken to screen for goniodysplasia two dogs with a risk of goniodysplasia can still have puppies who are not at risk . the Dutch Breed Club regulations requires the testing for GD for rough-hairs . a new DNA screening test is available through the university of Minnesota . the long-haired variety needs to be groomed about once a week, or more frequently depending on work and environment . the rough-hair variety needs to be thoroughly brushed once a week . they compete in dog agility, obedience, rally obedience, flyball, dock jumping . internationally, the Dutch Shepherd is best known for use in law enforcement the KNPV began a dog registration program in 2014 for all dog born after 1 April 2013 . the FCI itself is not a registry and does not issue pedigrees . it has 90 members and contract partners the goal of the FCI is, in part, ‘to protect the use, the keeping, and the breeding of purebred dogs’ . established in 1898, the United Kennel Club is the largest all-breed UKC-registered Dutch Shepherds compete in conformation, obedience, agility, rally, weight pull, nosework, lure coursing, and previously in protection/police dog events . the number of active (under the age ISBN 978-90-6455-681-4. http://www.hollandseherder.nl/ The Dutch Breeds. Raad van Beheer Association.