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Welcome to Our !RARE! Breed of the Month Feature!

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Featuring August's !RARE! Breed of the Month
the Schapendoes / Dutch Sheepdog

What is a Schapendoes?

The Schapendoes, also known as the Dutch Sheepdog, is a dog originally bred to be a herder in the Drenthe province and in the swampy marshlands of the Veluwe of the Netherlands. While the Schapendoes is still used often for herding practices, it is also known for its stellar jumping abilities which make it an ideal competitor in dog sports such as agility and flyball.

History & Origin

The history of the Schapendoes is a murky one as there is little information to go about in terms of breed development. The Schapendoes in summation is a descendant of a generalized population of farm and herding dogs which lived in the Drenthe and Veluwe provinces respectively. The dogs that resided in these pockets of the Netherlands had no common name given to them as most purebreds are designated to today, many to be shrouded in mystery. They were a multi-functional working dog adapting to the work and people they resided with. According to scholars and breed enthusiasts, the Schapendoes closest recognizable relatives include the Bearded Collie, Puli, Old English Sheepdog, Briard, the equally rare Bergamasco Shepherd Dog and Owczarek Nizinny, and even the controversial Old German Shepherd Dog (Schafspudel).



The first time any Schapendoes was exhibited in a dog show was during the beginning of the dog show era in the 1870's where they were labeled a Domestic herding dog. Despite their popular in their native land, the dogs nearly faced extinction at the end of World War II with the introduction of Border Collies in the Netherlands. The farmers preferred the collie's swifter motions, quicker mind, and lighter coat which lead the Schapendoes to become obsolete. This means that the breed seen today is the result of a handful of survivors saved by enthusiasts of the breed. The Schapendoes finally received breed recognition by the Dutch Raad van Beheer (The Netherlands Kennel Club) in 1952 and had a written standard by 1954. This is the standard all kennel clubs that recognize the Schapendoes follow. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognized the breed in 1971 in the "Sheepdog" category and it has made its way to North America being recognized in both the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC) where it is a representative of the Herding group.The breed has yet to be approved by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and is currently represented in the kennel club's Foundation Stock Service (FSS) the first step taken for a breed's recognition.

Appearance & Structure

The Schapendoes is a medium sized dog like many other herding breeds with females measuring 16–19 inches (40–47 cm) and males a bit larger at 17–20 inches (43–50 cm). Males are known to weigh up to 55 lbs. (up to 25 kg.) and their female counterparts weighing in at only about 44 lbs. Their coat is very similar to all sheepdogs with its long, thick, sinuous nature covering the whole body including the legs and face (mustache and beard included!). In addition it is a double coat which matures as the dog grows from a puppy to an adult. Grooming therefore is a huge priority! Color is varied between individuals and by the standard can be of any coloration. Commonly seen coat colors include black, liver, grey, blue, and any of these colors in addition with white.

Temperament

Like all herding breeds, the Schapendoes is a lively, energetic dog that benefits from a decent amount of physical activity. If herding is not one's idea of a good time, as said earlier, these dogs excel in other active sports such as agility and flyball. Suffice it to say, these are certainly not a dog that can be penned up for hours on end in a tiny apartment. A home with an active family in suburbia or even more ideally, a countryside setting, is perfect for this pooch.



Also like other herding dogs, the Schapendoes is a very intelligent animal that prefers an equal partnership with its master rather than a subordiante one in where orders are given. So mental stimulation and strict training are a MUST! While not that effective as a guard dog, the Schapendoes makes up for it with its charasmatic charm and its adaptability to be a great family pet. However, as with all dogs, proper socialization with other animals and children are necessary to have a happy, healthy dog.