Dutch Shepherd Dog: breed description and content

Sheep-dogs are popular among owners of large houses and private territories. They are able to become a reliable protector of the territory and a loyal friend. This is also true for Dutch shepherd dogs.

The Dutch Shepherd Dog, or herder, is a shepherd dog breed. Her first appearance in light occurred in Amsterdam at a dog show in 1974. Today there are not so many Dutch Shepherd Dogs, their population is absolutely small, and no more than 300 animals appear per year. But still in Holland itself they are treated with special trepidation. Get them more often for personal purposes, and not for sale. But at the same time they can be met not only in private yards, but also in the service in the police, and in the army, and in fire departments.

If we consider the description of the Dutch Shepherd Dog, it is quite a large animal. We give her standards.

• Growth male dogs are usually within 60 centimeters, but females are no higher than 55 centimeters.
• Weight females 35 kilograms, and males - up to 45 kilograms.
• Head such animals has an average size and oblong shape. It is located in proportion to the body. The back of the head of the Dutch Shepherd Dog is quite pronounced. In addition, its frontal part very carefully goes into the face. It has a slightly elongated shape and is equal to its skull. When viewed from the side, the head will be in line with part of the forehead.
• Dutch Shepherd Dogs have a scissor bite. Their upper lip covers almost completely the entire lower part. Teeth have powerful fangs that can close.
• Their eyes quite small, besides widely planted; their form is almond-shaped. They have a brown or dark brown color and a black border.
• Nose big, also black on the tip.
• Ears Dutch Shepherd Dogs are standing and triangular.
• Their neck pretty muscular.
• Self body type very powerful, and the back is even.
• Straight tail has an average length.
• Paws straight, and fingers tight to each other. They end in black claws.
• Wool may be different, since such animals are divided into three types - they are long-haired, short-haired and wire-haired.
• Color Dutch Shepherd dogs can be very diverse. They can be both red, and red-brown, and silvery, and tiger. However, in no case will they be monotonous.

Dutch Shepherd dogs are rather freedom-loving animals, therefore they are completely unsuitable for life in the city. It would be best for their health to live in nature, but at the same time to keep them on a chain is not worth it. After all, it may too negatively affect their health. If the dog still has to live in the city, then it will need a lot of physical exertion. In addition, it will be necessary to frequently walk the dog in the fresh air.

Herders are quite intelligent animals that constantly need regular communication with people. Knowledge is given to them very easily, so they are well trained in training. These dogs are considered excellent guards, because they understand the responsibility they have.Often the Dutch Shepherd Dogs become excellent guides for blind people, but it will take a lot of time and effort to train them.

Dutch Shepherds are one of the brightest successes of breeders who were engaged in their breeding. They have a rather calm character. They practically do not show aggression, except for completely strangers, and that is if the owner allows them to do so.

If they get into a new home, they get used to their owners for a very long time. But when the herder realizes that the person is a leader, he will become his most faithful friend. In addition, these dogs absolutely do not tolerate loneliness, as they are herd animals. If the leader is only one person for them, then they can also be friendly with other inhabitants in the house. But they will not listen or execute their commands.

Representatives of this breed can be divided into three conditional groups.

• Hard-haired dogs have the toughest fur. It is rather dense, which is why animals constantly seem to be disheveled. In addition, they have a thick undercoat. Because of their stiff hair, it seems that their attractive face has a thick beard and a small mustache. In addition, it seems that the dog has pants. The colors of the herders can be blue, gray or gold. In addition, there are individuals tiger shade. However, the last wool softer to the touch.

• Long haired. In such animals, the coat is also hard, but at the same time it is long and smooth. It is longer on the head as well as near the ears. Elongated fur and paws. The dog has a thick undercoat. The color is the same as that of wire-haired dogs.

• Shorthair. Dogs of this type have a short and tough coat, moreover, they have a rather pronounced undercoat. As for the color, they have the same as in other species.

In the litter of one dog can be born immediately from 5 to 8 small puppies. All of them are very beautiful, and sometimes it is very difficult to choose one of them. Deciding to get yourself a little friend, you need to focus on a number of indicators.

• On the puppy must be documents that confirm his pedigree. In addition, there must necessarily be a veterinary book in which vaccinations or diseases, if any, in animals are noted.
• His parents must also be the relevant documents.
• A puppy must be healthy.
• There should be no scratches on the skin.
• The dog must be active, playful and friendly.

Besides, You should not buy such dogs from your hands or simply from a photograph After all, it often happens that the puppy is an ordinary mongrel, not a real herder. To avoid this, it is best to buy puppies in special kennels or from renowned breeders. The price of such puppies starts from 400-500 dollars. In addition, to find out in more detail the nature of the selected puppy, it is necessary with the purchase just to turn him back and press him so that he could not get up.

If he behaves too aggressively and bark or squeak, it will indicate that he has slight deviations or problems. A good puppy will be more restrained and perceive such a situation as a game.

And also it is necessary to remember that puppies of this breed are very prone to overeating. Therefore, it is necessary to ask what he was fed before.

Dutch Shepherd Dogs are considered the most picky in eating animals, but prone to obesity. Therefore, it is necessary to feed strictly on schedule. If there is too much food, it will be poorly digested, and they will immediately become a liquid stool.The owner should choose the food for his pet. It can be both industrial and natural. The main thing is that the dog's diet is balanced.

Such feeding makes life easier for a person, since he doesn’t need to cook. Simply pour the food in a bowl, and you can go about your business. In addition, dry food is made for a particular breed, as well as for different ages. All necessary substances which are necessary for a dog are their part.

Adult animals should definitely be fed no more than twice a day. In addition, it is best at the same time. Many people believe that such animals are predators, and therefore it is necessary to feed them only with meat. But this is not at all the case. The diet should include various foods:

• meat, better if it is raw;
• boiled sea fish or fresh river fish;
• offal of different animals;
• boiled eggs;
• cereals from various cereals, for example, buckwheat, rice or wheat groats;
• low-fat cottage cheese or kefir, you can also give the usual yogurt;
• boiled or raw vegetables, such as pumpkin or zucchini;
• bread.

In addition, you can give vitamin supplements. Only in this way the dog will get everything you need. Small puppies need to be fed only on schedule. This should be done 3 times a day. Portions must be correctly calculated, they can be increased only when the puppy starts to grow a little. The bowl should have two dogs: one for food, and the second for water, which should always be in the access zone.

Herderas are quite active animals, but in order for them to always be healthy, they will need a lot of space, as well as some physical activity. Therefore, you need to play more with your pet, be sure to take walks. If the animal lives in a country house, then the dog can walk as much as he wishes, but in the cities It is necessary to walk dogs no less than 4-5 hours a day.

It is forbidden to cut such dogs, but they should be combed out. This is especially important during their molting. The comb should be tough, able to cope with their thick hair. This should be done daily so that the wool is not all over the apartment. When the molting period is delayed, it is necessary to consult veterinarians, as this may be some kind of disease. Those dogs that live in the apartment, it is necessary to bathe from time to time. However, this is often not worth doing. Once a month is enough. And in spring or autumn, when it is dirt on the street, it’s enough for a dog to wipe its paws and other dirty places with a damp cloth.

It is necessary to regularly inspect the ears of your pets in order to free them from sulfur or ticks if necessary. And also it is necessary to brush their teeth with a special brush or to give special bones that can cope with dental plaque no worse. The dog should receive all necessary vaccinations on time.

Both of these processes will directly depend on the nature of the dog. Since such an animal has an almost universal character, thanks to the training, it is possible to get not only an excellent guide, but also a guard or a search dog. It is necessary to begin to train them from an early age. It is best to do this when he eats or walks. In addition, you need a lot of contact with him, so that he quickly got used to the new owner and learned to obey him. And also it is necessary to teach him not to be afraid of other people.

First you need to teach the dog to respond to its nickname. After that, you can proceed to its further training. An animal must master commands such as “Place”, “Near”, “To me”. For example, during the festivities it will be enough just to show your pet once how to recover on a walk, the second time he will do it correctly. However, everything should be done gradually so as not to overload it.

It is necessary to educate puppies not only caress, but also severity. First of all, the dog must understand who is the owner of the house, you need to subordinate him to his will. It is possible to punish the only way - by taking away your favorite treat. During training, he must understand that his master must be listened to and carry out his commands. Indeed, in the future, the dog will become huge and can harm other people if it does not carry out the necessary commands.

Summarizing, we can say that the Dutch shepherd will become not only a good guard at home, but also a loyal friend. In addition, in any situation she will be able to protect her master from any danger. The main thing is to provide her proper care, and she will be able to live a long and joyful life.

In the next video you can get to know the Dutch Shepherd.