Dutch Shepherd
Brindle, always, which is what separates it from the Belgian shepherds beside it. Bred as an all rounder on Dutch farms: herd, guard, pull a cart, whatever came up.
Overview
The Dutch Shepherd is the all purpose farm dog of the Netherlands, used to herd sheep, keep stock out of crops, pull carts and guard the farm, and it is always brindle, which is what distinguishes it from its Belgian and German relatives.
It nearly disappeared in the twentieth century as Dutch farming changed, and it survives largely because police and military units picked it up, which has kept the working drive intact.
Temperament
Alert, biddable and highly driven. Dutch Shepherds are affectionate with their families and reserved with strangers, and they are considerably more independent than a Malinois while being nearly as intense.
They are intelligent and they need work. Without it the drive turns into destructiveness and reactivity. They are generally good with children in their own household and they need early socialisation with dogs.
Care and grooming
Short coats need a weekly brush, long coats twice weekly, and rough coats brushing plus hand stripping twice a year. All shed seasonally.
The working gene pool has kept the breed sound. Hip dysplasia, goniodysplasia leading to glaucoma, and inflammatory myopathy in the rough coated variety are the three worth asking about. Eleven to fourteen years is good for the size.
Living and exercise
Two to three hours a day of structured work. They excel at protection sport, herding, tracking and detection.
They are not pets in the ordinary sense and they are exceptional partners for someone who trains seriously. The rough coated variety in particular is rare enough that finding one takes time.
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