Spotlight Breed: Dutch Shepherd 

Welcome to our Spotlight Breed article of the week.  This is where we feature one of the most interesting dog breeds from around the globe!  We are excited to spotlight the Dutch Shepherd today.  This breed was originally used by shepherds in the Netherlands for all-around farm work.  Today, they serve as police dogs, service animals, and family-friendly companions.  They are intelligent, loveable, and fun.  However, there are so many more traits to note about the Dutch Shepherd!

The easiest way to tell the difference between Dutch Shepherds and German Shepherds is by the coat.  For example, the brindle coloration is exclusive to the Dutch Shepherd.  In addition, Dutch Shepherds are smaller than their German cousins.  The breed is extremely intelligent so you should be able to train them with ease.  They enjoy learning new tricks and participating in agility competitions.  The best thing you can do for a Dutch Shepherd is to keep the training sessions varied and fun.  This will make things exciting for them meaning they will want to learn more.

The breed is deeply loyal, and easy to please.  They love to bond closely with their “pack” which includes their owners and children.  They can socialize with other dogs and strangers as well.  Dutch Shepherds need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.  The breed would do fine in an apartment setting; however, they would strive more in a larger house with a fenced-in yard.  The Dutch Shepherd is the perfect breed for athletic competitions.  They are athletic enough for agility and flyball competitions, while being large and strong enough to do tracking, weight-pulling, and herding.

If you are looking for a fun-loving, intelligent, and active dog breed, the Dutch Shepherd may be for you!  We will leave you with our favorite quote about the breed: “If you could stop calling my Dutch Shepherd a German Shepherd, that would be great!”