Breeding

We believe that the most important aspect of dog breeding is the preservation of the given breed. We must take into consideration all external and internal characteristics, and it is very important that a given bitch and male fit together in all respects: appearance, temperament, and individual characteristics.

As the Dutch Shepherd is a very versatile breed, we consider it important to not select them for one specific task, but to preserve this versatility as much as possible. For breeding, it is also essential to perform complete health testing, breed specific breeding qualification tests/exams as well as have show results.

In Hungary, there are very few FCI Dutch Shepherd breeders. There are more that are not FCI “breeders”, who mix Dutch Shepherds and Malinois in order to breed “hard” working dogs. We condemn this kind of breeding.

Brief historical summary

Originally the main function of the Dutch Shepherd Dog was that of a shepherd’s dog in the countryside. From early times, the Dutch had an arable culture that was – among other things – maintained by flocks of sheep. The dogs had to keep the flock away from the crops, which they did by patrolling the borders of the road and the fields. They also accompanied the flocks on
their way to the common meadows, markets and ports. At the farm, they kept the hens away from the kitchen garden, they herded the cows together for milking and pulled the milk carts. They also alerted the farmers if strangers entered the farmyard. Around 1900, sheep flocks had for the greater part disappeared in the Netherlands. The versatile skills of the Dutch Shepherd Dog made him suitable for dog training, which was then starting to become popular. Thus he started on a new career as a police dog, as a search- and tracking dog and as a guide dog for the blind. He is, however, still capable of herding sheep. The breed’s first standard dates from 12 June 1898.

General appeareance

A medium-sized, middle-weighted, well-muscled dog of powerful and well-balanced structure. A dog with lots of endurance, a lively temperament and an intelligent expression. Depending on the coat the breed is distinguished in the following varieties: short-, long- and wire haired.

SIZE: Males: 57 – 62 cm, Females: 55- 60 cm

COLOUR: Brindle. The basic colour is golden or silver. Golden can vary from light sand- coloured to chestnut red. The brindle is clearly present all over the body, in the ruff, breeches and tail. Too much black is undesirable. A black mask is preferable. Heavy white markings on chest or feet is not desirable.

Behaviour/Temperament

Very loyal and reliable, always alert, watchful, active, independent, with persistence, intelligence, prepared to be obedient and gifted with the true shepherding temperament. The Dutch Shepherd Dog works willingly together with its owner and he deals independently with any task which is assigned to
him. When herding larger flocks he must have the capacity to work together with several other dogs.

Health

X-Ray testing

HD : Hip Dysplasia

ED : Elbow dysplasia

LTV: Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae

Spondylosis

(OCD: Osteochondritis Dissecans of the shoulder)

Blood testing

DM: Degeneratív myelopathia

SDCA 1-2.: Spongy Degeneration with Cerebellar Ataxia

DNA Colour testing

K locus brindle test – If a dog is k^yk^y, it will not be brindled, if a dog is k^brk^br, or k^brk^y, it will nearly always be brindled. Dutch Shepherds must be brindled so breeders may be paired only k^brk^br with k^brk^brOR k^brk^br with k^brk^y and NEVER PAIRED k^brk^y with k^brk^y because in this case the 25 % of the puppies will be not brindled.

Our dogs