Schapendoes

Described as cheerful and friendly, the Schapendoes is a breed of thick-haired Dutch herding dogs valued for their liveliness and remarkable jumping ability. It is lightly built with a relatively broad skull, slightly tapering foreface, moderately large eyes, fairly high-set ears hanging freely, lightly-boned front legs, deep chest, long, and feathered tail. Aside from herding and farming works, the Schapendoes takes part in flyball and dog agility.

Schapendoes Pictures

History

1800s: The Schapendoes evolved from herding and farm dogs found in the scrublands and forests of Netherlands, specifically in the Drenthe and Veluwe province. These domestic herding dogs, not known as a specific breed, could adapt to their environment and were displayed in dog shows during the 1870s.

1900s: Their numbers decreased, making them on the verge of extinction during the Second World War. However, some breeders along with the national kennel club took measures to save the breed. The modern Schapendoes trace their ancestry to some of the dogs that survived during this period. The Raad van Beheer recognized it in 1952 with its breed standard established in 1954.

The FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale) recognized the breed in 1971.

Temperament and Behavior

The affectionate and fun-loving Schapendoes is a joy to own. It is a cooperative and loyal pet that always wants to please its people. Being an energetic breed, it makes an excellent playing companion for kids who know how to interact with dogs.

Although it is not overly protective and aggressive, it has natural watchdog ability and can alert its family of intruders. It exhibits typical herding behavior and may try to nudge people especially children with its nose and shoulders.

Training

Socialization: Start socializing your dog with other pets and children in a calm and quiet atmosphere. Gradually expose your Schapendoes to different loud situations and reward it for calm behavior. Walk by busy roads with traffic, watch fireworks videos, randomly drop coins, or walk by loud machinery such as lawn mowers.

Stopping your dog from herding people: To stop it from nipping at people’s ankles or feet, keep its favorite toy handy. When it nips or bites, wave the toy around until it catches your pet’s attention. Your Schapendoes will stop biting and want to get hold of the toy.

Feeding

Since Schapendoes is typically an active breed, it needs a nutritious diet with moderate amounts of protein. Consider giving your pet quality dog foods containing turkey, chicken, lamb, and fish.

Interesting Facts

• It is related to some livestock guardian and herding dogs including the Old German Sheepdog, Old English Sheepdog, Bergamasco Shepherd, Briard, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Puli, and Bearded Collie.