Schapendoes: temperament, price, health, and breeders

The creation of the Schapendoes breed is attributed to P. M. C. Toepoel, a Dutch judge and dog fancier. Until the beginning of the 20th century, this type of dog commonly accompanied shepherds and their flocks on the heathlands of the Netherlands, where it demonstrated its intelligence and endurance. After the Second World War, breeders revived the breed, greatly weakened by the conflict. The Dutch Schapendoes club was founded in 1947, then the standard was set a few years later. The FCI has recognized the breed in group 1 under number 313 since 1991.

The Schapendoes is a medium-sized herding dog, lightly built and with harmonious proportions, slightly longer than tall. Its coat is long, dense, close and slightly wavy, with a well-developed undercoat, a beard, a moustache and abundant fringes. The head is round and generously covered with hair, the eyes are brown, round and expressive, the ears are pendant and the tail long and fringed. The ideal coat tends towards blackened blue-grey, but all colours are permitted.

The Schapendoes is a lively, hardy, supple and intelligent herding dog. Affectionate and loyal with its family, it remains vigilant and courageous without being excessively harsh. It retains a degree of independence typical of working dogs, while seeking closeness to its humans.

The Schapendoes adapts to many living environments provided it is sufficiently stimulated physically and mentally. It enjoys long daily walks and readily excels in canine activities such as agility. Indoors, it can be pleasant to live with, but it generally prefers to enjoy space and regular opportunities to expend energy.

Its intelligence and its taste for work are real assets in training. The Schapendoes responds well to a consistent, positive and motivating method, based on rewards and encouragement. Early socialization and varied exercises help it become a well-balanced companion and an attentive partner.

The Schapendoes remains a relatively confidential breed, which can influence the availability of litters and the level of selection of breeding kennels. The acquisition budget must be assessed along with the quality of health monitoring, the puppy’s socialization, and the breeder’s transparency.

The Schapendoes is overall a robust dog. Its double coat protects it well from the cold and its working dog heritage gives it good overall hardiness. As with many herding breeds, particular vigilance is nevertheless necessary regarding the joints.

The Schapendoes needs a good-quality diet, adapted to its age, body condition and activity level. A well-adjusted ration supports its muscle mass, endurance and the quality of its coat.

The Schapendoes is also known under the names Nederlandse Schapendoes and Dutch Sheepdog. A breed historically linked to herding work in the Netherlands, it is appreciated for its flexibility of movement and its remarkable ease in jumping. Despite its abundant coat, it is often cited for its rather moderate shedding.