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| HEIGHT: 60 cm |
| WEIGHT: 45 kg |
| LIFE EXPECTANCY: 13 -15 years |
| CHARACTERISTICS of Dutch Shepherd Dog breed |
| The three varieties of the Dutch sheepdog are encased in one standard, which dates since 1960, and gathers all the general morphology qualities of a Dutch shepherd, except the coat specifications, which are different in each variety. |
| There are three varieties, depending on the structure and length of coat: short hair, hard hair and long hair. They are obedient, docile, not very demanding, vigilant, very faithful and courageous. |
| ADVICE 823 |
| The care it needs is very similar to that of the Belgium shepherd. The relative resemblance in the weather between the two countries where these breeds are originated, Holland & Belgium and the varieties there are between the two breeds, give the same maintenance. |
| ADVICE 824 |
| The Dutch shepherd must receive few showers so it doesn't lose the sebaceous substances on its hair and skin. Dry bathing products are the most recommended. |
| ADVICE 825 |
| Brushing must be done regularly, once a week for adults and twice for puppies; always using a comb with broad spaced teeth, so it doesn't damage the undercoat. The brushing helps the blood circulation and growth of new hair. |
| Attached to its master, obedient, docile, alert, hard worker, very faithful and trustworthy, modest of great resistance, always aware, active and with all the qualities of an authentic sheepdog. |
| DESCRIPTION of Dutch Sheperd puppy |
| Medium sized sheepdog, of medium weight, self-conscious, with a symmetrical complexion, always alert; in action, has a very lively behavior. Intelligent look, good pace and over all the characteristics of a true sheepdog. |
| HEAD: |
| Its size is well proportioned to the body; its shape is sort of elongated, not compact; without folds and lean. In the hard hair variety, the head looks rather square; however its only an optical illusion. The skull is flat and a not very visible stop. |
| TRUFFLE: |
| Always black. |
| SNOUT: |
| A little longer than the skull. Straight nasal stem and parallel to the skull's upper line. |
| BITE: |
| Strong and regularly developed. When the snout is closed, the incisors of the upper maxilla slightly surpass the lower ones (scissor like bite). |
| EYES: |
| Dark, medium sized, almond shaped (not round), slightly oblique. |
| EARS: |
| Rather small. When alert it raises its ears and points them forward. Placed high and don't have a spoon shape. |
| NECK: |
| It's desirable for the neck not be too short; must be thin, without double chin and have a gradual transition towards the upper line of the body. |
| BODY: |
| Strong, with short, straight and strong back. The loin is string without it being long or thin. The chest deep, but not narrow. The lower line of the thoracic box continues gradually with the line of the belly. The ribs are slightly arched. |
| TAIL: |
| When resting it carries straight or hanging or slightly bent (reaching the tibia-tarsus articulation). While it moves it carries it in an elegant fashion and never to the sides. |
| FRONT EXTREMITIES: |
| Strong, with good muscles and solid bone structure. They are vertical, in a straight line, but with enough suspension in the carpal articulation. Scapulas: oblique and well joined to the thoracic box. Legs: of good length. |
| BACK EXTREMITIES: |
| Also strong, well muscled and solid boned. The knee's articulation is slightly angled, so the femur doesn't have an exaggerated inclination. It is also desirable for the tibia-tarsus articulation to present a moderate angle, so he metatarsal is vertically bellow the ischium bulge. Without spurs. |
| FEET: |
| The toes close together and arched, avoiding the foot to be long. Black nails. Elastic and dark pads. |
| MOVEMENT: |
| The movement must be rigid, but flowing, flexible and natural but not to easy. It covers plenty of ground. |
| VARIETIES: |
| Taking into account the coat variations, there are the following varieties: a) short hair.
b) long hair. c) hard hair.
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| SHORT HAIR: |
| The presence of tough hair is desirable and not too short throughout its whole body, with an abundant undercoat. The collar, legs and tail with feathers must be clearly visible. |
| Color: |
| More or less tabby over basic brown (golden striped) or grey (silver striped). The hue of the stripes goes around the whole body, including the collar, legs and the feathered tail. |
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| LONG HAIR: |
| The hair of the whole body is long, straight, tight, and stringy to the touch, without curls or locks, with an abundant undercoat. The head, ears, feet and back extremities under the tibia-tarsus articulation are covered with very dense hair. The hair on the back of the front extremities is plentiful and longer in the lower areas; the so called feathers. The tail is completely covered with abundant hair. Lastly, no locks are formed around the ears. |
| Color: |
| The same as the short haired variety. |
| HARD HAIR: |
| It is preferred that the whole body be covered of abundant, dense, hard hair, except the head, which has a thick undercoat. The coat must be very dense. The lower and upper lips are covered with thick abundant hair, which isn't smooth and is well separated. Prominent eyelashes, with stringy hair. The hair is less developed over the skull and the cheeks. The tail is completely covered with hair. It is undesirable very long haired legs. |
| Color: |
| Grayish blue & pepper, golden tabby or silver. The stripes must be less apparent in the outer layers of the hard hair variety, the opposite of what happens in the other ones. |
| SIZE: |
| The cross height in males is around 57 & 62 cm and 55 & 60 cm on females. |
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