Schapendoes

The Schapendoes is a normally and harmonically constructed herding dog with an attentive and courageous character. He is intelligent, watchful, jolly, lively, friendly and high spirited. Towards people familiar to him, he develops great affection and loyalty.

At the end of the last and beginning of this century, the Nederlandse Schapendoes occurred everywhere in the region of the Netherlands where there was heathland and where there were herds or flocks of sheep. The shepherds valued him for the tireless pleasure he took in his work and for his intelligence. He belongs to the wide-ranging group of long-haired herding breeds which have densely coated heads. He is related to the Bearded Collie, the Puli, the Owczarek Nizinny, the Bobtail, the Briard, the Bergamasker and the German Schafspudel of the variety which occurs in Hessen, Odenwald and the Niederrhein district. All these similar dogs are smaller mutations of mountain dogs. The canine authority, P.M.C. Toepoel, is the founder of this breed. During the second World War, he knew how to rouse interest in the breed. During the years from 1940 to 1945 specimen of the almost vanished Schapendoes were used for breeding from wherever they could be found.

The Breed Club for Nederlandse Schapendoes was founded in the year 1947 and in 1952 the breed was provisionally recognized by the Raad van Beheer. In 1954 the standard was set up and a Stud Book started. Definite recognition followed in the year 1971. Since then only registered dogs have been bred from.

The Schapendoes is not recommended for apartment or city living. They are a high energy breed that require an inordinate amount of exercise. Schapendoes do best in a rural setting and thrive on family interaction and being given a job to do.

Attention, exercise, grooming, and a job or activity to do.

The Schapendoes requires daily brushing of the coat. Bathing should only be done when absolutely necessary using a mild shampoo to preserve the integrity of the coat. Daily cleansing of the face is recommended. The ears and paw pads should be checked often for debris. Due to careful and selective breeding, the Schapendoes has no health issues.

It needs a well-ballanced, consequent training. It loves the exercise, organized activity, sportive games.

It needs a regularly brushing for not letting the fur to get tangled.