Schapendoes

Temperament:

Attentive, Cheerful, Spirited
Size: Medium
Height: 40-50 cm
Weight: 12-25 kg
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Coat: Longhair
Colors: Blue gray, Black, White
FCI Group: Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)

The Schapendoes comes from the Netherlands. The dogs are very loyal and appreciate being able to work extensively. In addition, they are very light on their feet. Therefore, in the past, these animals were mainly used as shepherd dogs.

This is still reflected in the nature of the Schapendoes today. These dogs appreciate demanding tasks that challenge their intelligence. So you should always keep them busy enough.

Due to their lack of hunting instinct, Schapendoes are relatively easy to train. Nevertheless, they appreciate a little independence. You can form a deep bond of friendship with Schapendoes. They also make excellent family dogs.

Schapendoes
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Characteristics

The Schapendoes is a dog of medium size. An adult male can grow between 43 and 50 cm. A bitch is slightly smaller and can grow up to a range of 40 and 47 cm.

The length of growth of the Schapendoes slightly exceeds their height of growth. The Schapendoes has a long tail. This the animal carries either upright, hanging or horizontal. This depends on its mood or the type of gait.

The Schapendoes stands out for its dense and extraordinary hair growth. Therefore, this shaggy dog is often perceived larger and heavier than he really is. However, under its mane of hair hides a dog of light weight. The Schapendoes therefore moves very light-footed and has a strong bounce.

The Schapendoes has undercoat. His hair can grow up to more than seven centimeters. The coat is not smooth, but has slight waves. The hair of the Schapendoes grows very thick and does not feel velvety, but thin and dry.

Due to its coat, the Schapendoes can thus reach a large girth. The dense hair growth can also sometimes hinder the Schapendoes in seeing.

Due to the strong fur growth, the head of the animal also looks bigger and stronger than what is really hiding under the hair. The Schapendoes looks at you with large, lively and loving eyes. These are directed to the front. The ears of the animal hang down from the head. The Schapendoes has a strong neck. Therefore, he carries his head proudly and upright.

The forelegs of the animal are straight. The hind legs are more muscular than the front legs. In relation to the legs, the paws of the Schapendoes are quite large.

The Schapendoes appears in all coat colors. However, the most common color variation is a black and blue-gray colored coat.

The Schapendoes is still a shepherd dog deep in his nature. Nowadays, however, it is kept as a family, companion or fashion dog.

The Schapendoes is a very intelligent, fun-loving, Attentive and affectionate Journeyman. Due to these properties this animal is very suitable as a family dog. The Schapendoes is also suitable for families with small children.

However, the Schapendoes is a dog that loves to work, as it was bred to do so. Therefore, he loves it, ample exercise and Employment to get. Above all, he likes to have to do demanding occupations. Therefore, the Schapendoes is particularly suitable as a rescue dog, for example.

The education of the Schapendoes is quite pleasant compared to other dogs. He is very intelligent and Attentive. In addition, he does not care much about hunting. However, he likes to be somewhat independent.

Therefore, you should not be too lenient in the education. In this way, your Schapendoes will quickly develop into an extremely loyal friend. He will always inspire you with his zest for life.

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

The Schapendoes does not make any special demands on its diet. Nevertheless, you should be on a high-quality fodder pay attention. The feed should contain a high proportion of meat and a low proportion of cereals.

You should also always use treats sparingly. If you overfeed your four-legged friend, you're not doing him any favors. Especially since the Schapendoes is characterized by its lightness of foot.

You should not spoil your Schapendoes with food rewards. Instead, you should keep him busy with challenging work tasks. Then you can also allow him a treat or two.

Health & Care

The Schapendoes requires less care than you might think at first glance. In particular, grooming this animal is not difficult. It is usually easier than with some dogs with short hair.

You only need to comb your Schapendoes every one to three weeks. This procedure can take a little longer. But otherwise there is not much to do.

The hair of the Schapendoes is more or less self-cleaning. Therefore, you should your quadruped only occasionally with dog shampoo wash

Unlike most dogs with short coats, the Schapendoes sheds almost no hair. The shed hairs also do not wedge themselves as stubbornly as short dog hairs. However, picking up the hair still involves work.

In wet weather, mud can get caught in the lower part of the hair coat. Especially on the paws and legs. In this case, of course, you should rinse the paws and legs of your four-legged friend with warm water.

If your Schapendoes is younger, grooming his coat can be a bit more labor intensive after all. Especially before the second year of life, grooming often requires patience. And not only from your side. You also have to get your dog used to the fact that you determine how often and how long he is brushed.

In the period before the second year of life, the coat of the Schapendoes changes. The soft hair of the puppy becomes the harder coat of the adult dog. Therefore, without care, the coat may become matted. During this time you should regularly check the condition of the coat. In case of need, comb the coat several times a week.

Don't be too good-natured or indulgent if your dog doesn't feel like it. This can take revenge with matting, so that the coat must be shorn off in the worst case. Therefore, it is important that you get your Schapendoes used to grooming at an early age.

You can do this by getting your dog used to brushing as a puppy. At this time, in fact, grooming is not yet necessary. Only in the period of transition from kitten to adult Schapendoes. Nevertheless, the animal will better accept the later hair care. This is usually necessary in the period between the ninth month and the second year of life.

The strong claws of the Schapendoes should be cut or sharpened regularly. This way you avoid overgrowth, splitting or cracking of the nails.

The ears should be checked regularly and cleaned if necessary. Accumulation of earwax and debris can lead to infections.

Also the area of eyes should be regularly checked and cleaned.

Lastly, you should start as early as puppyhood with the Dental care so that your four-legged friend gets used to it. This way you can avoid plaque and tartar.

Suitable accessories

Indispensable for the care of a Schapendoes is therefore a brush and a Comb. There are also special combs to loosen tangles. This could also use your four-legged friend once to save him from shearing. If the hair is so matted that it can no longer be brushed, you may also have to shear your Schapendoes.

Otherwise, you should avoid cutting off the fur of your Schapendoes. Therefore, you do not need hair scissors or similar.

The basic equipment of any dog includes, among other things, a Dog leash, collar respectively tableware, a Eat- and Water bowl, a Dog blanket and Transport box.

Toys that develop a dog's intelligence, are ideal for a Schapendoe. Also, you can already think about how to balance his need for work and thus keep active, so that he does not get bored.

Origin & History

The Schapendoes comes from the Netherlands. His ancestors were probably an old, small breed of shepherd dogs, who Sheep Poodle.

Sheep poodles were small, agile Shepherd dogswhich possessed a shaggy fur. These were extraordinarily willing to work and frugal. In addition, they were characterized by the fact that they were very hardy and smart.

Soon there were only a few sheep poodles left in Europe. They had previously been widespread throughout Europe. However, they were gradually displaced. For example, German and Belgian shepherd dogs appeared. In addition, itinerant shepherding declined. Many shepherds now had to earn their money in other ways and no longer had any use for a shepherd dog.

Until 1940 the Schapendoes lived quite undiscovered in the heathlands of the Netherlands. They were used by shepherds mainly for their love of work and intelligence. Also because the Schapendoes were characterized by robustness and loyalty. Using Schapendoes as family or companion dogs was not the original intention.

" Judge and cynologist Toepoel appreciated the breed of Schapendoes. Without him, the Schapendoes would probably have been declared extinct. Noepoel tried to revive the breed during World War II.

In 1947, an association of Dutch Schapendoes was established. This still exists and takes care of this breed all over the world. In the year 1952 the breed was provisionally recognized by a Dutch dog breeding association. Two years later, the first standards were established and a pedigree book was started.

In 1991, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) officially recognized the Schapendoes.

Meanwhile, in Germany, the Association Schapendoes e. V. about the preservation of this breed. Every year, about 100 new puppies of the shaggy four-legged friends are born.