¶Table of Contents
¶Quick Facts
The Dutch Schapendoes is a lightly built Dutch herding dog that combines enthusiasm for work, speed and independence with deep affection for people it knows. It is best suited to someone who wants to train and stay active with their dog and who has time for a long coat, particularly while a young dog is changing coat.
- Breed group: Group 1, Sheepdogs and Cattledogs
- Origin: The Netherlands
- Original purpose: Herding sheep
- Height at the withers: Dogs 43–50 cm, bitches 40–47 cm
- Weight: The breed standard does not give a fixed weight range
- Coat: Long, dense double coat with a fine, dry and lightly waved texture
- Activity level: An energetic herding dog that needs both exercise and purposeful tasks
The breed is often called simply the Schapendoes. Beneath the shaggy coat is an agile working dog that should be able to gallop, jump and turn quickly.
¶Appearance & Coat
The Dutch Schapendoes should be lightly built and slightly longer than tall. Its movement should be free and springy. The profuse coat makes the dog look larger than its body really is.
Dogs should stand 43–50 cm at the withers and bitches 40–47 cm. The standard gives no ideal weight; height, light construction, muscle and body condition are better guides than a general range in kilograms.
The tail is long and profusely coated, but it should not always be carried in the same position. It hangs down at rest. At the trot it may be carried fairly high and swing gently from side to side, while at the gallop it is stretched out and acts as a rudder when the dog jumps. An alert dog may raise its tail, but it should not be carried stiffly over the back.
The coat has a dense undercoat and long outer hair, measuring at least 7 cm over the hindquarters. The hair should be fine, dry and lightly waved, standing out in tufts. A distinctly curly, frizzy or silky coat does not meet the standard. The abundant topknot, moustache and beard create the characteristic expression.
All colours are accepted, although the standard gives preference to blue-grey through to black.
Coat care changes as the dog grows. The puppy coat can be relatively straightforward, while the transition to the adult coat often produces a softer mixed coat that mats more readily. The adult coat develops gradually and may not be complete until roughly two to three years of age. During the transition, some dogs need combing far more often than a mature adult.
A thorough grooming session about once a week is a sensible starting point, but the condition of the coat should decide. Work in small sections and check with a comb right down to the skin, particularly behind the ears, through the beard and ruff, under the front legs, on the belly and around the hindquarters. If the comb does not pass through without resistance, the coat needs attention.
The coat can collect gravel, twigs, seeds, mud and snow. Undercoat also comes loose periodically, even if hair does not always land on the floor in the same way as it does with a short-coated dog. This does not make the breed allergy-friendly. Dog allergy is caused mainly by allergens from skin and saliva, and no breed can be guaranteed safe for someone with an allergy.
¶Temperament & Personality
The breed standard describes the Schapendoes as attentive, courageous, intelligent, watchful, cheerful, lively and friendly. It should be affectionate and loyal towards people it knows. Its herding background often shows in how quickly it notices movement and changes around it.
This is the breed ideal, not a guarantee for every individual. The Swedish breed-specific breeding strategy, based on older behavioural assessments up to and including 2015, noted flight and fear responses to sounds and surprises and a reluctance among some dogs to investigate what had frightened them. The evidence is limited and historical, but makes confidence and recovery important questions. Ask the breeder for concrete examples of how the parents and close relatives respond to strangers, sudden noises, handling and unfamiliar environments, and ask to see BPH or MH behavioural assessment results where available.
Watchfulness may mean that the dog announces a visitor or a change outside the home. Teach early that a brief alert should be followed by calm behaviour. Block access to a window if watching it triggers barking, reward quiet behaviour and teach the dog to go to a designated place when someone comes to the door.
A Schapendoes can live happily with children when the dog is secure and an adult guides the interaction. Children should not pull the coat, disturb a resting dog or play with it without supervision. Playfulness and quick movements can also lead to collisions or herding-like circling. With dogs, cats and small pets, the outcome depends on the individual, experience and introduction; a herding background does not guarantee trouble-free relationships.
¶Training & Exercise
The Dutch Schapendoes needs physical exercise and mental stimulation every day, but no fixed number of hours suits every dog. Adjust the workload to age, health, fitness and the ability to settle. Balance walks, opportunities to sniff and tasks requiring concentration with undisturbed rest.
The breed may enjoy agility, rally obedience, obedience, heelwork to music, scent work, tracking, wounded-game tracking and herding. Competition is not essential, but the dog benefits from tasks that combine quick decisions, body control and co-operation. Fast-paced exercise should be balanced with calm and rest.
Independent work was part of the breed's original function. In training, this may appear as taking the initiative or losing interest in repetitive exercises. Keep sessions short, vary rewards and increase difficulty gradually. Reward-based training provides clear information without fear or pain.
Early priorities include:
- recall and engagement around movement, people and other dogs
- settling quietly by doors and windows and around sounds in shared hallways
- walking on a loose lead and passing distractions without trying to herd or rush into play
- relaxed handling of the coat, ears, paws, mouth and whole body
- body awareness before high jumps and demanding agility work
- a clear cue that means activity has ended and it is time to rest
Puppies and young dogs should not be trained like mature canine athletes. Develop balance and co-ordination through varied movement and avoid repeated high-impact work until the body is mature.
¶Health
Ask to see current eye and gPRA results, together with any available information about hips, elbows and temperament. Check the identity of each dog and the dates of the examinations.
gPRA is a form of progressive retinal atrophy linked in the Schapendoes to a mutation in the CCDC66 gene. The disease gradually damages the retina's light-sensitive cells and may cause night blindness, progressive loss of sight and ultimately blindness. A direct DNA test is available for the breed-specific mutation.
The DNA test shows whether the dog is genetically clear, a carrier or has two copies of the disease variant:
- A genetically clear dog does not have the tested disease variant.
- A carrier has one copy. It should not be confused with a dog that has two copies, but can pass the variant to its offspring.
- A dog with two copies is at risk of developing the tested form of gPRA.
Inheritance is simple autosomal recessive. A known carrier should therefore only be mated to a dog that is genetically clear or documented as clear by parentage. Puppies from such a mating cannot inherit two copies of this particular tested variant, although some may be carriers. What matters is that the combination is safe and the results can be verified.
The DNA test and a clinical eye examination answer different questions. The DNA test concerns the known CCDC66 variant, while an eye examination can detect visible changes present at the time. A clear DNA result therefore does not rule out every possible eye disorder, and an eye examination with no findings does not reveal the dog's genetic gPRA status.
The published Swedish breed-specific breeding strategy, revised in 2016, specifies gPRA testing and eye examinations for breeding dogs and also recommends hip and elbow assessment. However, the Swedish Kennel Club's registration rules for 2026 contain no breed-specific requirement for hip or elbow assessment, eye examination or gPRA testing before a Schapendoes litter can be registered. A puppy registered with the Swedish Kennel Club therefore does not automatically have parents with these results. The Kennel Club's general rule for serious conditions with simple recessive inheritance still applies when a DNA result is known: a carrier may only be paired with a clear dog, and a dog with two copies of the disease variant must not be used for breeding.
Ask the breeder to show you:
- the gPRA result for each parent or documentation that it is clear by parentage
- current eye examination reports with the complete assessment
- official hip and elbow results where the dogs have been assessed
- information about sight, joints, mobility and fears in older close relatives
¶History & Origins
The Dutch Schapendoes developed as a herding dog in the Netherlands and was found wherever there were heathlands, shepherds and flocks of sheep in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The dogs needed stamina, mobility, speed and the ability to make decisions at a distance from the shepherd.
P. M. C. Toepoel is regarded as the founder of the breed. Between 1940 and 1945, dogs of the nearly vanished type were collected for further breeding. The Dutch breed club was formed in 1947, the Raad van Beheer granted provisional recognition in 1952, and a standard was drawn up and a stud book opened in 1954.
The year 1971 appears in the standard's historical summary as the breed's final recognition. The FCI's own breed register, however, gives 17 May 1991 as the date of definitive FCI recognition. The year 1971 should therefore not be described as the date of definitive FCI recognition without explanation. The current official standard was approved by the FCI in 1992 and published in 1999.
The standard places the Schapendoes among long-haired European herding breeds including the Bearded Collie, Puli, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Old English Sheepdog, Briard and Bergamasco. This describes a broad historical relationship, not a recent cross between these breeds.
¶Living with the Breed
A Schapendoes can live in a flat or a house if it receives activity, rest and training around everyday sounds. In a building with poor sound insulation, people in the hallway, lift doors and movement outside the window must become ordinary events rather than reasons for a prolonged alarm. A garden does not replace walks or shared activities.
Expect the coat to bring the outdoors inside. After a woodland walk, you may need to remove twigs and seeds, tease out damp sections and check the paws and skin. Coat care during the adolescent change can take considerably longer than it does with a mature adult. Teach the puppy to accept systematic grooming on a non-slip surface.
The breed likes to stay close to its family, so time alone should be introduced in small steps once the dog feels secure and has had an opportunity to exercise and toilet. Begin with very short periods and increase them only when the dog can rest. Persistent barking, pacing, panting or destructive behaviour means that the step was too difficult, not that the dog needs to be left for longer to “get used to it”.
The Dutch Schapendoes suits someone who wants a quick, cheerful and engaged training companion and appreciates a dog that takes initiative. It is less suitable if a very low need for activity, minimal coat care or a dog that is automatically quiet and confident everywhere is essential. Choose a breeder on the strength of verified gPRA and eye results, open information about joints and temperament, and the way the adult dogs behave in everyday life.
¶Characteristics
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred |
| Aggressiveness | 3/5 |
| Child Friendly | 4/5 |
| Energy | 3/5 |
| Hair Shedding | 3/5 |
| Health | 4/5 |
| Intelligence | 3/5 |
| Grooming Needs | 2/5 |
| Learning Ability | 3/5 |
| Barking Level | 4/5 |
| Height | 40 – 50 cm |
| Weight | 12 – 20 kg |
| Life Expectancy | 12 – 15 years |
¶Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of temperament does the Dutch Schapendoes have with family and strangers?
This is a cheerful, people-oriented herding dog that tends to bond closely with its family and is usually affectionate and playful at home. With strangers, it is often reserved or cautious rather than outgoing but should not be fearful or aggressive when well socialized. Many retain a lively sense of humor and can be quite clownish once they feel secure.
How much exercise does a Dutch Schapendoes really need each day?
Originally bred as a tireless sheep herder, this breed needs at least 60 to 90 minutes of physical exercise daily, plus mental challenges. Off-leash running in safe areas, herding-style games, agility, or long hikes suit them well. Without adequate outlets, they can become noisy, restless, or prone to nuisance behaviors.
Is the Dutch Schapendoes suitable for apartment living or city life?
It can adapt to apartment or urban living if its exercise and mental needs are met very consistently. Daily long walks, active play, and regular off-leash time in secure areas are essential. Because it is often alert and vocal, soundproofing and good training for quiet behavior are important in shared buildings.
How difficult is grooming a Dutch Schapendoes and how often should it be brushed?
The long, shaggy coat is designed to be weather-resistant and should look natural rather than sculpted, but it requires regular care. Most owners need to brush thoroughly two to three times a week to prevent matting, with particular attention to the ears, armpits, and hindquarters. Dirt usually falls out once the coat dries, and frequent bathing is not necessary unless the dog is very dirty.
Does the Dutch Schapendoes shed a lot?
Shedding is moderate and often less noticeable than in many short-coated breeds because loose hairs stay trapped in the long coat until brushed out. Regular grooming keeps shedding manageable and prevents tangles. Seasonal coat changes can increase hair loss for a few weeks each year.
What health problems are most common in the Dutch Schapendoes?
Overall, this is considered a relatively healthy breed, but it can be affected by issues such as hip dysplasia, eye disorders, and some autoimmune conditions. Responsible breeders usually screen for hip and eye problems and monitor family lines for emerging concerns. Routine veterinary checks, weight control, and appropriate exercise are important for keeping joints and eyes healthy over time.
How well does a Dutch Schapendoes get along with children and other dogs?
Most individuals are friendly and playful with children, particularly when they have grown up together and the children respect the dog's space. Their herding background can sometimes lead to attempts to nudge or circle running kids, which should be guided with training. They generally do well with other dogs when properly socialized, though some may be wary at first.
Is the Dutch Schapendoes very vocal or prone to barking?
This breed is typically quick to sound the alarm and can be quite vocal if bored or under-stimulated. Early training to respond to quiet cues and providing enough activity reduces nuisance barking. Its natural watchdog tendencies are part of the breed character, so complete silence is unrealistic for most individuals.
How intelligent is the Dutch Schapendoes and what kind of training works best?
It is an intelligent, quick-learning herder that enjoys problem-solving and often anticipates its handler's wishes. Positive, reward-based methods with variety and short, engaging sessions work best, as repetitive drills can lead to boredom and independent behavior. Mental enrichment such as scent work, trick training, or herding-style games helps channel its brainpower constructively.
What type of owner or home is best for a Dutch Schapendoes?
This breed fits best with active owners who enjoy outdoor activities and are willing to invest daily time in training and interaction. It thrives in homes where it can be part of everyday family life rather than kept in a kennel or left alone for long hours. People who appreciate a slightly independent, clever dog with a rustic look often find it a rewarding companion.¶Comparisons with other breeds
Compare Dutch Schapendoes with other breeds and see the differences in temperament, activity level, and care to make a confident choice. Show all comparisons
