Schapendoes

The Schapendoes is a breed of Dutch dogs. These dogs are also known as the Dutch Sheepdog. These dogs were first seen in different parts of Netherlands. These dogs are originally working dogs. They were bred to work on the farm. These dogs make very good farm dogs as well as herding dogs. These dogs are good at agility and other dog sports. These characteristics have made this dog a major part of modern day dog sports. They excel at Flyball, which is a kind of dog sport. During the Second World War these dogs did go extinct. This breed was however revived from the few survivors, to the dogs we know today. This made them excellent work dogs. These dogs are very adaptable to change.

These dogs were first bred in the mountains. They make good guard dogs as well. These dogs are not very well known in foreign countries. The Dutch Shaggy dog as these dogs are sometimes called is more long than tall. These dogs are not very big. They are medium in size. They have a very thick coat with lots of feathering. These dogs are very similar in appearance to sheepdogs. This breed is quite proportionate in size. These dogs have a wide skull with a short muzzle. These dogs have very big and round eyes. Their eyes are more often than not covered by a mass of fur. Their coats are clumpy, wavy and thick. These dogs have rather small ears. Their ears are covered by a lot of fur which makes them look rather big.

This dog has an overall shaggy appearance. These dogs will require a fair amount of grooming. The coat of this dog can be seen in any color. They stand at 50 cms tall and weigh in at about 12-20 kg. The Schapendoes is a very friendly dog. These dogs are spirited and affectionate animals. They love human company. These dogs are very intelligent. They are easy trained but will require constant mental and physical stimulation. These dogs will not do well in closed spaces. They require lots of room to run around and play. They will need lots of regular exercise. This dog is very playful. They can be trained to participate in dog sports. They are quite fast. These dogs are very good with children. They enjoy playing with children for long hours. These can be independent and stubborn at times.

These dogs will need a string and patient trainer. These dogs are very good natured. They have a lot of pent up energy that needs to be released through appropriate amount of exercise. These dogs can get quite high strung if they are not given adequate play time. These dogs have a life span of about 14 years. They usually give upto 5 puppies when mated. These dogs will need to be brushed regularly. Special attention needs to given to the area around the eyes and ears. These dogs are quite prone to skin infection.