Schapendoes
🧠 Temperament & character
Cheerful, lively and intelligent, the Schapendoes is a friendly and affectionate dog that likes to be at the centre of family life. He is playful, fond of children and, when well socialised, gets on well with other dogs. As a bright herding dog he learns quickly, but can also have a mind of his own and needs varied occupation. His merry, brave nature and his proverbial jumping ability make him a lively, entertaining companion.
📜 Origin & history
The Schapendoes has herded the sheep flocks in the heath and moorland landscapes of the Netherlands since the 19th century and was regarded as the nimble, undemanding working dog of the shepherds. He belongs to the large family of shaggy European herding dogs, which also includes the Bearded Collie, the Bergamasco and the PON. After the Second World War the breed was on the brink of extinction and was largely rebuilt by the cynologist P. M. C. Toepoel. Today the Schapendoes is above all a popular, lively family and sport dog.
✂️ Grooming, care & training
The Schapendoes' long, dense and slightly wavy shaggy coat needs regular care: thorough brushing and combing once or twice a week prevents matting, especially during the moult. As an active, jump-happy herding dog he needs a lot of daily exercise and mental occupation to be balanced. Thanks to his intelligence and agility he is excellently suited to dog sports such as agility, flyball or obedience. His lively mind learns best with varied, motivating training.
🩺 Health
The Schapendoes is considered a largely healthy and long-lived breed with a life expectancy of around twelve to fifteen years. The most important breed-typical hereditary disease is progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a progressive blindness for which a reliable DNA test is available. Responsible breeders test their breeding animals for PRA and also have the hips examined. Thanks to careful breeding the Schapendoes usually stays fit and vital into old age.
🏡 Who is this breed right for?
The Schapendoes is an excellent match for active families and people who are looking for a cheerful, thinking dog and enjoy exercise and coat care. Given sufficient activity he is adaptable enough for an apartment, but feels particularly at ease with access to a garden and nature. Thanks to his friendly, sociable nature he is also suitable, with a little commitment, for open-minded beginners. In Switzerland the weatherproof, sporty Schapendoes is an ideal companion for hikes, dog sports and an active family life.