Dutch Shepherd: The All-purpose Dog

Tags: dogs, pets, raising, dutch shepherd

Thinking about raising a Dutch shepherd as a pet? Then you've got to know the following before you even decide to get one. The people of the Netherlands take great pride in their Dutch Shepherd breed – unlike the other dogs out there that are only good at one thing, this pooch has been bred for carrying out many tasks.

First and foremost, it's original purpose was herding sheep – we all know that sheepdogs have to be smart, agile, and all that a pooch with that job should have. But what really makes a sheepdog cool is the numerous commands it has to learn. Those commands given weren't just the basic ones, were it had to sit or roll over, but of higher “complexity”.

Such orders include “go search for missing livestock, comeback, and take me to it” or “round up the herd, and get them back into the fences”. The commands of course weren't that long, but that's what they had to do. Another thing that it was good at was cart pulling – it may not be that big of a dog (weighing only 65 to 67 pounds and standing 22 to 25 inches), but I guarantee you that it was more than capable of carrying its own load.

Farmers weren't the only one using the dog breed, but the police as well. And we all know how complicated the jobs assigned to them by the police. The had the right skill set, such as a good sense of smell for detecting illegal commodities and agility plus speed for chasing down people on the run.

Also it has been used to carry out guarding duties because of its courage and “fighting abilities”. Knowing all that it has been used for and capable of, it now comes down to you, the guy with the intentions of raising a Dutch Shepherd. The character of this dog is lively, affectionate, and loyal.

They love their human owners with all their hearts, and are always thinking of ways to please them. In turn they only ask you to give them love and time, but you know better than to give those two alone. It'll also need plenty of exercise, as do all “workaholic” breeds do.

Taking it out on daily walks and other physical activities will be great for it. Dutch Shepherds are in general good-natured pooches towards their owners, but may be hostile to strangers. To fix that, you're going to have to give it early canine behavioral lessons. The learning environment has to be kept firm yet fair.

Canine, like this breed, will most definitely not respond well to harsh treatment – this includes nasty words (not dirty talk) and physical contact (beating or spanking). Training a Dutch Shepherd shouldn't be difficult, they learn fast and will be willing to learn, as long as you use the right methods and create a scenario where it'll actually be enjoying the learning process.

Canine food should be given three times a day; this'll help it digest its food better and avoid bloating and other “overfeeding” related diseases.

About the author

Alex De La Cruz is a successful Dog Trainer who has been advising and coaching dog owners for many years. Alex now decided to share his knowledge through this site, Doggyweb.info. You can sign up for his free weekly newsletter and learn how to keep your dog healthy and happy.

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