Dutch Shepherd Forum

Hi I am a new member and may ask what might be silly questions but please bear with me. I am really keen to buy a Dutch shepherd but don't know where to start. I have two German shepherds that are purely pets but would like to get a dog to work. Please can anyone help.

Hi there.

What I did was start reading everything I could get my hands on. I read every breeders site about a gazillion times, and then I read everything on this site. I watched videos on youtube as well. There are no good books, at least not in English as far as I know. Then start asking specific questions here. Also talk to a couple of breeders and get there thoughts on the breed for you. That was really helpful to talk to breeders. I know Les Flores in WA (delasfloreskennel.com) is easy to talk to and someone who is also on the forum, Christie of NorthwoodsK9.com is very knowledgeable.

Hope that helps.

Hi Karin
Thanks very much for your help. I am trying to work my way around the forum as this is the first one I have been on and don't want to appear rude.

Hi and welcome to the fourm! Lots of info here, and the people on here are pretty helpful : )

Hi thanks for the tip, sorry about the delay in my reply but had problems with my internet provider. Dutch herders are not easy to locate in the uk. Would it be expensive to import from the states

The members that I know of who have done imports aren't very active on the board anymore.

With you being so close The Netherlands I would think it would be less expensive to bring a dog over from there.

Sorry I can't help you with costs.

Thanks very much I will do some research. Looked at a couple of sites appeared very good Kole mountain kennels was one of them

Mad monk wrote:Thanks very much I will do some research. Looked at a couple of sites appeared very good Kole mountain kennels was one of them

My wife and I are the "retirement home" for one of the retired Kole Mountain Kennels females. They did a great job of representing her very accurately to us with great communication throughout the whole process. Pics, video clips, and extensive e-mail follow up.

Ultimately we had "Maya" shipped cross country to us and she's been solid across the board so far. We've had her in situations ranging from high traffic, noisy, complex social situations like a packed street fair, at outdoor dining for lunch, on wilderness hikes, and played off leash ball with her at the park with groups of kids playing football and t-ball at the other corners of the park. She's been stable, appropriately social, and tremendously ball driven in each venue.

Although I don't currently work or compete with our dogs, Maya's drive certainly seems to be at least on par with any of the dogs I have done so with in the past. My understanding is that they have some Dutch contacts as well that might (?) be of help to you if that is closer in the UK. But I certainly can't claim to know them well enough to speak for them.

Meg from Kole Mountain Kennels was awesome to deal, very free with her time and input with us, and I wouldn't hesitate to get a dog from her again. They would definitely be on my short list of trustworthy "caretakers of the breed" from my experience with them.

Hope that helps a bit.

thank you very much for taking the time to reply. I am new to the site and breed but the forum and the people on it have been outstanding with their help and knowledge that they are keen to pass on. I will contact them again and see if they can help out, once again thanks