Dutch Shepherd Forum

Hi, I'm John. I found the forum doing searches about a dutch shepherd (mix?) we recently adopted. Learning about the breed and this looks like the place to find it!

Here are a few pictures of Jack. He is 11 months old, weighs 58 pounds (US). All four legs brindle, white blaze on chest. Coat black, mottled with grey undercoat, although it looks tan/fawn in direct sunlight. Does he have Dutch Shepherd blood?









Until then I'll participate by viewing the boards and topics of others.

We are retired and live in US. Recently moved from Colorado to Wisconsin to be closer to aging parents and extended family. Raising two grand-kids. Love our new home and our newly adopted family member - Jack. He is 11 months old, loves the outdoors and is calm and no trouble indoors. Very smart and full of love.

Not sure how he ended up in a shelter, but we feel lucky to have found him.

Cheers!

I'd say no. Doesn't look like a dutchie because he doesn't have brindling. He looks like a German Shep mix but who knows.

Welcome.

I'll move your thread to "Is My Canine A DS?" You can add comments/questions there.

Take a peek at the sticky note in that section for the photos and information ((((drives, activity/intelligence level--although subjective to the owner, how he acts around kids/strangers/dogs/other animals/quick movement, etc. plus any information you might have been given about him)))) that we usually prefer to see/have before commenting.

Love the name Jack for him. Glad he's found a caring home.

FYI: Many dogs are brindled and its dominant, so the brindle doesn't necessarily indicate DS is in there. Some DS have so much black that it's hard to see the brindle though it is there. (Based on that one side head shot, his head doesn't say DS, and his coat really doesn't either...but please post more pics and information.)

Oh--and calm is never a word used to describe a DS. Oi.

Some better photos would definitely help, but that face shot doesn't really say shepherd to me. His snoot is a bit on the short side, like a cattle dog's.

More info on Jack, pictures in the works. 11 months old - came from shelter in Louisville, KY to his new home on Lake Wisconsin, via shelter in Portage, WI. He is strong willed runner, so that is likely how he got into custody...

Calm indoors - the calm behavior comes following his exercise outdoors or early in the day. He longs for exercise and the outdoors. Will lay out on our raised deck and watch over the backyard. Calm was also his honeymoon behavior. After getting better acquainted, he has shown more of his colors.

Demeanor - When off leash he has outbursts of extreme activity - goes from standing looking at me, to high speed escape in a second. This started out as running around the house at full tilt, day or night, through brush, around trees, quick direction reversals, outrunning neighborhood labs during play. Next it preceded his tendency to wander - to get out of sight, ignoring voice commands. Meeting all the neighbors. During walks on leash, he is on scent patrol. At times, he strains on 8ft leash, but does well on short leash. Other dogs get and keep his attention. I was impressed with how he deals with other dogs. He stands tall and is at alert judging the situation and then played without problem. At night, he became more vigil, at one point, sensing something from a golden retriever male across the street, he growled viciously and surprised me straining on the leash. Same response when an approaching dog bite him (female pit bull puppy) encounter.

He recently discovered and has taken up herding the neighbors range chickens, although herding is a stretch, perhaps exercising is a better term.

Based at looking at pictures of the Australian Cattle dog, his head shape seemed closest to that breed. So I agree his nose does not look DS.

He has a long body trunk and long legs, he stretches them out behind him if laying on a rug. Over 5 feet when stretched out flat.

Dutch Shepherds are very rare, especially outside of Europe. I've talked to several vets with my dogs over the years and they've only seen maybe one other in decades of practice and generally they are K9 dogs owned by police officers. Some people do buy them for sporting use and even less would buy them as pets due to their specific working needs. The dogs command a premium without papers, even more so with papers. There are a few rescue sites for them with a handful of dogs that might be on there at any time. People who are professional breeders generally sell all the puppies before the dogs even hit the ground. An older dog with basic obedience, even not proven could fetch several thousand dollars. So basically, Dutchies are expensive animals that are very rare. Probably the rarest working breed dogs out there.

You have a nice looking dog even if he isn't a Dutch Shepherd.

Seems like an awesome dog. Agree head isn't DS, but you have him, and you love him, so who cares? he is what he is. And if you aren't trying to breed, then what he is, in and of himself, is all that is important. by 2 cents. Vicken

Here is a picture of a Dutch Shepherd, second set of pictures down, "Gitzo" that looks very similar to your dog and this one is full grown. Thing is, the top of your dog's head is very round, almost Cattle Dog like and his snout looks very short. However from the side profile he looks more shepherd like. Plus your dog is not even a year old yet from what you posted and may still have that puppy head look. Who knows, anyway, here is a picture for comparison. You'll know for sure when you're dog is about 18 mos and more filled out.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/dutchshepherdphotos4.htm

Thanks for all the replies. The shelter thought he was a dutch shepherd mix. Got him, and love him as is. Will let him mature and see how he fills out. Cheers!

Hi and welcome to the forum and thank you for rescuing . I would say Jack is not a DS.
He looks like a magnificent dog and by the sounds of it is a perfect match for you.