Dutch Shepherd Forum

From time to time, I get direct message questions on the Facebook page, and I normally push the person to this website immediately. In this case, I thought I would be very quick and give my own opinion as an answer.

How would any of you handled this question: Can a Dutch Shepherd be used for hunting?

Facebook User wrote:can a dutch Shepherd be used for hunting

My Response: There are much better choices for a hunting dog. The DS has great search and scent skills and is very intelligent, but they have a hard bite and can be stubborn on releasing prey. That makes them better suited for police, military, and protection work.

Facebook User wrote:What about chasing deer and boar ?

My Response: The breed was created for protection and herding. These dogs are capable of just about anything, so hunting is possible. If you already have one, and you want to try to train it for hunting, then you're probably OK. If you acquire one for hunting, your taking a chance on getting a dog that just doesn't meet your needs, which is bad if it then gets dumped to a shelter or worse. If you're serious about hunting, get a Coonhound or a Retriever.

Facebook User wrote:No but i also want a dog thats obedient and trainable

My Response: I use this Facebook page as a portal to attract a larger audience to the discussion website (www.dutchshepherdforum.com) where all the real experts live. I am the only one who sees the direct messages, so I encourage you to pose your question on the website or any of the other discussion groups on Facebook such as the Owners of Dutch Shepherds and Non Working Dutch Shepherds. I can almost guarantee you will receive much harsher criticism of your intentions then I have given here. The breed was not created to be a hunting dog. In fact, it was specifically created to be independent-thinking protectors of livestock starting about 130 years ago. That morphed into even harder protection work when the KNPV got involved and mixed in Belgian Malinois, Doberman Pinschers, and Rottweilers to reinforce the breed stock in the mid 1900s. In terms of obedient, trainable, and a good hunting dog, any of the retriever breeds fit the bill perfectly. Finding a good Dutch Shepherd hunting dog has a slim chance of success. Period.

Well, to be honest, I'm a bit biased on that specific subject. However, I procured the exact temperament of dog that suits my goals. The breed is versatile.
That said, I don't use her for big game HUNTING, only recovery. I do, however, use her for locating small game and flushing them. None of this work comes before or without SOLID obedience.
I think you gave the best advice possible. If someone is careful in picking the dog, as well as serious about training and actually good at it, then anything is possible with these dogs.

One end of the spectrum portrays these dogs as being single minded protection specialists. A balance needs to be struck with the breeds great versatility.

My concern is what happens to the dog when it doesn't work out.

The chances of success are much higher with a Retriever.

This is true, but the serious hunter is going to get a retriever and not a Dutch Shepherd. The serious hunter will also be the one who disposes of the underperforming retriever. There will also be 10 times more Dutch Shepherds disposed of by the ones looking for their dog to perform at the highest level than by a owner who enjoys a romp in the woods with his dog.

Tim91118 wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2019 3:52 pm The serious hunter will also be the one who disposes of the under-performing retriever.

This occurred to me after my last post, but the disposed retriever is likely to have a brighter future than a disposed DS.

centrop67 wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2019 4:16 pm

Tim91118 wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2019 3:52 pm The serious hunter will also be the one who disposes of the under-performing retriever.

This occurred to me after my last post, but the disposed retriever is likely to have a brighter future than a disposed DS.

All of that is true.
Also, if this were the continental southern U.S., there is a markedly different style of hunting down there than most folks are familiar with. Hardcore use of dogs is almost prevalent.

If they want a “boar” hunting dog then point them to a Dogo Argentino; that’s what they were bred for. Dogos are the catch dogs but work well in conjunction with hounds to push the prey.

Them southern boys would have to have their Catahoula’s and their leopard curs.....lol

There's a good bit of similarity between the two catahoulas and the Mal's that I've met in the past decade. I'd say the hounds are way less handler oriented. They are more independent dogs typically.

But this is digressing...

this is why I do not do much on FB anymore, it is filled with such ignorant people!!! Even on the basset hound group, there are such ignorant people. People want to use a breed for what ever the human wants with out even doing and due diligence about a breed, to see what they are meant to do. No one finds a trainer and pics their brain, they go to a FB page where they will always find the answer they want out of a gazillion no's and do what they want, then the dog does something wrong and It wont end well.

TimL_168 wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2019 10:21 pm . I'd say the hounds are way less handler oriented. They are more independent dogs typically.

But this is digressing...

yes and no, Hounds are handler oriented, they do look to the human but hounds are meant to be told their job, then go do it with out further instructions. Its not independence as much as stubborn. I have had Bassets all of my life. They do bond with humans and follow you around, but when they catch a scent, bye bye for now