Other Names: Dutch Schapendoes, Nederlandse Schapendoes.
The Schapendoes or Dutch Sheepdog is a breed of dog originating in the Netherlands. The Schapendoes was originally a herding dog and general farm dog, but today also participates in dog sports such as agility and flyball.
History
The Schapendoes descends from a general type of farm and herding dog popular in the Drenthe province of the Netherlands, and the Veluwe, an area of forests and swampland. (“does” is a local dialect meaning “swamp” see e.g. the town of Doesburg) The dogs there had many names and were not a specific breed as we use the term today. They were the local working dog, adapted to the people, environment, and types of work needed. They were exhibited in early dog shows (in the 1870s) as Domestic herding dog.
The dogs became nearly extinct during World War II, and the modern-day breed descends from the few survivors. The Dutch Raad van Beheer (national kennel club) first recognised the breed in 1952, and the first standard was written in 1954. Related breeds are the Bearded Collie, the Puli, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog (Owczarek Nizinny), the Old English Sheepdog, the Briard, the Bergamasco Shepherd (Cane da Pastore Bergamasco) and the Old German Sheepdog (Schafspudel), all of which are small versions of the “mountain type” herding and livestock guardian dogs.
The breed was recognised by the FCI in 1971, as breed number 313 in Group 1, Section 1: Sheepdogs. Exported to North America, the breed is recognised by the Canadian Kennel Club (as Dutch Sheepdog) and the United Kennel Club (USA) in their respective Herding groups. The American Kennel Club has listed the Schapendoes as part of its Foundation Stock Service, the first step in breed recognition. Additionally, it is recognised by numerous minor kennel clubs and internet-based dog registry businesses.