Schapendoes

The Schapendoes is a medium-sized herding breed that started out in the Netherlands, built to move sheep across open heathland rather than to look decorative. It relies on stamina and quick footwork instead of size or raw strength, and it covers ground with a light, springy trot.

What catches the eye first is the long, slightly wavy coat that falls over the eyes and gives the face a soft, tousled look. Under all that hair is a lean, athletic dog with moderate bone, not a heavy one. A grown Schapendoes usually stands 40 to 50 cm at the shoulder and weighs around 12 to 25 kg.

In temperament the Schapendoes is friendly, easygoing, and sharp. It attaches closely to its family and stays cheerful and busy most of the day. Because it enjoys problem-solving and physical activity, it does well in dog sports such as agility and obedience, and owners who compete in these will find it a willing partner.

Who this breed suits

The Schapendoes fits a household that is home often and can commit to an hour or more of activity every day. It suits people who want a partner for walks, hikes, or dog sports rather than a dog that is content lounging around all day. The thick, wavy coat needs frequent brushing, so factor in either a regular home grooming routine or trips to a professional groomer. Because the breed bonds tightly with its people, it is not a good fit for a household where it would be left alone in a condo or apartment for most of the day.

The Schapendoes started out in the Netherlands as a working sheepdog on the heathlands and small farms. For generations, shepherds kept it for its herding skill rather than its looks, so type varied quite a bit from one region to another. Its name is Dutch for sheep dog, which sums up its everyday job of moving and watching over flocks.

It belongs to a wider family of shaggy-coated European herding dogs that also includes the Bearded Collie, the Puli, and the Bergamasco. These breeds share a coat built for wet, cold weather and a body built for quick turns on rough ground, quite different from the tropical conditions the breed would later meet wherever it traveled outside Europe. For most of its early history it was not formally documented, since it was simply a regional farm dog passed from one working shepherd to the next.

Dutch cynologist Pieter van der Sande took a serious interest in the breed in the 1940s and worked to save it from disappearing. Numbers had dropped sharply during the Second World War, when many dogs were lost and breeding almost stopped altogether. A small surviving group became the foundation of the recovery effort.

The Dutch breed club was founded in 1947, and a breed standard came soon after. The Raad van Beheer, the Dutch kennel authority, recognized the Schapendoes, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale followed later. In the Philippines the breed is still uncommon and not a regular sight on the Philippine Canine Club, Inc. (PCCI) show circuit, but it remains well established in the Netherlands as both a companion and a sport dog.

The Schapendoes is slightly longer than it is tall, with a lean frame and moderate bone. The overall look is of a light, agile dog, not a bulky one. The head carries a good amount of hair that forms a topknot, moustache, and beard, and the long coat falls forward over the eyes. The tail is long and well feathered with hair, carried low when the dog is relaxed and raised when it is on the move.

Coat and colors

The coat is what defines the breed. It is long, dry to the touch, and slightly wavy, with a thick undercoat that gives some weather protection, though it was bred for the cold, damp Netherlands rather than a hot and humid country. Hair can grow 7 cm or longer on the body and forms the breed's distinctive furnishings on the face. The texture should be functional rather than silky, and a slight curl is acceptable.

The standard allows any coat color, but shades from blue-grey through to black show up most often. Some dogs carry white markings. In a tropical setting the coat still needs regular grooming to stop the wavy hair from matting, especially behind the ears, under the legs, and around the rear, and owners should watch for skin problems that heat and humidity can bring on under all that hair.

The Schapendoes is an affectionate, lively dog that wants to be part of everyday family life. It attaches closely to its people and tends to trail them from room to room. It is good-natured with children and usually gets along with other dogs when it is raised and socialized properly from puppyhood.

With strangers the Schapendoes stays alert and may bark to flag a visitor at the gate, but it is not a guard dog and warms up fast once it has been introduced. Its herding background shows in a habit of watching movement closely and reacting quickly to it, which can turn into chasing or circling if the dog has no other outlet.

This is a smart breed that thinks for itself. It picks things up quickly but can be independent, so it does best with owners who keep training varied and interesting instead of repetitive. Boredom and too little exercise can lead to barking, restlessness, and chewing, problems that show up fast in a small condo unit. Given enough activity and company, the Schapendoes is a cheerful, well-adjusted companion.

Grooming

• Brush the coat well two to three times a week to stop mats from forming in the wavy hair.
• Pay close attention to the areas behind the ears, under the legs, around the collar, and at the rear, where tangles start first.
• Bathe only when needed, then dry and brush the coat out fully so it does not mat while drying, which happens fast in humid weather.
• Trim the hair around the eyes and check the ears often for dirt and moisture, since long, hairy ears trap heat and dampness.
• Keep the nails short and check the paws after outdoor activity, especially after walking on wet pavement during the rainy season.

Exercise

• Give the dog at least 60 minutes of activity a day, split between walks and free running.
• Add mental work such as training games, scent games, or puzzle feeders.
• The breed does well at agility, flyball, and obedience, all of which put its energy to good use.
• Schedule outdoor exercise for the cooler parts of the day, early morning or after sunset, and allow safe off-leash time in a secure area so it can move at speed.

Environment

The Schapendoes adjusts to a house with a yard or an active household in a condo, as long as it gets daily exercise and is not left alone for long stretches. Its double coat handles cool, damp weather well, which is not the usual Philippine climate, so during the hot months and typhoon season it needs shade, plenty of water, and relief from the peak heat of the day. Since it is a people-focused breed, it settles best where it can spend real time with the family rather than staying outside on its own.

The Schapendoes does well on a complete and balanced diet made for active medium breeds. Since it is a working-type dog, its calorie needs go up with exercise and drop during quieter stretches, so portions should be adjusted to keep the dog lean. The ribs should be easy to feel but not visible. Fresh water should be available at all times, especially through the hot months.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than about 10 percent of daily calories and count them as part of the meal portions. Use small, low-fat rewards for training. A healthy dog on a complete diet usually does not need extra supplements, but a veterinarian may recommend omega-3 fatty acids or joint support for older dogs or those that work hard. Introduce any change in diet gradually over about a week to avoid an upset stomach.

The Schapendoes is a hardy breed with fairly few inherited problems compared with many pedigree dogs. With good care, most live 12 to 15 years. The breed works from a small but actively managed gene pool, and responsible breeders screen for the conditions known to occur in the line. Buying from health-tested parents is still the single best way to lower the risk.

Preventive care

• Keep core and recommended vaccinations up to date.
• Maintain a year-round parasite program for fleas, ticks, and worms, which stay active all year in the tropical climate.
• Book annual veterinary check-ups, moving to twice a year once the dog is a senior.
• Brush the teeth regularly and provide dental chews.
• Keep the dog at a lean weight to protect the joints.

The Schapendoes learns fast and likes having a job to do, which makes training satisfying. It can also be independent and gets bored easily, so repetitive drilling tends to backfire. Keep sessions short, varied, and upbeat, and stop while the dog is still interested. The breed responds well to activities that combine thinking with movement, such as agility and trick training. Early, wide-ranging socialization with people, other animals, and everyday situations helps this naturally alert dog stay confident and calm, whether that means the noise of a busy street or the commotion of a family gathering.

Basics

1. Start name recognition and a reliable recall in a quiet space while the dog is still young.
2. Teach sit, down, and stay using food or toy rewards in short bursts.
3. Build loose-leash walking before the dog is strong enough to pull hard.
4. Practice calm settling and short stretches of time alone to prevent over-attachment.
5. Add a release cue and an interrupt cue to manage the herding instinct to chase, useful around motorbikes, tricycles, and other fast-moving traffic.

Responsible breeding of the Schapendoes focuses on temperament, working ability, and health, with real care taken over the breed's limited gene pool. Both parents should have hip scores and eye test results before mating, and breeders usually wait until a dog is physically and mentally mature, at around two years of age. Females are typically bred within a planned, well-thought-out program rather than at their first season.

Gestation runs about 63 days. Litters usually have four to six puppies, though the number varies. The dam takes an active role in raising the litter through the first weeks, and gentle human handling should start early to raise well-socialized puppies. Pups are usually weaned by seven to eight weeks and should not leave the breeder before that age, with many breeders keeping them a little longer still. Early exposure to household sights and sounds, and to gentle handling, lays the groundwork for the breed's friendly adult character.

How to register a Schapendoes in the Philippines

The Anti-Rabies Act, Republic Act 9482, tells every dog owner to register with the city or municipal veterinary office and keep the anti-rabies shots current, and that covers the local paperwork for your Schapendoes. What the city record cannot do is tell a finder two provinces away how to reach you. A free United Pet Club profile fills that gap for life. Registering your dog costs nothing to start and nothing later.

The clinic's part ended with the implant; the tracing part is yours. File your Schapendoes's 15-digit number with United Pet Club and every scan leads to your phone: free for life, all brands accepted, updates free every time your details change. Microchip registration plus a free account finishes the job.