Peewee da la Vallee du Doux, owner: Marianna Wensbo
General
The Nederlandse Schapendoes is a lightly built, long coated dog with a height at withers of 40 to
50 cm. His movement is effortless and springy. He is a remarkable jumper.
Characteristics
The Schapendoes [ sxa:peduz ] is a shaggy sheep poodle of the Dutch heaths. In the 19th century, this highly intelligent and nimble breed was a favourite of
the shepherds of these areas. Thus, the Dutch Schapendoes is by no means primarily a fashion or show dog. And its "rescuer," the dog specialist and
publisher P.M.C. Toepoel never wanted it to become a fashion or show dog..
All sheep dogs are highly specialised work dogs. They developed as a result of the masterly breeding selection by the shepherds throughout many
centuries.
Depending on the requirements of the original native areas, size and coat differ. Sometimes their way of action also differs. However, all shepherd dogs are
characterised by their enormous willingness to work, their feeling for independent action, their intense relation with humans and their love to be in motion.
In order to be able to understand the character of the dog, it is imperative that we take a look at its history. Some of its behaviour can, indeed only be
understood correctly in view of that history. At the end their is nothing but pride and happiness in owning such a fantastic creature.
Temperament
The Schapendoes is a normally and harmonically constructed herding dog with an
attentive and courageous character. He is intelligent, watchful, jolly, lively, friendly and high spirited. Towards people familiar to
him, he develops great affection and loyalty.
History
At the end of the last and beginning of this century, the Nederlandse Schapendoes
occurred everywhere in the region of the Netherlands where there was heathland and where there were herds or flocks of
sheep. The shepherds valued him for the tireless pleasure he took in his work and for his intelligence. He belongs to the
wide-ranging group of longhaired herding breeds which have densely coated heads. He is related to the Bearded Collie, the
Puli, the Owczarek Nizinny, the Bobtail, the Briard, the Bergamasker and the German Schafspudel of the variety which occurs
in Hessen, Odenwald and the Niederrhein district. All these similar dogs are smaller mutations of mountain dogs. The canine
authority, P.M.C. Toepoel, is the founder of this breed. During the second World War, he knew how to rouse interest in the
breed. During the years from 1940 to 1945 specimen of the almost vanished Schapendoes were used for breeding from
wherever they could be found. The Breed Club for Nederlandse Schapendoes was founded in the year 1947 and in 1952 the
breed was provisionally recognized by the Raad van Beheer. In 1954 the standard was set up and a Stud Book started.
Definite recognition followed in the year 1971. Since then only registered dogs have been bred from.
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