Dutch German Shepherd
The Dutch Shepherd is a herding dog from the Netherlands. Shepherds and farmers used them because they needed a versatile dog with few demands and the ability to adapt to a harsh and meager existence.
Originally, the Dutch Shepherd's primary function in the countryside was that of a shepherd's dog. The Dutch had an arable culture that was sustained by flocks of sheep since ancient times. The dogs had to keep the flock at bay and keep the flock away from the crops, which they accomplished by patrolling the road and field borders. They also accompanied the flocks as they traveled to common pastures, markets, and ports.
They kept the hens away from the kitchen garden, herded the cows for milking, and pulled the milk carts at the farm. When strangers entered the farmyard, they also alerted the farmers. Sheep flocks had almost entirely vanished in the Netherlands by 1900. The Dutch Shepherds' adaptability made them ideal for dog training, which was gaining popularity at the time. They were then trained and used as police dogs, search and rescue dogs, and blind guide dogs. They can, however, continue to herd sheep.
Dutch Shepherds are devoted, dependable, alert, watchful, active, self-sufficient, intelligent, and intuitive. Obedience and discipline can produce remarkable results. They have a true shepherding temperament and can work well with their owners as well as deal with any task that is assigned to them without being aggressive or shy. They have a strong personality and independence inherited from their herding ancestors.
