It’s not often thatwe separate dog breeds into the country of origin (OK, minus the German Shepherd, the American Staffordshire Terrier, orthe Dogo Argentino). Butcategorizing pups by country is a really fascinating way to get to know these breeds andtheir history inmore detail. So, what are the Dutch dog breeds?
You may be able to guess a couple (*Dutch Shepherd*), butthere are probably many onthis list thatyou won’t know. Andone might just be the perfect breed foryou…
11 Amazing Dutch Dog Breeds
Aswith all dogs, it’s important to research the breed specifics andknow exactly what you’re getting! You need to think about whetheryou can provide the dogs with everything they need, including space andexercise requirements. Here are some of the most important things to consider about these wonderful Dutch dog breeds.
Dutch Shepherd
Dutch Shepherds are dogs thatreally look like German Shepherds. They’re lively, very active, andextremely intelligent – soquite similar to the German Shepherd. These dogs weren’t first intentionally bred butrather occurred naturally onDutch farms. They’re brilliant herding dogs andare built to run forhours inthe fields.
They’re also often used by the military andpolice thanks to their strength, athleticism, andhigh intelligence. So, anyone wanting to adopt a Dutch Shepherd should be aware of their big exercise needs. They love to work andreally enjoy pleasing their owners whenthey successfully complete their tasks.
Ifyou’re going to adopt a Dutch Shepherd, you won’t just be getting a smart worker, you’ll also be getting a wonderful companion dog. They’re very loyal, affectionate, andprotective of the humans they love most.
Keeshond
The Keeshond (plural Keeshonden) is the ultimate Dutch dog breed. The friendly, lively spitz-like dogs are family favorites across the country. These fluffy dogs look surprisingly like a much larger Pomeranian ora slightly smaller Samoyed. They have foxy faces, curvy tails, andlots of beautiful fur.
Keeshond are very intelligent dogs andenjoy training sessions. They respond well to positive reinforcement andlove rewards. Keeshonden are active pups thatneed a good amount of daily exercise althoughthey are very adaptable. Inthe past, they commonly lived onbarge boats with very little space, sothey’re actually a good fit forthose inapartments too.
Eventhoughthis breed is very fluffy, they only require weekly brushing anda bath every 6 weeks. You might also want to trim their foot fur to stop it from getting too dirty.
Dutch Partridge Dog orDrentse Patrijshond
The Drentse Patrijshond, orDrent forshort, is one of the most versatile dogs, andnot just onthis list. They were first bred onfarms to do every job – from hunting andratting to herding andhauling milk carts. They’re also great babysitters andlove to spend time with children.
These pups are accepted with white coats andbrown markings. They look very like Spaniels andare descendants of other Spanish dogs. The Drent is a fantastic herding dog andloves to hunt both fowl andlarger animals. They’re also good retrievers (see, we told you they could do it all)!
This Dutch companion dog is very intelligent andexcels incanine sports such asagility. They need lots of exercise andlove being outdoors. They make great running andhiking partners andaren’t a great choice forthose living insmall homes orapartments.
Dutch Smoushond
The Dutch Smoushond isn’t a pup recognized by the American Kennel Club, butit does have a breed standard aslaid out by the United Kennel Club. These brilliant Terrier dogs are hardly known outside of Holland butthey’re popular within their own country.
Ifyou’re looking fora medium-sized dog then this could be a great choice. Smoushonds are sweet, happy, andinquisitive dogs thatare the perfect companion. Infact, inthe past, they were evencalled ‘the Gentleman's dog’.
One of the most distinctive features of these dogs is their wonderful coats. They’re very wiry, straight, and– to be honest – look a little unkempt. Butthey’re super cute! The UKC accepts these dogs with a coat that’s all shades of yellow, butthey particularly like dark straw-colored doggos. Some pups may also have darker eyebrows ora darker mustache.
Dutch Spaniel orKooikerhondje
How stunning is this Dutch breed? The Kooikerhondje is a Spaniel-type dog that’s very active butnot overly hyper. They’re friendly with people they know, like having a job to do, andlove to spend most of their time exploring woods andfields around them.
Ifyou adopt a Kooikerhondje, you won’t be getting the best guard dog ever, butthey are very alert andwill happily tell you whensomeone is approaching the house. They’re confident hunting dogs andtherefore have quite a high prey drive. They don’t need a lot of training inthe field butrespond best to positive reinforcement inother areas.
These beautiful bouncy dogs are easily recognizable thanks to their red andwhite coats. They also have adorable black tufts of hair ontheir ears whichmake them look a little like Papillons!
Dutch Tulip Hound orMarkiesje
Isn’t thatsuch a beautiful name? This breed is another not yetrecognized by the kennel clubs. Butthey are wonderful dogs andmany people are working to change that! Some believe these dogs date back hundreds of years, althoughthe breed club was first established inthe 1970s, whichleaves room forsome confusion.
Dutch Tulip Hounds are small black dogs thathave beautiful shiny coats. They’re also feathered around their tail andears. Like other pups onthe list, these dogs are distinctly Spaniel-like.
They’re very friendly dogs thatget along with everyone. They’re good companions forchildren andlove nothing more thanto play. They’re sweet-natured andloyal, althoughthey have been known to be clingy andseparation anxiety may be a problem. They’re not a breed you can leave alone forlong lengths of time.
Dutch Sheepdog orSchapendoes
These stunning pups are not to be confused with the Dutch Shepherd dog. Infact, they look nothing alike. These furry, gray dogs look like another favorite gray – the English Sheepdog. Dutch Sheepdogs are very loving andget onwell with other canine friends. They may be a little timid to begin with butthey soon warm up. They can also be good companions forkids they’ve grown up with.
These dogs were the number one herding breed inHolland inthe 19th and20th centuries. However, whenBorder Collies came onthe scene, their numbers started to decline drastically. Through breeding efforts, numbers are onthe rise again!
These dogs are lightly built buttheir shaggy coats make them look stockier thanthey are. They need regular exercise andplenty of time outdoors.
Saarloos Wolfdog
Are you looking forthe ultimate wolf-like dog? Then the Saarloos Wolfdog could be the perfect breed. Infact, this breed is the result of mixing a male German Shepherd dog with a female wolf andfurther breeding the offspring.
These amazing dogs were bred to be companions ratherthanspecific workers. They’re also not a recognized breed according to the AKC, butthey were accepted by the UKC in2006. They don’t just resemble a wolf, they share some character traits too. They’re very loyal butcan get nervous inunknown situations andmay evenflee. They’re also very protective andlike to guard their home andfamily.
Saarloos Wolfdogs can be many different colors including shades of brown andgray andentirely white. They can also have black skin points orliver.
Stabyhoun
The Stabyhoun is a fantastic family pet anda very good hunter andretriever. This is another of the Dutch dog breeds thatlooks a little like a large Spaniel. These pups can be black andwhite; brown andwhite; andorange andwhite andhave a beautiful, sometimes feathered coat.
Stabyhouns are great soft-mouthed retrievers andare particularly good whenit comes to waterfowl. Farmers also wanted to breed a dog thatwould hunt rats andother vermin, sodigging can be an issue with these dogs. Lots of early training can help to stop the behavior.
These amazing dogs are great companions andlove being with children. They’re inquisitive, playful, andvery affectionate. They also learn very quickly andenjoy pleasing their owners, sotraining isn’t usually too difficult.
Frisian Water Dog orWetterhoun
Wetterhouns are active, funny, intelligent, andsweet dogs that– surprisingly – love water! They were first bred to hunt otters andlove to be jumping inand out of any form of pond orriver. They’re very loyal to their owners andadore spending time with them. Wetterhouns are loyal andcan be a little sensitive, whichmeans they shouldn’t be firmly trained. They love to receive treats andpraise from owners.
These pups can be either black orbrown with white markings. They have an oily, curly coat that’s naturally water-resistant andwhich keeps them warm whatever the weather. They need daily physical andmental exercise to keep them happy andhealthy, preferably around water!
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon orKorthals Griffon
Whetherthis pup can be onthis list really depends onwhich expert you ask. Some think thatthese wonderful dogs are actually French. This is becausethe initial breeder, Eduard Korthals, further developed the breed inboth Germany andFrance. Althoughhe’s dutch andthe first ones were definitely born inHolland.
His desire, like many noble men’s atthe time, was to breed the perfect sporting dog. Andhe got pretty close. Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are excellent gun dogs andcan retrieve onland andwater. They’re also great company to have around. These medium-sized dogs are charismatic, affectionate, andwilling to do almost any job.
Asthe name suggests, this Dutch breed has a very coarse, wiry coat thatsheds minimally. They’re also famous forhaving large eyebrows anda mustache!
What Are The Origins of Dutch Dog Breeds?
There isn’t just one origin of all Dutch dog breeds. Asyou can see from this list, many dogs look very different andhave developed from different breeds atdifferent times. Some were bred to be working pups onfarms andothers to be sporting dogs orcompanions. There really is a variety!
What Are The Most Popular Dutch Dog Breeds?
It’s difficult to say whichof all these beautiful pups is the most popular. Thatreally depends onwho you ask. It also depends onwhich country they are in. The Dutch Shepherd Dog andthe Keeshond are arguably the most popular (or atleast well-known) inAmerica, however, other breeds are justaspopular inHolland andEurope.
What Are The Rarest Dutch Dogs?
Unfortunately, there are a couple of very rare Dutch dog breeds. Both the Stabyhoun andKooikerhondje are extremely rare – andnot just forDutch breeds. It might take a very long time foryou to find a responsible breeder with puppies of either of these breeds.
Last Thoughts
There’s a huge variety whenit comes to Dutch dog breeds. There are small, large, sporting, andcompanion dogs to choose from. Whichever breed you end up going for, make sure thatthey will fit inwith your lifestyle andthat you can give them everything they need.
Also, research responsible dog breeders inyour area (or inHolland!) andnever contribute to puppy farms. Having a canine friend inyour home is a privilege andgiving them all the love andcare you can is a must!
Charlotte
I’m Charlotte, a content and copywriter from the North of England and currently living in Berlin. Animals have always been a huge part of my life, so writing about dogs is a total pleasure! I love all kinds of dogs and their cheeky personalities, but I’d have to say Weimaraners are my favourite!
