On 12 June 1898, the Dutch Shepherd Dog (Hollandse Herdershond) received its first standard. The sheep disappeared a few years later, as flocks became scarce in the Netherlands around 1900. Instead of disappearing too, the dog changed careers to police work, tracking and guiding blind people.
| FCI | Group 1 (Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs), Section 1 Sheepdogs, Standard No. 223 Hollandse Herdershond (Holländischer Schäferhund), with working trial; short-, long- and rough-haired varieties |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Netherlands |
| Height at the withers | Males 57 to 62 cm, females 55 to 60 cm |
| Weight | Not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | No reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | Short-haired rather harsh with undercoat; long-haired long, straight and close; rough-haired dense, harsh and bushy with beard and eyebrows; all with undercoat |
| Colours according to the standard | Brindle on gold (pale sand to chestnut red) or silver base, brindling throughout the body; black mask preferred; excessive black and large white chest or foot markings undesirable |
A farm all-rounder
The standard says the dog kept sheep away from crops by patrolling road-field boundaries, accompanying flocks to common pasture, markets and ports. At the farm, the dog chased chickens from vegetable gardens, brought cows for milking, pulled the milk cart and announced strangers. That versatility saved the breed when flocks disappeared. The standard says herding remains an ability today.
Three coats, one breed
There are three coat varieties. Short hair is easiest, usually needing weekly brushing. Long hair takes more time at collar, breeches and tail. For rough hair, the standard itself recommends hand-stripping twice yearly on average. All are brindled, less visibly in the rough coat because of tousled hair.
Independent yet cooperative
Very loyal and reliable, always attentive, watchful and active, independent, intelligent and willing to follow: a true shepherd dog in the standard, enjoying close cooperation while independently completing tasks. Herding large flocks even requires teamwork with other dogs. This mixture of independent thinking and work ethic is familiar in the Malinois and the German Shepherd Dog (Deutscher Schäferhund).
What each day needs
The standard describes an enduring trotter with lively temperament. Plan long daily exercise and genuine mental work: tracking, obedience, mantrailing, herding or dog sports. Settling needs learning just as work does, or the dog remains permanently switched on.
Health in a small population
The Dutch population is small. A study found reduced genetic diversity and isolation between coat varieties (Keijser et al. 2018). Some dogs tested positive for a type I von Willebrand disease variant, but no bleeding problems were established in carriers. Estimated epilepsy without an identifiable cause was 0,72 per cent in short hair, 1,21 in rough and 0,42 in long. Short-haired prevalence declined over the years with breeding recommendations (Rolink et al. 2026). No reliable lifespan study exists.
Does the breed suit you?
Yes, with working-dog experience, enjoyment of training, plenty of outdoor time and a task in sport, rescue work or herding. Less suitable as an uncomplicated first dog, with little time or a preference for a dog leaving every decision to you.
To check the fit with your everyday life, try the breed quiz, with more detailed help in the book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For those first weeks with a puppy, try our free Puppy Starter Pack. Keep a picture of your brindle partner as a dog portrait from your own photo, for example a magazine cover on canvas.
Further reading
- Malinois: a service dog who ends up in a living room
- German Shepherd Dog: why so many end up in shelters
- Dog pulling on the lead: 5 mistakes almost everyone makes
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 223 Hollandse Herdershond (Holländischer Schäferhund) (fci.be, German and English versions dated 09.01.2020); FCI breed page No. 223 (fci.be); Keijser SFA et al., Heterozygosity testing and multiplex DNA panel screening as a potential tool to monitor health and inbreeding in a small, closed dog population, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 2018; Rolink T et al., Phenotypic characterisation, quality of life and prevalence of idiopathic epilepsy and epilepsy of unknown cause in the nine Dutch dog breeds, Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2026.
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