How to Identify a Dutch Shepherd

A Dutch Shepherd may have one of three coat types: short, long, and rough.

1. 1
   Look for a brindle coat color. Although the dog has 3 different coat types, the Dutch Shepherd should always be a brindle color, with a silver or golden (varying from a light sand to a chestnut red color) base, and either dark brown or black-colored brindle that is present all over the dog's body. ^[8]

   • The dog may have a small amount of white on their toes or chest area. ^[9]
2. 2
   Understand what the dog's short-hair coat looks like. The short coat on a Dutch Shepherd will not be too short, and it should appear close-fitting and feel quite hard, having a woolly undercoat. In addition, the breeches, tail plume, and ruff ("collar" around the dog's neck) should all be clearly visible. ^[10]
3. 3
   Realize what a long-hair coat looks like. A long-hair coat on a Dutch Shepherd should appear well-fitting, straight, and long. It should also feel harsh to the touch, and like the short-hair coat, you should notice a woolly undercoat. ^[11]
4. 4
   Figure out what the rough-hair coat is like. On a Dutch Shepherd, the rough-hair coat should have a woolly, dense undercoat everywhere on the body except for the head. The coat as a whole should appear tousled, harsh, dense, and close-fitting. ^[12]
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1. 1
   See if the dog is loyal. Dutch Shepherds are known to be very loyal dogs, who build a large bond with their family, and then a sense of loyalty that's typically most noticeable with its main trainer/handler. ^[13]
2. 2
   Figure out if the dog is a good watchdog. Because the Dutch Shepherd is so loyal, they're very protective and want to ensure the safety of their family. Therefore, they're good watchdogs. ^[14]
3. 3
   Be aware that the dog may be standoffish towards strangers. Because Dutch Shepherds are good watchdogs, they can be standoffish towards strangers, so early socialization is important. ^[15]
4. 4
   Look for intelligence. Dutch Shepherds are very intelligent dogs, and as a result, are very trainable. ^[16]
5. 5
   Take note of a need for regular exercise. Dutch Shepherds are very active dogs that need regular, daily exercise, through things such as walks or jogs. ^[17]
6. 6
   See if the dog is good at many things. Dutch Shepherds are known to be good at doing a variety of different things, including being watchdogs (as mentioned earlier), police dogs, guide dogs, herding, and agility, to name just a few of these things. ^[18]
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