Schapendoes puppies

About the Schapendoes

The Schapendoes is the Dutch sheepdog of the heathlands, a light, shaggy herder that worked long days moving flocks and was rebuilt from very few dogs after the Second World War. It is a medium dog of 11.8 to 24.9 kg and 41 to 51 cm, with a long double coat that stands off the body and a springy, almost bouncing gait over ground. It is cheerful and quick witted, rated five out of five with other pets, and it responds to training as readily as any herding breed.

Energy is high and the breed genuinely needs the outlet: an hour of running a day keeps it settled and prevents nervousness, backed up by walks, games and dog sports. The coat wants regular brushing to stay free of mats and tangles. It is rated three out of five with children, so supervision and steady socialisation belong in any young family. The mistake is buying it for the look and then giving it a suburban dog's routine, which produces an anxious, noisy dog.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Schapendoes puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and it will need a job to do long before it needs long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Progressive retinal atrophy, detectable by DNA test on both parents
• Hip dysplasia, screened by x-ray evaluation of breeding stock
• Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation

From Schapendoes breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/schapendoes/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Schapendoes puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Schapendoes.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 11.8 to 24.9 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other medium breeds

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