Schapendoes vs English Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Schapendoes vs English Shepherd - Breed ComparisonSchapendoes is originated from Netherlands but English Shepherd is originated from United States. Schapendoes may grow 8 cm / 3 inches shorter than English Shepherd. Both Schapendoes and English Shepherd are having almost same weight. Both Schapendoes and English Shepherd has same life span. Both Schapendoes and English Shepherd has almost same litter size. Schapendoes requires Moderate maintenance. But English Shepherd requires Low maintenance

History

schapendoes - historyKnown also as the Dutch Sheepdog, the Schapendoes originates in the Netherlands.

It has always been known as a herding dog and farm dog. There were times during the 1940s when the dog’s numbers dropped considerably, but fortunately a breed club known as the Nederlandse Schapendoes was formed in 1947.

It wasn’t until 1971 that the dog earned recognition as a Dutch breed and the Federation Cynologique Internationale recognized this Dutch Sheepdog in 1989.

english shepherd - historyThe English Shepherd is another dog with an English name that was developed in the United States. They developed from British farm dogs that were brought to the United States in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries by the Scottish and English as they settled in the New World. Tracing their line through working dogs and collies in Scotland and northern England, the settlers bred them with local dogs and each other. These working farm dogs were called English Shepherds, Scotch Collies, barnyard collie, farm shepherd, the cow dog, and the old fashioned shepherd.

The English Shepherd was appreciated by the settlers and farmers because he was a versatile dog that could herd their flocks and protect their homes as well. They appreciated his intelligence and ability to hunt vermin and be a companion for their children. English Shepherds were bred to work with a variety of livestock such as pigs, cattle, goats, sheep and fowl. They were used to hunt as well and were known to track racoons and squirrels and tree them. There wasn’t a more popular dog in the American Midwest and East in the 1800’s and 1900’s.

The breed is trustworthy, alert and independent. As the small family farms were replaced by large agricultural enterprises the English Shepherd’s numbers dwindled as well until he fell into the category of a rare breed. There were no clubs to support it and not AKC recognition. The UKC had a different dog registered as a farm shepherd.

Today’s English Shepherd is still a farm dog, but he also hunts, is a therapy dog, competes in AKC trials, and performs search and rescue duties. As a farm dog, they are still the most desirable due to their versatility in working with different livestock, guarding the home and caring for the children. They do these things in a gentle way if possible but can be tough if needed. They have great empathy for the livestock and for their human family. This makes him a great dog for the family. The English Shepherd has remained a farm dog, working dog more than a show dog, over all these years.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Herding dogs
Origin:
Netherlands
United States
Height Male:
40 - 50 cm
15 - 20 inches
46 - 58 cm
18 - 23 inches
Height Female:
40 - 50 cm
15 - 20 inches
44 - 54 cm
17 - 22 inches
Weight Male:
12 - 25 kg
26 - 56 pounds
21 - 28 kg
46 - 62 pounds
Weight Female:
12 - 25 kg
26 - 56 pounds
18 - 23 kg
39 - 51 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
5 - 8
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Dutch Sheepdog
old fashioed collie, old fashioned shepherd, Scotch Collie, old time collie, farm collie
Colors Available:
black, white, grey, Brown, reddish blonde - mix of these colors
black and white, sable and white, and tri-color. , black and tan
Coat:
Thick double-coat, medium length, wavy
double, silky
Shedding:
Minimal
Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

schapendoes puppy - descriptionThe Schapendoes is a medium sized herding dog standing at between 40 and 50cm in height and weighing between 12 and 25kg.

When you look at him, you’re reminded of the Old English Sheepdog or the Bearded Collie. The thick, double coat of the dog can be a mix of colors and can be brown and white, black and white and gray and a mix of all these colors.

In spite of the thick coat, the dog sheds very little. He is an active dog and is known to be able to jump high. This makes him perfect for ball and frisbee games as he will leap into the air to try and catch the ball.

He has medium length floppy ears and the tail is long and feathered, carried high when busy, but when he is relaxed the tail hangs low.

Temperament:

Brave, cheerful,social and loyal, the Schapendoes is a shaggy Dutch dog who makes a splendid pet and companion for active people.

He is intelligent too, and in fact it is why he makes such a great farm dog too as he is able to work on his own and co-operates with his owner. He just loves being active, and will happily join you on all your hikes, runs on the beach, swimming, walks and other activities.

He thrives on being counted in as one of the active family members. This intelligence of his makes him easy to train and socialize, making him well mannered and obedient.

His amicable nature allows him to get on with all well disciplined children as well as with other pets in the home.

english shepherd puppy - descriptionThe American bred English Shepherd is a medium sized dog that looks somewhat like an Australian Shepherd or Border Collie. They have tails, never come in merle coloring and their head is not as rounded as the Australian Shepherd. A working dog, its proportionally very well balanced. Because the English Shepherd is so popular across the country, doing a wide variety of jobs, there is some regional differences in the dogs.

The coat can be curly or straight with feathering around the tail, ears and legs. Their heads are slightly rounded but broad and the muzzle is also broad with a solid black nose except for the clear sable dogs whose nose is brown. The eyes show you how intelligent and strong this breed is, and they should be round, brown and oblique. The ears are close to the head and wide apart.

With a strong, muscular back and shoulders the English Shepherd can do almost anything you ask him to. His legs are strong and straight, and his hind legs are muscular. His feet are compact, oval and well padded.

Characteristics

schapendoes dog - characteristicsBecause this dog has always been a working dog, he has learned to be independent.

They’re eager to please their owners and easy to train too. They’re not aggressive and are friendly and affectionate and want to protect their owners.

They’re cheerful and playful and are tolerant of children and pets in the home. However, they don’t want little children being allowed to climb over them.

You can expect these big cuddly dogs to make loyal, devoted pets when treated with love, care, kindness and respect.

english shepherd dog - characteristicsIt may seem strange to talk about kindness in a working dog, but it is one of the defining traits of the English Shepherd, along with intelligence. The breed is extremely kind to everyone he lives with animals and people. Once he is secure in his job and takes in his children or his herd, he is one of the best caretakers around. He is an independent thinker, is easily trained, and highly affectionate. However, he does see himself as the boss and unless you establish yourself in that alpha role you could have problems.

Health Problems

schapendoes puppies - health problemsYour Schapendoes is a generally healthy breed and with good food, a good amount of exercise and plenty of love and care, he can reach the ripe age of 15 or so.

Every dog however, has the potential to get one of the many canine diseases there are. Some of these canine diseases to look out for include hip dysplasia, dental problems, eye diseases, bloat, cancer and others.

Dental Disease:

Some people think that problems with teeth are mild – nothing to worry about and yet bad teeth can affect the quality of life for your pet.

Problems with the pet’s teeth usually start with a build- up of plaque that leads to tartar. This can lead to gingivitis and then periodontal disease can develop. Dogs can have bad teeth and this can affect organs in the body.

Problems with the teeth can be serious and your veterinarian will need to do an oral checkup and dental cleaning. If your dog has oral problems, you may notice bad breath, loose teeth, dribbling, tartar on the teeth and pawing at the mouth.

english shepherd puppies - health problemsLike many other herding breeds, it has been found that about 15% of English Shepherds had a gene mutation called MDR1. This means they have adverse reaction and high sensitivity to many common drugs for dogs. This condition could be life-threatening so test your dog for it and know what you are up against.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

schapendoes dogs - caringThe Schapendoes has a dense double coat which can become quite long in places. The hair is slightly waved and there is quite a lot of hair around the face which includes a mustache and beard.

He will need to have his hair brushed twice a week, and some people choose to have him professionally clipped.

Trim his nails, check inside the ears for ear infection, check that the eyes are nice and clear without discharge, check inside the mouth for rotten teeth and check him over for any unusual lumps.

Diet:

Your Schapendoes is an active dog and you want to ensure that the food you buy him keeps him active and healthy.

It is important to choose the best dog food if you buy commercially manufactured dog food. Then you can be sure it will have the right formulation of vitamins and minerals.

Home-made food is also an excellent choice for your pet. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots can be very healthy and tasty. Keep it simple like this. Chop it all up and add it into the dry kibble a couple of times a week to give him a nutritious treat.

Some raw meat added in occasionally will do him the world of good and keep the skin and coat healthy. Never leave your pet without a constant source of fresh, cool water.

Feeding

english shepherd dogs - caringRemember the English Shepherd is a hard working dog. But if you don’t work him don’t overfeed him. Twice a day, he needs about one half cup of a good quality dry food made with an active, medium sized dog in mind.

Health issues

In addition to the health concern listed above, the English Shepherd is also prone to:

Dysplasia

Both elbow and hip dysplasia can plaque the English Shepherd as it does almost any active breed. Have your puppy tested as it can cause lameness and arthritis.

Exercise and games

This is a herding breed and they need exercise. They need a job. They are intelligent and work oriented so make sure they have something to do. Take them to herding trails and have their herding instinct tested. Put them to work in flyball, agility, frisbee, tracking, obedience, rally, herding and showmanship events. Just make sure your English Shepherd has enough to keep his mind and body stimulated at a high rate every day.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Schapendoes vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi - Breed Comparison
  2. Schapendoes vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Schapendoes vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  4. Schapendoes vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Schapendoes vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  6. Schapendoes vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  7. Schapendoes vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  8. Schapendoes vs Dutch Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  9. Schapendoes vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  10. Schapendoes vs English Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  11. Schapendoes vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  12. Schapendoes vs Catahoula Cur - Breed Comparison
  13. Schapendoes vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  14. Schapendoes vs Catalan Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  15. Schapendoes vs Pyrenean Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  16. Schapendoes vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  17. Schapendoes vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  18. Schapendoes vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  19. Schapendoes vs Queensland Heeler - Breed Comparison
  20. Schapendoes vs German Coolie - Breed Comparison
  21. Schapendoes vs Bohemian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  22. Schapendoes vs Croatian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  23. Schapendoes vs Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  24. Schapendoes vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison
  25. Schapendoes vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison
  26. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs English Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  27. English Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. English Shepherd vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  29. English Shepherd vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  30. English Shepherd vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  31. English Shepherd vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  32. English Shepherd vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  33. English Shepherd vs Dutch Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  34. English Shepherd vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  35. English Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  36. English Shepherd vs Catahoula Cur - Breed Comparison
  37. English Shepherd vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  38. English Shepherd vs Catalan Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  39. English Shepherd vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  40. English Shepherd vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  41. English Shepherd vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  42. English Shepherd vs Bohemian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  43. English Shepherd vs Croatian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  44. English Shepherd vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison
  45. English Shepherd vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison
  46. English Shepherd vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. English Shepherd vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) - Breed Comparison
  48. English Shepherd vs Black Norwegian Elkhound - Breed Comparison
  49. English Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  50. Pyrenean Shepherd vs English Shepherd - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds