Schapendoes vs Feist - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Known 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.

The Feist is a small dog from the United States, coming from Terrier dogs which were brought over to the States. It is believed that these Terriers included crosses between several terriers – the Manchester Terriers, Smooth Fox Terrier and English White Terrier – dogs used as ratters and known for their skills in killing rats.

The Feist isn’t a new type of dog and in fact there are records of the dog which go back centuries. George Washington even referred to them in 1770 already, and the breed was popularized by President Teddy Roosevelt, who hunted with his Feist.

The 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.

Standing at about 46cm to 56cm in height and weighing in the region of 10 to 15kg, the Feist is a short haired dog that doesn’t shed much and he is not hypoallergenic.

The coat of the dog is available in a variety of colors but they are essentially a bi-colored dog such as red and white, tan and white, black and white, while solid colors are fawn, white, light brown, black and brindle too.

Perhaps because of so many genes being involved with this dog, it is more easily identified because of its hunting abilities. He is a sturdy dog with a medium length tail which he holds up. Some Feist owners prefer the look of a docked tail and then docking is between the second and third joint of the tail. The Feist has erect or semi-erect ears.

Temperament:

Intelligent and alert, the Feist is a dog that will respond well to training. As with any other dog, training and socialization will be important for him so that he is obedient. He is energetic, curious and alert and above all he wants the attention of his human family.

Because 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.

Loving to be around his human family and being a devoted and loyal canine friend, the Feist is also an intelligent, energetic dog who is fairly easy to train.

Bright and alert he makes a good watchdog too, but is amicable enough to get on well with other pets in the home as well as with children.

He can be stubborn so training and socialization will be important for him. As it is, he likes a firm, strong owner and in exchange for good care, he will become your devoted, loyal friend.

Your 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.

A Feist is a robust dog who doesn’t have any particular health issues, and with good care he can reach 18 years of age if looked after well. Hip Dysplasia is such a common dog illness that it always bears mentioning.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a ball and socket joint problem where the joint doesn’t function smoothly and the grinding of the bone leads to pain and arthritis for your pet. You'll notice he battles to play games anymore and he also battles to get up after lying down. You need to know that this disease isn’t reserved for old dogs but can start while your dog is still a puppy and that it can lead to lameness.

Allergies:

Look out for allergies in your dog as they can cause a host of problems which can include his skin, his breathing and problems with digestion. Typical symptoms of a dog with allergies include sneezing,scratching and very distressing for a dog, itchy and red skin which can eventually ooze.

As a responsible dog owner it is imperative when you detect problems with your dog, to get him to the vet immediately.

Grooming:

The 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.

Grooming:

Grooming your Feist dog isn’t going to be costly or difficult at all, as with his short, smooth coat he will essentially only require a brush twice a week.

It’s good to get into the habit of brushing him as not only does it keep his coat sleek and shiny, he loves you paying him attention.

All dog owners need to know that grooming goes beyond just brushing the coat. You want to also check his nails that they are short, check in and around his ears and brush his teeth with special dog toothpaste and toothbrush.

Diet:

Give your Feist the very best dog food there is. Home-made is always good but if you feed him commercially manufactured food, make sure its a quality one. Some raw meat added in every now and again is important for his health. Ensure fresh, cool water is available to him around the clock.

Exercise:

Your Feist is an energetic dog that has been accustomed to hunting and running down small prey. He is an outdoor dog, thriving on fun and games. Take him on your walks, your hikes or when you go cycling or swimming. He wants to be right there with you involved in everything. While he can slot into life in the city or the countryside, he isn’t an indoor dog and it certainly won’t be good for him if you keep him cooped up in a tiny garden and pretty much forget about him.