Schapendoes vs Sapsali - 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.

Early documentation of this dog tells us that it has been around for centuries and is therefore an ancient breed.

The Sapsali is a dog that comes from Korea and is also known as the Lion Dog, Sapsaree and Sapsal Gae. It is believed that these dogs were used to dispel evil spirits or ghosts.

The dog was given the status as National Treasure by the Korean Government in 1992 and is recognized by a number of local Korean dog societies. The dog isn’t however recognized by any of the major kennel clubs, but is affiliated with the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI).

When Korea was under Japanese rule, the dogs were slaughtered to make coats for its military and almost became extinct. Kennels were set up and the dog was revived again in the 1980s.

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.

The Sapsali is a medium sized sheepdog standing at between 48 and 60cm in height and weighing between 16 and 27kg. He is a strong looking dog with the coat being long and dense and coming in quite a few color varieties. The coat can be solid in color but it can also be a mixture of blonde, reddish, brown and black. The hair of the dog also falls over the eyes.

The dog has large eyes, the ears are also fairly large and the tail is long and held straight or down.

Temperament:

The dog is friendly, social and playful and also loving and loyal towards his human family. He is protective too and makes a good watchdog, but is never aggressive.

He gets on well with children as well as with other dogs. Training and socialization ensure obedience and good behavior and with a desire to please.

They’re intelligent dogs and training is easy. They’re gentle dogs too and this has made them a popular choice for therapy dogs. Their loving natures have been welcomed by patients suffering with trauma and the dog connects strongly with these people.

When back home he wants to be included in all the family activities. He is quite energetic and will require exercise every day – walks, hikes, frisbee, ball and rope games as well as more hectic hikes. He makes a good choice for the first time dog owner but is better suited to life in the suburbs or the countryside as opposed to being on a small property in the city.

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.

The beautiful Sapsali is a friendly, loving dog breed who is just a little bit wary around strangers.

If he senses his master is alright around strangers, he will accept them too.

He is both protector and guard dog and gets on well with all members of the household. Apart from the long coat which can be a bit of a handful, this dog ticks all the right boxes in terms of being a most splendid family pet.

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.

The Sapsali can live to be between 10 and 12 years of age, being a healthy breed. Like all purebreds, the dog will experience some health concerns, among which are heart disease, obesity, bloat, hip dysplasia and skin problems among others.

Heart Disease:

Dogs get heart disease just like human beings. The most common form of heart disease in dogs is valvular disease. Essentially it affects small breed dogs. Heartworm disease and dilated cardiomyopathy are also common forms of heart disease.

Sometimes there are symptoms and sometimes there aren’t, but as heart disease progresses it turns to congestive heart failure – the heart not being able to meet the body’s demands. Signs of this can be fatigue, difficulty with breathing, loss of appetite and weight loss, coughing and a distended abdomen.

If you see these signs, your pet will need to get to the vet. There is no cure for congestive heart failure but there are medications which can help the heart work better.

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:

The Sapsali is covered in thick, long hair and the coat is going to require a lot of attention. It will be better to give the coat a brush every day as the coat can become very matted and tangled. The dog is also a heavy shedder so a regular brush will help to get rid of all that loose hair.

The Sapsali will need to have his ears, eyes and teeth regularly checked to ensure they are clear of any infection and to prevent any illnesses. A bad tooth can create many health issues throughout the dog’s body.

You can enhance your dog’s health by giving him good food. Commercially manufactured dog foods can be a good, convenient choice, more so if you choose the high quality ones known for their natural, quality ingredients.

To provide your dog with just a bit of variety in his diet, some home-made food added into the dry kibble from time to time will delight your pet. No need to make preparing the food a huge issue either. Boil brown rice and chicken in a pot and add in sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach.

Chop all this up and as a treat, add smaller portions of it into the dry kibble when you want to treat your dog. To avoid skin infections, try to include some raw meat into his diet occasionally. Never leave your pet without a constant source of fresh, cool water