Pyredoodle vs Dutch Shepherd - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Dutch Shepherd is of Dutch origin, hailing from the Netherlands. They were originally used as herding dogs on the farms, where they became a jack-of-all-trades type of dog.

The Dutch Shepherd in those days, 100 odd years ago, were also known as Hollandse Herders.

These dogs are more rare in modern days, but when you do find them, they are being used as police or security dogs, as guides for the blind, or simply as family friends.

These dogs only originated in the 1980s, and as a designer dog they are a cross between a Standard Poodle and the Great Pyrenees, both ancient dog breeds.

The breeders were looking for a non-shedding variation of both these popular breeds. This dog isn’t part of the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) list of dogs.

The Dutch Shepherd dog is very similar in appearance to the popular German Shepherds, being a medium to large sized dog.

The males are slightly heavier than females, but both males and females can stand between 55 and 62cm and weigh between 20 and 32kg.

There are actually 3 varieties found in the Dutch Shepherd dogs - short-haired, long-haired, and wiry or rough-haired. The dog has a double coat, consisting of a woolly undercoat and a top coat. The basic color of the coat is gold or silver through to red, giving rise to the brindle variations. Too much black or white seen in the fur is considered a fault.

In 1914 it was decided that brindle coats would distinguish them from the others.

The eyes of the Dutch Shepherd are dark, almond shaped and slightly slanting, while the medium sized ears are erect and high on the head and the thick tail is slightly curved. The dog has an unusually long tongue which is often found hanging out.

Temperament:

Early training and socializing for this dog is important so that he can learn to stay calm around new people, or visitors to the property.

The beautiful Dutch Shepherd doesn’t like being left alone for too long, loving rather to be involved with all that the family is involved in. They get on well with other pets in the home as well as being child-friendly.

They are happy dogs, who can also be smart and cunning, therefore highly trainable. They soak up new commands easily. Dutch Shepherds are also good watchdogs as they are fiercely loyal, and do not take kindly to strangers.

The Pyredoodle is a large dog standing at between 60 and 86cm in height and weighing about 38 to 46kg.

The coat varies quite a bit, depending on which breed the dog leans towards. Colors can be white, cream, apricot, silver or black. Essentially the coat is a thick double-coat of medium length hair which is fairly straight or wavy.

The dog is a low shedder, thought to have a hypoallergenic coat. Floppy ears mean you will need to check inside the ears for redness and infection brought on by an excess wax build-up, dirt and moisture. If you allow your Pyredoodle to become a parent, the can produce between 2 to 4 puppies.

Temperament:

Coming from dogs with good temperaments, the Pyredoodle comes as being good natured. He plays well with children and gets on well with other animals in the house.

He is protective and takes his role as watchdog seriously. You can be sure he is going to be a loyal family dog. His high intelligence means he can be trained and socialized with ease and then he becomes obedient and well mannered.

He is good with children, and even though he is looked upon as being sweet natured, he still makes a great watchdog and protector of his human family.

Your alert, intelligent and somewhat rare Dutch Shepherd is a loyal, protective dog, and while he can be aggressive around intruders and be a great guard dog, he can also be a gentle, loving animal around his human family members.

Though his tongue is long and often hangs out, you won’t have to contend with drooling. He is a wonderfully active dog and doesn’t easily gain weight. He isn’t a barker or howler, and his exceptional intelligence makes him highly trainable.

Whether there are children or other animals in the house, you can rely on your Dutch Shepherd to get on well with them, making him a wonderful family pet and canine friend.

Attractive to look at, independent in nature, the Pyredoodle also has watchdog characteristics, being a protector of his human family.

Like any dog, and particularly big dogs, it is important to train the Pyredoodle otherwise he could be too active and unruly when he comes indoors.

The Pyredoodle will absolutely thrive in a loving home where the people enjoy an active lifestyle.

The Pyredoodle comes from too excellent dog breeds. Both breeds make excellent watch dogs, they’re intelligent dogs who can be easily be trained. You can expect your crossbreed dog to be a loving, loyal, devoted pet who will add a wonderful dimension to your household.

The Dutch Shepherd dogs are the healthiest of the Shepherd breeds. They have relatively few health problems.

However, like the German Shepherds they may develop hip dysplasia, but this is in fact fairly rare. Get your pet to the vet if you suspect this in your dog because it can lead to lameness.

In 2018 the University of Minnesota identified a disease in Dutch Shepherds called Miositis. This is an inflammatory myopathy causing painful inflammation of the skeletal muscle tissue.

Designer dogs are often bred with the idea to eliminate some of the typical, common health issues that plague most dogs. These are among others, bloat, cancer, hip dysplasia, skin issues, ear infections, obesity, dental disease and others.

It is highly unlikely that your lively Pyredoodle will succumb to any of the major dog illnesses, but you need to watch him and get him to the vet when you see him displaying unnatural symptoms.

It is beneficial for your pet's health to have it neutered or spayed if you aren't interested in the dog having puppies.

Grooming:

Unfortunately Dutch Shepherds shed quite a bit of hair during their shedding period in spring and autumn. This makes regular brushing important during these seasons so as to remove the dead hairs, especially from the undercoat.

The wire- or rough-haired variety shouldn’t be brushed but should rather be groomed by a professional groomer every 6 months or so.

Their nails need to be trimmed when necessary, to avoid cracking, splitting, or an injury.

Their ears can be cleaned weekly to get rid of any debris or wax build-up. This, if left, can lead to infection. Brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week to avoid dental disease which brings on a host of illnesses.

Exercise:

These dogs do need regular exercising, and at the same time need to be physically and mentally stimulated. He is the kind of dog that has been used for herding purpose on the farm and he just craves activity. Take him with you on your walks and include him in ball games, hikes, jogging, swimming or when you go cycling – he is game for all kinds of activities.

Diet:

The formula for their diet would be that of a medium to large dog with high energy levels. The top commercially manufactured foods have been developed to include all the important vitamins and minerals. Fish oil can also be added to their food to keep the coat shiny.

Add in cooked rice, cooked vegetables and chicken from time to time and be sure to add in some raw meat occasionally to prevent problems with the skin. Always ensure that your pet has fresh, cool water to drink.

Exercise:

The Pyredoodle is a large dog who will need regular exercise. Apart from walks every day, he’ll need ball- and rope games, throwing the frisbee, hide and seek games as well as games and toys that keep him mentally active as well.

Diet:

With the Pyredoodle, never try to skimp on his food and buy the cheapest there is. He’ll get sick often because of the unwholesome ingredients such as colorants, preservatives, fillers and very few vitamins and minerals.

If you choose one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure it is the high quality ones. Give him a treat now and again by providing him with tasty home-cooked food. It doesn’t have to be every day, just once or twice a week.

An excellent choice of food is boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach, all chopped up and added to the dry kibble. When you can, try and include a little bit of raw meat too. Make sure he has constant access to fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

The Pyredoodle can have a coat which can be either short and thick or it can be longer, wavy or quite curly. Grooming will be aimed at removing any loose hairs the dog has by brushing twice a week. The dog is a low shedder.

His floppy ears may mean you needing to check the insides to ensure they are free from infection. Other grooming for this dog includes trimming the nails, checking his eyes and looking inside his mouth for rotting teeth. A bad tooth can be terribly painful for your pet but it can also cause problems with other body parts such as the heart and kidneys.

Get your pet immediately to the vet if you suspect anything that can be detrimental to your dog’s health.