#dutch shepherds

[archival-canine]

Verhoef-Verhallen, Esther J.J. The Dog Encyclopedia, by Esther J.J. Verhoef-Verhallen, Firefly Books Ltd., 1997, p. 31.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

(CNN) — Fresh warthog carcass in tow, a poacher speeds away from Zimbabwe’s Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy.

Blood spatters, footprints and tire marks are the only traces of the crime he has just committed, but a trace is all it takes for the hunter to become the hunted.

His arrest comes a short while later, courtesy of Shinga, a Belgian Malinois that perfectly retraced the poacher’s 2.8-mile (4.5-kilometer) route home, leading an anti-poaching team to his door.

Last October’s pursuit ultimately began much further afield, in the sleepy Welsh town of Carmarthen, where Shinga was born and raised.

It’s home to the kennels of Dogs4Wildlife, a non-profit organization that trains dogs to support anti-poaching units (APUs) in their efforts to protect endangered wildlife across southern Africa.

It’s run by professional dog trainers Darren Priddle and Jacqui Law, who decided to blend their career experiences of developing working dogs for police, security, and military operations with their love of wildlife, after seeing photos of a poached African rhino on social media in 2015.

“It was quite a horrific image. We sat down and we said, ‘Okay, that’s really affected us,’” Priddle told CNN.

“We can deploy dogs in the UK to track people … to look for drugs, firearms and explosives, so why could we not look at developing the dogs that we were training for conservation efforts?”

Puppy love

The duo has since sent 15 dogs to five sub-Saharan African countries, including Mozambique and Tanzania, each one bred by them in southwest Wales.

They usually breed one or two litters each year.

Dutch shepherds and Belgian Malinois are two of the most common breeds for tracking, while labradors and spaniels are typically the detection (sniffer) dogs of choice.

Training begins from as early as two days old.

Priddle acknowledges that sounds young, but he believes early imprinting programs can provide a strong foundation for the formal training that commences around six weeks later.

“There’s a lot of scientific study out there that’s been documented on exposing puppies to touch, different temperatures, different surfaces and textures, as well as different odors that we put into the whelping box when they’re very young,” he explained

“It just helps their brain and (helps) their synapses to fire. We see a lot of advancement in those puppies.”

The curriculum closely follows that of the typical police or security dog, focusing on obedience, tracking, and scent detection — a skill used to sniff out rhino horn, elephant ivory and bushmeat.

The only key difference to the training process is acclimating dogs to the sights, sounds and smells of lions, giraffes and the myriad other species they will help protect.

With rhino and elephant numbers severely lacking in the wetlands of Carmarthenshire, trips to local zoos are organized to desensitize the puppies to African wildlife.

Typically, after 16 to 18 months, dogs are ready for assignment.

Even though Priddle accompanies each one on the long flight to their new home, spending the first month with the anti-poaching unit to provide field and animal welfare training to rangers, goodbyes never get easier.

“The transition from spending every waking moment with that dog, having a very strong relationship, to then letting that go is challenging and difficult,” Law said.

“But as much as it breaks my heart when they go, I know they’re going for the greater good.”

Biting back

Easing the pain are WhatsApp group chats set up for Priddle and Law to keep in touch with and advise APUs across the various reserves and conservancies.

They are particularly active forums, especially given that the organization also provides training and consultancy to teams with existing dog units, such as the Akashinga Rangers, Africa’s first armed all-female anti-poaching squad, who watch over Zimbabwe’s vast Phundundu Wildlife Area.

Naturally, updates of success are a source of immense personal pride for the pair back in Wales.

Shinga’s tracking triumph in October followed the achievements of fellow Belgian Malinois Dan, which alerted his team to a rhino calf that had been caught in a snare trap in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa in 2013

Such victories demonstrate the “game-changing” value such dogs can have when incorporated into conservation efforts, argue the duo, even through their mere presence.

“When these reserves bring a specialist dog onto a wildlife reserve … the word spreads very quickly that the APUs now have the capability to actually catch these poachers on a more efficient and successful basis,” Priddle said.

“Some of the smaller wildlife reserves almost eradicate poaching in all types completely, just because of the deterrent value that dog brings to the party.”

As park manager and head of anti-poaching operations at Zimbabwe’s 10,000-acre Imire conservancy, Reilly Travers has had a front row seat for the last seven years to the impact of Shinga and also Murwi, a Dutch shepherd whose training was paid for by the fundraising efforts of pupils of the local Harare International school.

Capable of covering as much as 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) an hour when tracking, even in darkness, dogs allow rangers to “own the night,” Travers explained, adding an invaluable level of versatility and unpredictability to their arsenal.

And on numerous occasions, Shinga and Murwi have alerted units to potentially mortal threats – be it from poachers or predators – through body language alone.

“They’ve saved our guys on the ground on several occasions and they’ve been responsible for apprehending quite a few poachers,” Travers told CNN.

“It’s had a massive impact on security for Imire. We’ve had a drastic reduction in poaching and the K9 unit has a massive role to play in that … It’s not the silver bullet but it’s a tool that will make a significant difference.”

‘We learn in nature’

Zimbabwe once boasted thousands of rhinos, yet numbers nosedived to less than 450 by 1992 because of poaching networks, according to conservation charity Save the Rhino.

The efforts of Imire, which saw the birth of its 23rd rhino in 2023, helped the country’s rhino population climb back over the 1,000-mark in 2022.

But statistics continue to make for grim reading across the wider continent.

Though the numbers of African rhinos poached annually has dropped steadily since a peak of over 1,300 in 2015, almost 600 kills were still recorded last year, according to Save the Rhino.

It contributed to an overall decline in the total African black rhino population in 2023, though white rhino numbers are on the rise.

And the impact of each loss extends far beyond statistics, Priddle and Law explain, especially at the smaller reserves that Dogs4Wildlife focuses on, which have markedly less anti-poaching resources than the continent’s most renowned parks.

Recalling the sight of a de-horned 25-year-old bull rhino and eight-year-old male in Limpopo, both killed by a single poacher, Law stressed the knock-on effect on the wider environment.

“The vegetation they clear, the seeds they disperse, all the other animals that are impacted. You think it’s just a rhino that’s gone – it’s the whole ecosystem that suffers,” Law explained.

“The owners of that reserve had a relationship with that bull for 25 years – we grieve when we lose a dog after 10 to 15 years.

For us to experience the impact that losing those two rhinos had on the reserve owner sort of gave us added motivation.

It was just horrific. I never want to see that again.”

As Dogs4Wildlife looks ahead to its long-term goal of one day opening a specialized training and canine school within Africa, mobilizing future generations has become a key part of its overall mission.

Its Conservation club, called Siyafunda Ngemvelo – which translates to “we learn in nature” in IsiZulu – has taken more than 180 South African children into reserves as part of a wildlife education program.

Law said that for local people to want to protect rhinos, they must first see the animals’ value to the environment.

“We have to start at the fundamental basics, which is children taking responsibility for their own wildlife,” she added.

“Once they get the passion for it, they’re going to become future rangers, not future poachers.”

[dogtoks]

[mitigatingchaos]

Good News!

On Saturday, I received word that “Trashcan Jan” is being adopted and her cute face has been taken down from the  SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare website. Back in January, we fostered Jan for several days and I became smitten with her and intrigued with her breed, the Dutch Shepherd.   Maybe it was because I missed any canine companionship in my life, but Jan and I bonded quickly.  Common…

View On WordPress

[creaturecompanionsofficial]

Dutch Shepherds

Dutch Shepherds as well as Belgian Shepherds have an ancestry that is shared by the German Shepherd. But in contrast to the Belgian Shepherd, the Dutch Shepherd hasn't had the ability to gain an enormous fan base. The breed was developed in the Netherlands to be an animal for herding. The ability of this breed to work as a herder, and its quick reflexes led to it the Dutch Shepherd popular. It was used as a general-purpose farm dog and herder. It also served as a cart-puller security, guard and police dog. The dog was born in the early 1800s in Southern areas of the Netherlands (the province of Belgium and its neighbor Belgium that was later part of Netherlands particularly). The division of coat texture in dogs was first observed in the early days of dog shows around 100 years ago.

Description of the Breed

The dog's body is strong and well-balanced. It has a large muzzle as well as solid as well as rectangular-shaped teeth. The dogs' eyes are black. They also have a slight slant. The dog's ears are small. ears. The ears remain rigidly upright. The belly and chest are both deep. They're not too overly drawn. The dog's feet are small. They don't have dewclaws. The dog's feet are arched, and its pads and nails are black. Between the toes, the hairs that protect are there. The tail of the dog is curly.

 Dutch shepherd price in India

·        Weight: 50-70 pounds (23-32 Kg)

·        Color: Blue Brindle Golden Gray Salt & Pepper Silver Yellow

·        Litter Size: 6-10 Puppies

·        Puppy Prices: Rs 20000 Average

 Dutch Shepherd history and information

Dutch Shepherds, have distinguished themselves from different types of working line shepherds over an extremely short amount of time, barely more than a hundred years. The first time they were used by shepherds to shepherd, guard and protect flocks of sheep in the fields that were flat in Holland They were admired for their ability to work and their guard drive.

It is believed that the Dutch Shepherd dog is fairly uncommon across North America, and is restricted in their home country of Holland. The breed is adored by its quick reaction time and agility.

The latter half of the 19th century brought an increase in the number of herds of sheep in Holland and a consequent loss of jobs for shepherds as well as their Dutch Shepherd dogs alike. The interest began to grow in the ownership and display of these dogs, which were extremely intelligent which is how the Nederlandse Herdershonden Club (Dutch Shepherd Dog Club) was born in the course of. The first members were those who founded the K.N.P.V.

Visit Our site for more information Creature Companion

[creaturecompanionblog]

Dutch Shepherds – A Glimpse into the Rare and Versatile Breed

Dutch Shepherd, a rare and beautiful breed of dog, was recently introduced to Indian dog owners. This breed is a close relative to the German Shepherd Dog (GSD) and the Belgian Shepherd Dog (GSD). It is rapidly gaining popularity in its second stage of life. The Dutch Shepherd, one of my favourite breeds, is one of very few breeds that has survived extinction and revival over many years. This process is still ongoing today.

Along with some other patrons, I introduced Dutch Shepherds in India. I was responsible to bring in four of the KNPV-Dutch Police Dog Program's formative dogs to India. Together with a few friends, we now have nearly 10 founding dogs who were brought to India. We have less than 20 progeny out of them and are still in the early stages of developing this breed.

The Dutch Shepherd is a beloved breed that has attracted the attention of many people, including Preity Zinta and MS Dhoni. It is an almost complete breed, with less recognition, as it checks in all points for me, whether it be looks, temperament, fitness, health, or temperament.

The International Police, Military, and Special Forces consider the Dutch Shepherd to be the best breed. We will likely soon deploy some of our Dutchies to the Indian defense forces and private security.

Histories

The history of the 'Dutchie’ is fascinating and will interest any dog lover. The Dutch affectionately call the dog 'Herder' because the Dutch referred to the original dogs as they closely resembled their Belgian or German counterparts. The standard herding companion who could also be used to pull carts and protect the flock.

The Dutch farmers love it. In 1898, the Dutch Shepherd was officially recognized as an official breed.

This breed was extinct after the First World War, and there were very few Dutchies left in Holland. This breed has been difficult to reintroduce over the years. Fans of 'Herders" would not hesitate to introduce GSD and Malinois blood to the breeding program in order diversify the gene pool.

FCI has approximately 2000-2500 Dutch Shepherds. They are willing to accept pure breeding from brindleherders.

The KNPV program of Dutch Police is likely to have many more Dutchies. They will accept Malinois as long as they have the right nerves, drive and temperament.

The current trend is to have the Dutch Shepherds be considered Dutch, while the solid-coloured Malinois would be considered Dutch. This is the view of KNPV breeders and trainers, while the FCI 'purists’ would disagree.

Appearance

The Dutch Shepherd is large and muscular, and has a great appearance. The structure is generally well-squared. The body length to height ratio should be approximately 10:9 according to the breed standard.

They are usually between 25-32 kg in weight. However, there are some large specimens in KNPV because of the variety of genes from different breeds. A few weigh between 45-60 kg, according to me. These giant Dutchies may not be considered standard, but they can be a valuable addition to the elite protection dogs clients.

Their height is between 22 and 25 inches at their withers. However, some may be larger. This breed is very rare.

Three types of Dutch shepherd coat are available to the dog owner:

Short-haired: This is the most popular and most desired of all three varieties. It has a similar coat to the Malinois. They don't require any special grooming and are therefore easy to manage in military and defense forces.

Long-haired Dutchie: This breed is more common with herding dog handlers. In terms of length, this dog is similar to the GSD and Belgian Tervuren. The breeders who produce long-haired dogs are few, and occasionally a puppy may be born with a recessive gene.

The Wire Haired: This breed is slowly rising in popularity and attention. It is a rough-looking breed that some people think looks like a wolf, while others compare it to the Beauceron. Some wire-haired Dutchies are employed in professional security roles.

Temperament

Their charming temperament is one of the reasons I love Dutchies. The Dutch shepherd is an energetic, high-energy dog with unending stamina. Their athleticism allows them to accomplish remarkable feats and challenges that most other dog breeds can't physiologically match.

The dog is balanced and has an on/off switch that allows them to interact with humans. They are loyal to their pack and their trainer.

They are highly intelligent and alert, making them the ideal breed to protect and guard the home and family after a long day of work. They are not easily tired and will always stand up for their family when needed.

This breed has one of the highest prey drives. It is an excellent dog for experienced handlers. However, novice handlers might find it difficult to manage at times.

They are very social and flexible for their temperament. If they are raised from the beginning, they will be able to adjust easily with other dogs and children. As long as the family takes care of their needs, they can adapt to any living environment.

Health

A favorite aspect of this breed that I love is their health, which could easily be considered one of the top ten breeds in the world. The Dutchie, like my Malinois is another breed I seldom need to take to the vet for routine visits or vaccinations.

The likelihood of this breed developing genetic diseases is very low. It has a chance of catching allergies, myopathy, and other issues. The possibility of hip and elbow dysplasia cropping up is also very low. This may be due to the German Shepherd Dogs that were used in the past to revive them.

Based on my experience with working breeds, there is an important point to remember. It is important to provide the dog with the proper training and exercise throughout their lives. This will greatly impact their health and lifestyle.

These dogs become less active and have a duller coat. This can lead to health problems.

A happy, healthy dog is one that's active and well-behaved.

Grooming

Dutch Shepherd Dogs are a wonderful dog for dog owners who don't have the time to groom their dog. This breed is easy to handle, and they would do fine even if we only brush them twice or three times a week.

However, the wire-haired or longer haired varieties would require more frequent exercise.

Due to their low exercise requirements, the Dutchies with shorter hair are more popular among security and defense forces.

Working Dutchies will need to have their nails filed during activity. However, we must be careful about keeping track of their nail length and condition so that they can keep their paws in good condition. It is vital to keep your dog safe from injury. Nails that are too long or ingrown could cause them to become infected.

Exercise

Their exercise needs are one of the most important aspects of living with a Dutch Shepherd, a highly-skilled working breed. These dogs can become neurotic and have severe behavioral problems if they are not exercised and stimulated mentally and physically. They can also leap very high so it is easy to get out of a kennel.

It is crucial to care for the dog's bones and muscles in their early years. Multiple short sessions of exercise and different types of exercise are better than one exhausting and tedious one. This can hinder the dog's growth, motivation, and overall fitness.

If trained to be a peaceful companion, the Dutchie can make a great running or cycling partner. If their prey drive isn't properly channeled from an early age, they can be dangerous with cyclists or runners.

The Dutchies love tug-and-bite, so this would be a great exercise for them. This game is great for both young pups and those who are still in their teething period. Before engaging in such activities, it is a good idea to seek professional guidance. Once they start to train for protection, the tug and bite pillows games are very beneficial. Regular tug sessions in various environments will increase the dog's ability to bite and take pressure.

A Dutch Shepherd adult needs to exercise at least one hour per day in a variety of forms. Dogs can get bored of repeating the same exercise over and over again. The most important thing to remember is that dog's mental and physical health is directly related to how consistent and quality of exercise their handlers provide.

Training

This is my favorite part of the article. It's also the best aspect for the breed. This dog is truly a "trainer's breed". A Dutch Shepherd is a great choice for anyone who is passionate about dogs and tries to get their true nature out. The Dutch Shepherd is a versatile dog that can be trained to guard, track, sniff, detect, herd, pull carts, and perform other advanced tasks. Dog sports like agility, dock diving, bite sports etc. Know the true value of the Dutch Shepherd.

I recommend that you have done your research on a trusted trainer who has a track record of successfully training these breeds before you consider purchasing a puppy. A Dutchie that is stable and well socialized early on will be able to appreciate the benefits of sights, sounds, smells, and sounds. It is strongly recommended that a Dutchie be trained in a crate, especially if there are children and elders or other dogs living with the family. While they aren't dangerous to anyone, leaving them open for the whole day is a license to be very notorious.

If they are exercised and trained, they can be great family pets. This dog is my favorite because it protects family and personal property. Remember that no dog comes naturally with the right training, drive, or instincts. While a good trainer and owner can help the dog get the best from them, it can be hard to get the results you want if the dog is not trained properly.

Let me close by asking readers to think for their own purposes. Is your Dutch Shepherd the right owner? They are beautiful and they have a high work ethic. Their rarity and reputation compliment their health and full qualities. It is a mistake to get this dog because of their reputation or status. Make sure you do your research thoroughly and make wise decisions. The Dutch Shepherds are not cheap, but they can be a long-term investment. If you don't have the energy, time or funds to manage this dog, do not buy it. The cost of a Dutchie puppy is between $2000-3000, but it's a worthwhile investment. We save money on vet bills, excessive training and damage costs by focusing on the quality of our dog. Set aside enough money for equipment, early training, and courses for yourself.

We wish you all the best with this underrated breed of dog! Keep checking for the creature companion.

[sleepycreekcrafts]

BOING! If you can’t tell, Aris just kinda suffers Enzo.