|
DUTCH
SCHAPENDOES
FCI Standard N° 313 7 14.04.1999 / GB
Translation: Mrs Chris Seidler
ORIGIN: Netherlands
UTILIZATION:
The Nederlandse Schapendoes is a herding dog which was used for
herding flocks of sheep and which is still used in the same capacity
today. As pasture for sheep is situated mainly in quiet, lonely
areas of the country, it is necessary for the Schapendoes to be
equipped with great endurance, mobility and speed. A great facility
for jumping is essential, as well as intelligence and the ability
to act on his own. He has to be true herding dog in character,
body and soul.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.:
Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss cattledogs) Section
1 Sheepdogs Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY:
At the end of the last and beginning of this century, the Nederlandse
Schapendoes occurred everywhere in the region of the Netherlands
where there was heathland and where there were herds or flocks
of sheep. The shepherds valued him for the tireless pleasure he
took in his work and for his intelligence. He belongs to the wide-ranging
group of longhaired herding breeds which have densely coated heads.
He is related to the Bearded Collie, the Puli, the Owczarek Nizinny,
the Bobtail, the Briard, the Bergamasker and the German Schafspudel
of the variety which occurs in Hessen, Odenwald and the Niederrhein
district. All these similar dogs are smaller mutations of mountain
dogs. The canine authority, P.M.C. Toepoel, is the founder of
this breed. During the second World War, he knew how to rouse
interest in the breed. During the years from 1940 to 1945 specimen
of the almost vanished Schapendoes were used for breeding from
wherever they could be found. The Breed Club for Nederlandse Schapendoes
was founded in the year 1947 and in 1952 the breed was provisionally
recognized by the Raad van Beheer. In 1954 the standard was set
up and a Stud Book started. Definite recognition followed in the
year 1971. Since then only registered dogs have been bred from.
GENERAL APPEARANCE:
The Nederlandse Schapendoes is a lightly built, long coated dog
with a height at withers of 40 to 50 cm. His movement is effortless
and springy. He is a remarkable jumper.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT:
The Schapendoes is a normally and harmonically constructed herding
dog with an attentive and courageous character. He is intelligent,
watchful, jolly, lively, friendly and high spirited. Towards people
familiar to him, he develops great affection and loyalty.
HEAD:
The abundant growth of hair gives the head the appearance of looking
bigger and, in particular, broader.
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Almost flat with a moderate frontal furrow and
strongly defined superciliary arches. It is fairly broad in proportion
to its length: the width is slightly greater than the distance
between the stop and the occiput.
Stop: Clearly defined but not steep.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: The bridge of the nose is placed a little lower
than the line of the skull.
Muzzle: The muzzle is shorter than the distance
between the stop and the occiput. The foreface tapers hardly,
remains deep and ends broadly, being only slightly rounded at
this end. Seen from the side, with jaw closed, the lower jaw must
be clearly visible.
Teeth: Normally developed scissors bite.
Cheeks: The zygomatic arches are strongly prominent.
Eyes: The eyes are fairly large, round and set
into the socket in a normal position. They are placed more to
the front than the side of the head. Their colour is brown; they
should not give the impression of being black. The white of the
eye should only be visible when the dog looks hard to one side.
The expression is open minded, honest and lively. Shape, colour
and expression are very characteristic for the breed.
Ears: These are set on fairly high and are neither
large nor fleshy. They hang free, but not to close to the head.
They are amply feathered and mobile, but should not protrude beyond
the outline of the skull.
NECK:
The head is carried high on a strong, clean neck.
BODY:
The Schapendoes is slightly longer than high. The skeleton is
fine boned, pliable and elastic.
Topline: Curved over a strong muscular loin.
Chest: Deep. Ribs are moderately to well sprung;
they reach far back.
Lower bone and Belly: Not too tucked up.
TAIL:
The tail is long, well coated and feathered. The manner and way
in which the dog carries his tail is characteristic of the breed.
In repose it hangs downwards. When trotting, the tail is carried
fairly high and swings slightly curved from one side to the other.
When galloping, it is stretched out straight. When jumping, the
tail definitely serves as a rudder. When the dog is alert, the
tail may sometimes be raised high. It should, however, never be
carried stiffly over the back.
LIMBS:
FOREQUARTERS: The front legs are straight and
lightly boned. Good angulation of the front legs should emphasize
the fore-chest.
Pasterns: Springy.
HINDQUARTERS:
Pelvis: In a well slanted position.
Hocks: Moderately angulated, well muscled.
Metatarsus: Short
FEET:
The feet are fairly large and elastic, broad and oval in shape.
The toes are tightly bunched. The pads are thick and springy,
with plentiful hair between them. Dewclaws are permitted.
GAIT / MOVEMENT:
In his work, the Schapendoes gallops rather than trots, so his
movement must be light footed and springy without excessive use
of energy. He must be able to jump well and turn swiftly.
COAT:
Hair: The Schapendoes has a thick coat with sufficient
undercoat. The coat is long, a good 7 cm or more in the region
of the hindquarters. It is not smooth, but lightly waved. Definitely
curly, frizzy hair is not permitted. The hairs grow very densely
together; they are fine and dry, but above all, never silky. The
coat, where it is long, is inclined to stand off in tufts, giving
the Schapendoes a large girth, especially at the rear. The Schapendoes
has a tremendous top knot, moustache and beard.
Colour: All colours are permitted. Preference
is given to blue-grey to black.
SIZE:
Height at withers: for dogs: 43 - 50 cm, for
bitches: 40 - 47 cm.
FAULTS:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a
fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded
should be in exact proportion to its degree.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
No Schapendoes which behaves nervously and/or aggressively in
the ring will be placed or classified.
N.B. Male animals should have two apparently
normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
|
