Schapendoes
荷蘭牧羊犬（沙佩多）
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Schapendoes (Dutch Sheepdog) is a lightly built, shaggy, long-coated herding dog from the Netherlands, related to the Bearded Collie, Puli and Polish Lowland Sheepdog and rescued from near-extinction after Border Collies displaced it in the early 20th century. The FCI standard describes an attentive, courageous, intelligent, watchful, jolly, lively, friendly and high-spirited dog with great affection and loyalty for its own people, effortless springy movement and a remarkable ability to jump — which is why it excels at agility. The AKC recommends an hour of running a day to keep it fit and prevent nervousness, and the Dutch breed club requires ECVO eye examinations and a PRA DNA test for every breeding dog.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 38–51cm |
| Weight | 12–25kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15years |
| Breed group | AKC: fss FCI: 1 |
| Role | Herding |
| Coat | Double coat |
| Shedding | 2/ 5 |
| Exercise | 60–120min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 3 hours |
| Companionship need | 5/ 5 |
| Trainability | 5/ 5 |
| Barking | 3/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 5/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 2/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 5/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
The Dutch breed club says the mutation responsible for PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) in the Schapendoes has been identified and requires a DNA test for every breeding dog. Ask your breeder for both parents' PRA results and your vet about eye examinations.
Inherited eye conditions
The Dutch breed club requires every Schapendoes used for breeding to have two ECVO eye examinations, each valid for one year, as part of its fight against hereditary defects. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Myopathy (inherited muscle disease)
The Dutch breed club reports an inherited muscle disease in the Schapendoes that causes muscle weakness and reduced exercise tolerance; not every dog carrying the mutation shows signs, the DNA marker test is not yet validated, and the condition is being studied by the universities of Helsinki and Utrecht. Ask your vet if a young dog tires unusually quickly or seems weak.
Behaviour
Jolly, lively, a remarkable jumper
The FCI standard describes the Schapendoes as a herding dog with an attentive and courageous character — intelligent, watchful, jolly, lively, friendly and high-spirited — that develops great affection and loyalty towards people it knows; because sheep pasture lies in quiet, lonely places it needs great endurance, mobility, speed, a great facility for jumping and the ability to act on its own. The AKC calls it cheerful, funny, clever and brave, a very good family pet with a strong desire to please, whose effortless, springy movement and astounding jumping make it excel at agility and other dog sports.
An hour of running a day, and an independent streak
The AKC says the Schapendoes needs a lot of exercise — daily running for an hour keeps it fit and prevents nervousness — and lists swimming, hiking, fetch and dog sports as good outlets. It likes to learn and does so willingly, but may also have an independent streak. The AKC trait chart rates trainability 5/5, energy 4/5 and barking 3/5, with shedding low (2/5) for a long double coat that needs regular weekly grooming.
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 5/5, barking level 3/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Schapendoes
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Schapendoes (Herding Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Dutch Schapendoes (standard no. 313, group 1)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Schapendoes — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Schapendoes — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Dutch Schapendoes — FCI standard no. 313 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]FCI-Standard No. 313 — Nederlandse Schapendoes (Dutch Schapendoes), 14.04.1999 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Gezondheid (Health) — Vereniging de Nederlandse Schapendoes — Vereniging de Nederlandse Schapendoes (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Myopathie (Myopathy) — Vereniging de Nederlandse Schapendoes — Vereniging de Nederlandse Schapendoes (Accessed 2026-09-09)
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Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.