Nederlandse Schapendoes

Because of the dog’s long hair, you do need to take particular care when it comes to the Nederlandse Schapendoes’s grooming regime. This plentiful hair, which has the advantage of keeping it warm in cold months, has the disadvantage of getting wet and dirty in puddles and fields. This means that it may need more regular bathing than the average dog.

This dog’s fur doesn’t shed much, which might come as a surprise. As such, you should be able to get away with brushing the coat about twice a week. But remember not to focus on the coat at the expense of other areas.

Because of its fur having a tendency to cover up potential problems, you should of course check and clean the Nederlandse Schapendoes’s ears regularly — ideally weekly at least — and brush its sharp teeth - every day, say experts - to ward off problems with tartare and disease.

Nederlandse Schapendoes health risks

If you’re lucky, and if you treat it well, the Nederlandse Schapendoes’s lifespan should be in the region of 15 years, which is fabulous for a dog. Interestingly, we actually know quite little about the specific health ailments this breed might be prone to, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for some of the most common problems to affect dogs in general:

• Hip dysplasia
• Cataracts
• Gastric dilatation volvulus (bloat)

Hip dysplasia

Although the genetic disease hip dysplasia is an issue that’s diagnosed a little more commonly in larger dogs, the Nederlandse Schapendoes could easily fall victim to it because it’s a pervasive condition in dogs in general. 

‘Hip dysplasia’ is a term that means the ball and socket of both hip joints are malformed in some way, causing the head of the dog’s femur to grind in the socket of the joint rather than gliding smoothly. 

It can be caused by malnutrition, injury or weight gain (though you should also be careful not to over-feed your pup, as this may exacerbate it as well) and will be noticeable as a result of your dog not moving smoothly, not jumping, or experiencing lameness in the hind legs. 

You should be aware, however, that the signs of hip dysplasia often don’t rear their head until dogs are a little older, so it’s less obvious to identify in Nederlandse Schapendoes puppies.

Cataracts

Cataracts are an extremely common occurrence in dogs. If your dog has cataracts it’s possible they may exhibit one of the following symptoms: their eye may be cloudy in appearance; its eye may reflect light abnormally; and there may be some abnormal coloration of the eye, often of the light blue or gray variety. 

This is a condition defined by the clouding of the lens in the eye. As a result of this clouding, the retina struggles to receive light and create an image.

With cataracts will come some vision loss, which will be identifiable if you notice your Nederlandse Schapendoes bumping into things, being extra-clumsy, or walking around more cautiously than normal. If left unattended to, cataracts can lead to problems like glaucoma (to which the Box Heeler is also prone) and even blindness. 

In order to treat cataracts, a vet will want to perform surgery, which in the case of this condition has a fantastic 90+% success rate. 

Gastric dilatation volvulus

If you notice that your dog’s abdomen is in any way unusual — your pup may be retching, feeling sick, or simply looking at its stomach a lot more than normal — there’s some chance that it may have gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV), which can be quite a serious condition. The stomach revolves and will bloat, causing the dog to collapse in many cases and go into shock. This can, of course, be very scary for any pet parent to witness. 

There are a huge number of potential causes of GDV, including but not limited to genetics, gulping too much air, eating too quickly, and being stressed. If you’re at all concerned that your pup might have the disease, get them to your vet.

If the vet confirms your suspicions and diagnoses GDV, they will give your Nederlandse Schapendoes oxygen and IV fluids to stabilize them; decompress the stomach by releasing any accumulation of air and fluid; then perform a form of surgery called gastropexy. 

Find the best health cover for your Nederlandse Schapendoes by comparing top-rated pet insurance plans in seconds using the free Wag! Compare service.

Feeding a Nederlandse Schapendoes — what’s the best diet?

A Nederlandse Schapendoes’s food intake should be monitored with an awareness that it’s a breed that can succumb to weight problems. Look for categories of dog food that have been designed with medium-to-large breeds in mind, and measure out the food carefully rather than allowing free feeding.

An ideal diet for a Nederlandse Schapendoes should be formulated for a medium-to-large breed with high energy. Some Schapendoes can encounter weight issues, so it’s advisable to measure their food, keep an eye on their nutrition, and allow ample exercise.

It is, of course, important to ensure that your Nederlandse Schapendoes’s food is of the highest quality possible. Make sure there are lots of animal proteins in the ingredients list and you can’t go very wrong. 

Do your research and avoid harmful ingredients and things like fillers. If you can afford it, favor dog food brands that are transparent about how they source their ingredients and what goes into each packet. Try, if possible, to avoid giving it scraps from your plates — food tailored to dogs will always be preferable.

And, if you want comprehensive information about the best dog foods out there, check out our friends at Dog Food Advisor — they have in-depth brand reviews that include ingredient analysis, so you know exactly what you’re feeding your pet.