The Schapendoes
 La Vallee du Doux |
 La Vallee du Doux |
The Schapendoes is the shaggy sheepdog of Holland. With the rough, dense, long coat and drop ears, the breed is physically similar to the Bearded Collie, Puli, and other European dogs. Root stock is believed to be the same as that of Briard, Bearded Collie and Bergamasco. Although the Dutch Sheepdogs have been in existence for many centuries, they are not well known. They did not attract the attention of royalty but remained a dog of the common people; therefore they were rarely immortalized in art or literature. More recently, small flocks of sheep in Holland were subsidized by the government as "show" for tourists, presenting a pretty picture of green pastures dotted with white sheep. The native sheep dogs did not reap the same government benefits as their charges. Due to a lack of interest in the native breed and the importation of English Border Collies, the Schapendoes dwindled into small numbers prior to the Second World War.
