They were used by shepherds and farmers who needed a versatile dog that made few demands and was able to adapt to a harsh and meager existence.

The versatile skills of the Dutch Shepherds made them suitable for dog training, which was then starting to become popular.

The Belgian Malinois was used for a time, but the practice was stopped because the buyers of those puppies did not have the same goals as the Dutch Breed Club.

[3] The Dutch Shepherd on average weigh between 50–70 pounds (23–32 kg) and the height varies between 55 and 63 cm (approximately 22 to 25 inches tall at the withers).

Long-haired: All over the body, long, straight, well-fitting, harsh to the touch, without curls or waves and with a woolly undercoat.

The backsides of the forelegs show a strongly developed coat, shortening in length towards the feet, the so-called feathering.

Upper and lower lip should be well-covered with hair, the whiskers and beard, and two well-defined, coarse rough eyebrows that are distinct but not exaggerated.

[2] Brindle: The basic colour is golden or silver and can vary from a near-white, light sand-colour to chestnut red.

Gifted with a true shepherding temperament, they can work willingly together with their owners and can deal independently with any task they are assigned, being neither aggressive nor shy.

[3] The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals reports hip dysplasia is present at an overall rate of 9 percent on 705 dogs evaluated from Jan. 1974 through Mar.

The Dutch Shepherd Dog Club of America[5] financed genetic research to analyze and interpret molecular information to identify this disease, which was spearheaded by Dutch Shepherd Dog Club of America veterinary counsel Karen Wroblewski DVM.

Dr. Wroblewski orchestrated a nationwide collaboration of veterinary professionals, breeders and Dutch Shepherd fanciers resulting in the description of this new condition, discovery of the causative mutated gene, definition of the mode of inheritance (autosomal recessive), and now, availability of a new DNA screening test available through University of Minnesota.

[6] The University of Minnesota Canine Genetics Laboratory has also coordinated with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals to have the IM test results listed on the OFA website.

They compete in dog agility, obedience, rally obedience, flyball, dock jumping, disc dog, tracking, herding, search and rescue, nosework, and weight pulling, along with protection sports such as Schutzhund, French Ring, Belgian Ring, mondioring, PSA, and others.

The Koninklijke Nederlandse Politiehond Vereniging (KNPV), or Royal Dutch Policedog Association, was founded 27 October 1907, as an organization to oversee and test dogs for their suitability for police work.

Dutch Shepherds with KNPV titles are sought-after candidates throughout the world for police and military use, as well as sport competitors and personal-protection dogs.

[8] The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) is an overseeing entity for many international purebred dog breed registries, including the Dutch Kennel Club (Raad van Beheer).

Established in 1898, the United Kennel Club is the largest all-breed, performance-dog registry in the world, registering dogs from all 50 U.S. states and 25 foreign countries.

[13] The American Kennel Club board of directors voted their approval on 16 January 2016 of moving the Dutch Shepherd to the Miscellaneous Class effective 1 January 2017 and has designated the American Dutch Shepherd Association as the AKC Parent Club for the breed.

[14] In March 2024, the American Kennel Club's FSS database reflected a total of 854 Dutch Shepherds recorded, with 774 of them having 3 generations listed.