Breed Characteristics:
Apartment Friendly
?How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?
Good For First-Time Owners
?Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?
Overall Sensitivity
?Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?
Tolerates Being Alone
?Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?
Affectionate With Family
?How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?
Kid-Friendly
?Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?
Friendly Toward Other Dogs
?Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?
Friendly Toward Strangers
?Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?
Drooling Level
?If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?
Easy To Groom
?Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?
Overall Health
?What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.
Prone To Obesity
?Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?
Trainability Level
?Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.
Intelligence Level
?Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?
Prey Drive
?Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?
Barking Level
?How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?
Energy Level
?Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?
Exercise Needs
?Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?
Playfulness Level
?Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?
Dog experts know that if you ever need the best hunting dog from Holland, you should check for Drentse Patrijshond.
The Drentse Patrijshond otherwise named the Dutch Partridge Dog is a medium-size dog of a long history.
This Spaniel-type dog has famous white fur with brown markings.
Their coat is often described as medium length, while in fact, it’s shorter than medium. It’s a bit of ‘medium-length.’
The Drentse Patrijshond is definitely one of the most human-dependent hunting dogs alive.
They are intelligent, and as such, they will challenge their owners. This is why this breed isn’t recommended for first time dog owners.
Also, they prefer being handled by an experienced dog owner, who knows how to work with active dogs with strong prey drive.
In the long run, proper training and early socialization are mandatory.
The Drentsche Patrijshond is a breed that has always lived with people, which is why they love being around people so much.
They thrive on human companionship and having a job to do. That being said, if ignored, neglected, or bored they will show you how unhappy they are – expect destructive behavior.
Just like many other European versatile breeds, the Drentsche Patrijshond points and retrieves, and will easily hunt both birds and small mammals.
Fast fact: In the Netherlands, there are only 500 registered dogs of this breed.
Quick Facts
Real name: Drentsche Patrijshond
Other names: Dutch Partridge Dog, Drent
Origin: Netherlands
Breed type: Working Dogs
Weight: 40 to 60 pounds
Height: 21 to 25 inches
Lifespan: 11 to 14 years old
Litter Size: 4 – 8 puppies
Color: Tricolor, orange and white, and brown and white
Coat: Shorter, dense, with brown markings
Drentsche Patrijshond History
To truly understand how this breed was created it’s important to get familiar with Drentsche Patrijshond’s history.
Maybe Drentsche Patrijshond isn’t an ancient breed, but that doesn’t mean that they haven’t been around for a while.
In fact, this white-and-brown dog was brought to the Netherlands by way of France and Spain, far in the 16th century.
In the Netherlands, this breed was known as Partridge dogs. They were originally used as hunting dogs.
Hunters loved just how capable and fit these dogs are and kept them pure. What does it mean exactly? It means that hunters and breeders were very careful not to mix Drentsche Patrijshond with foreign breeds.
During their initial staying in the Netherlands, this breed was developed to support people with everyday tasks, including hunting duties, guarding duties, and keeping farm and farmers safe.
All in all, these dogs were full-time multipurpose dogs. In 1943, the Raad van Beheer op Kynologisch Gebied (Dutch Kennel Club) officially recognized the breed.
Five years later the first breed’s club was formed.
As for the AKC, this multipurpose dog was first introduced in 2010, when the American Kennel Club (AKC) introduced the Drentsche Patrijshond into their Foundation Stock Service. This is usually the first step before the breed is officially recognized.
Drentsche Patrijshond Physical Appearance
The Drentsche Patrijshond is a well-proportioned dog of a muscled body and powerful pose.
As an old breed, there are certain standards that breeders need to fulfill. That being said, you can expect your Drentsche Patrijshond to weigh in at 40 to 60 pounds and range in height from 21 to 25 inches.
Females are slightly smaller than males. Some may be bigger or smaller in size. The tail in this breed should never be curled over the back. Skin is soft, and there are no signs of folds or any wrinkles.
The coat is dense and covers the body well. The coat is also straight with a water-resistant undercoat. The coat isn’t long, nor is it of medium length, but a bit shorter.
The hair is longer on the neck and the forecast. They will have brown markings, while the ears are brown, just like the hair around the eyes. Overall, the gait is well extended and balanced.
Drentsche Patrijshond Personality
The Drentsche Patrijshond was originally bred to hunt. As such, they will always have traits of hunting breed. This means that chasing any smaller animal is always possible, and this also tells why walks on leash are mandatory.
In other words, they have a strong prey drive. These dogs are also highly versatile, agile, and willing to please their people.
These pups are packed with energy and eagerness to please their family members.
They may be best friends with you, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t try to become friends with strangers. These active dogs are so friendly, that they even see strangers as friends.
If they feel that someone is in any sort of danger, they may choose to bark.
The Drentsche Patrijshonds are great for all sizes of households. Their energy levels are pretty high, which is why they may be best suited for homes with large yards, or more rural homes.
Drentsche Patrijshond With Children And Other Pets
The Drentsche Patrijshond will love spending time with children of any age.
As long as children know how to behave around dogs there shouldn’t be any issues.
As a general rule, no dog and younger children should be left without supervision.
As for the other pets, the Drentsche Patrijshond should get along nicely with other animals, especially if they are trained right.
For maximum results, it’s always best to start the training process early and conduct a carefully planned socialization.
Drentsche Patrijshond Training
Training should start as soon as you bring your Drentsche Patrijshond home.
Did you know that dogs can master basic commands as of eight weeks of age? That’s right, by the time the socialization window ends, your Drentsche Patrijshond should know to ‘sit’, ‘come’, and to react to the ‘no’ command.
If this isn’t achieved, it means that socialization was planned and implemented poorly.
If you feel like you need help with training sessions, hire a professional dog trainer. It may be pricey, but in fact, it will save you a lot of time and energy.
Plus, puppy classes are a great way to connect with your dog further. To have successful training, keep training sessions fun, consistent, interactive, and packed with treats.
Drentsche Patrijshond Exercise
High-energy dogs need additional exercise next to regular walks to keep them happy.
When bored or anyhow neglected, dogs will show destructive behavior. In most cases, this means that a dog might destroy some furniture, chew on shoes, or leave pee across the home.
This is something that may occur from to time due to many reasons, but shouldn’t be an everyday occurrence. If this behavior becomes common, you should talk with your veterinarian first, and a dog behavioralist later on.
To keep your Drentsche Patrijshond happy, you should provide additional exercise of 30-minutes per day. Think about hiking, fast walking, or even jogging.
Make sure that you discuss any intense workouts with your veterinarian first.
Also a bit of advice: be careful when it comes to training your puppy or exercising him. A too intense workout can put extra pressure on his joints and lead to joint issues.
Drentsche Patrijshond Grooming
To keep Drentsche Patrijshond’s ‘half-long’ coat clean and shiny, you will need the right grooming tool.
Go to a local pet store for the best grooming tools and research how to use them properly.
Drentsche Patrijshonds shed, so expect to use brushes at least once a week.
Expect more intense shedding during the shedding season. This means that you will need a vacuum cleaner on hand in spring and autumn.
The rest is basic care:
- Grind nails or trim once a month
- Bathe only when needed
- Check eyes and gums weekly
Be careful when it comes to bathing. Dogs don’t need frequent bathing as humans do. Their skin is different and too much bathing can actually lead to skin infection and other skin-related issues. When bathing, use only specially designed shampoos for dogs.
Drentsche Patrijshond Health
If you want to be 100% sure that your Drentsche Patrijshond is a healthy dog, deal with responsible breeders only.
Responsible breeders will screen puppies for the most common health issues, present you medical documentation on the dog, and even inform you of possible health problems in the future.
That being said, some Drentsche Patrijshonds may develop some of the following issues:
- Hereditary Stomatocytosis
- Hip Dysplasia
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
This doesn’t mean that your Drentsche Patrijshond will be affected by it, but only that you should be well informed.
Before you get any dog it’s important to do your research on the dog’s health history. This way you will be ready for everything. It cannot harm to have pet insurance, just in case.
An unplanned situation can lead to extra expenses.
Is Drentsche Patrijshond For You?
If you are a first time dog owner, this breed isn’t recommended for you.
As a highly active breed, the Drentsche Patrijshond may be too much of a challenge.
In this case, you might want to check breeds that are more suitable for novice owners.
On the other hand, if you are an experienced dog owner, and you already have an intense outdoor lifestyle, this breed might be for you.
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