Schapendoes Names, Dutch Sheepdog Names

Bounding across the open heaths of Drenthe and the Veluwe, the Schapendoes spent generations as the working sheepdog of the Dutch countryside -- a shaggy, long-coated herder whose name says exactly what it did, joining the Dutch word schaap (sheep) with an old term, doe(s), for a rough long-haired dog. Shepherds on the heathlands valued it not for size or force but for its tireless, intelligent, springy work moving the flocks, and it belongs to the same family of shaggy European herders as the Bearded Collie, the Puli, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog and the Briard. The breed nearly vanished during the Second World War, and the dogs alive today descend from a handful of survivors gathered by the Dutch writer P.M.C. Toepoel, who rallied enthusiasts to rebuild it; a breed club formed in 1947, the Dutch Kennel Club granted recognition in 1952, and the FCI followed in 1971.

This is a medium, lightly built dog, standing roughly 40 to 50 centimetres at the shoulder and weighing about 12 to 25 kilograms under a thick, slightly wavy long coat that can come in every shade from cream to slate-grey to near-black. It is famously agile -- a natural, almost weightless jumper -- and lively, affectionate, and quick to learn, devoted to its family and good-natured with children. Bred to think on its feet beside a shepherd, it is an energetic companion that needs daily exercise and a job for its busy mind, rewarding an active home with cheerful, loyal company rather than the wary aloofness of a guard dog.

Names for a Schapendoes suit its bright, bouncy spirit and its Dutch roots. Nods to the homeland sit well -- Bram, Dirk, Pim, Geert, Johan and Willem for a male, Sanne, Saskia, Fleur and Lotte for a female. Its leaping agility invites playful picks like Dash, Bolt, Flash, Comet, Hopper, Bounce and Turbo, while its shaggy coat suggests Shaggy, Fuzzy, Slate, Smoky, Dusty and Ash. For affectionate family favourites, Bella, Daisy, Luna, Heather, Poppy, Tess and Sophie all fit this friendly herder.

Explore our full collection of Schapendoes names below. Filter by gender, save your favourites, and find a name as lively, agile, and warm-hearted as your Dutch Sheepdog.