Dog breedsPinscher and schnauzer
Dutch Smoushond
- Origin
- Netherlands
- Type
- Pinscher and schnauzer
- Size
- Small
- Height
- Up to 43 cm (17 in)
- Weight
- Up to 10 kg (22 lb)
- Coat
- Rough, shaggy and waterproof
- Colors
- Any shade of yellow
- Status
- Recognised by the FCI; rare
The Dutch Smoushond, or Hollandse Smoushond, is a small ratting dog from the Netherlands. It is related to the pinscher and schnauzer type of dog that used to be kept in stables to kill rats and mice. It is rare and little known outside its home country.
History
The breed may have begun with the ancestor of the Schnauzer, as dogs of a yellow color that was considered incorrect. The name refers to its shaggy coat and bearded face. “Dutch” was added so that it would not be confused with the similar Brussels Griffon.
The Hollandse Smoushond Club was formed in 1905 to document and register the little stable dog as a pure breed, because it was in danger of dying out. During the Second World War it nearly disappeared all the same.
In 1973 several breeders set out to rebuild the breed from the few dogs that remained, most of which had been crossed with other breeds. Much of the work was done with Border Terrier crosses. The re-created breed was fully accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1981.
Appearance
The Dutch Smoushond is a small dog, weighing at most 10 kg (22 lb) and standing at most 43 cm (17 in) at the withers. Its coat is rough, shaggy and waterproof, and may be any shade of yellow. The head is broad and short, with drop ears set high.
Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.