Drentse Patrijshond - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
History of the Drentse Patrijshond goes back to 16th century when these dogs originated from a Spioenen breed. This new breed was called as a Partridge dog and they were mostly popular in the Easter part of Netherlands, namely in the province Drenthe. The breed was officially recognized on the 15th of May 1943 and it is closely related to French Spaniel and Small Munsterlander.

2) Utilization
Main purpose of this breed is hunting and it is a great versatile hunter and this breed was used for hunting throughout their all history. But the Drentse Patrijshond was used for many more purposes and it was known as a great watchdog, companion and they were even pulling carts.

3) Hunter
This is very versatile hunter. They can hunt any small game, including rabbits, foxes or hares, but they are also good vermin hunters. They are known for being great at searching the game, but also at pointing and retrieving. They are keeping in touch with the hunter and they are never going too far away. This is also very adaptable breed kapable of hunting even in hard terrain in land or in water. This is very determined dog who takes his hunting duties very importantly.

4) Companion
When the hunt is done, the Drent became absolutely amazing and affectionate family companion. He is somewhat softer in nature than majority of hunting breeds and it is absolutely devoted to its people. The Drent is amazing playful partner for kids, but you should always monitor the situation between any dog breed and very young child. The only problematic thing might be other smaller household pets, because the Drent does have a higher prey drive and might try to hunt them.

5) Exercise
As you can probably imagine, just like almost all the hunting breeds, even the Drent requires quite a lot of physical and mental exercise, especially if you have this dog as a companion and not as a hunter. Longer daily walks or hikes are must and this dog will also like to go for a jog or a swim. Most of the Drentse Patrijshond dogs also enjoy fetching or playing frisbee and they can be good adepts for various dog sports like agility or hunting trials.

6) Other names
In English speaking countries this dog is often times called as Dutch Partridge dog, Dutch Spaniel or Dutch Partridge Hound. Especially the second and third name is pretty incorrect, because this is definitely not a hound and it is also not a pure spaniel dog. The best translation of the name would be Drents Partridge dog.

7) Size
This is a well balanced and athletic dog breed with average height between 55-63 cm, which is 22-25 inch and weight is typically between 48-73 pounds, which is 21-33 kg. Females are slighlty smaller than males.

8) Coat
One of the breeds hallmark is definitely the beautiful coat. Drents coat is medium long and it is feathered on the legs and underside. Ears also have longer fur than the rest of the body. The coat is very dense, but not overly thick and the color range from a dark mahogany brown to a reddish orange.

9) Maintenance
The Drentse Patrijshond is considered to be a low maintenance breed, but he does need some grooming to keep the coat in top condition. You should groom the dog regularly, lets say weekly, to prevent tangling and matting. Just like with all dogs, you should also regularly check the dogs ears, eyes, nails and teeth and clean them or clip them if needed.

10) Health
The average Drents lifespan is between 12-14 years, which is quite average for a dog of this size. Those dogs are relatively healthy, but they are predisposed for few health issues, namely it is hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and hereditary stomatocytosis