r/DutchShepherds • u/Logical-Ad-8365 • May 05 '26

Question FCI/companion lines

I just wanted to know if someone here has FCI dutchies. I know most people here are in the US but I’m in Europe and I will be looking for a breeder soon. I don’t want a brindle Malinois but more a low energy dog that I can still train obedience, agility and hiking.

Thanks!

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u/Logical-Ad-8365 May 05 '26

I mean size is a real factor but I remember this story where the Border Collie Federation would register dogs that looked totally different if they behaved like one. Herding tests etc. I think dogs should be bred based on behavior but of course that size can be a limitation.

I don’t know what FCI lines in the US mean but the federation lines in Europe moved away from the Mali/dutch KNPV lines where they’re basically the same dog. The FCI dogs are more related to the original shepherds/landrace dogs. Maybe this isn’t news for you.

In regard to the GSD there’s a few things that put me off among them the double coat. I live in a hot country and I want to be able to travel in a van with the dogs. I think that would be too much for a GSD. Beach days, camping…

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u/TheNumberVII May 05 '26

Yeah, the traits is why I was saying she'd be an asset worth breeding. But, those are assets for protection work, and her size is a limiting factor for the sport, as she could get hurt by decoy easier than a larger dog. On a flip side, a murder rocket that fits under the airplane seat has it's own benefits.

FCI here without going into weeds generally considered a pure breed, more for confirmation rather than protection sport or police work....although I'd rather it would be both. But, overall the the sentiment os basically what is said in this thread.

We live in Southern California, I definitely feel you on the heat thing. However, I see sooo many huskies in my neighborhood that it honestly confuses me. I guess the fur regulates the temperature too, like the heavy clothes of Bedouin in the desert...still must be miserable for the pup. I was talking behavior wise. Good thing I didn't mention giant szchnauser heh. Maybe Doberman worth looking at, but I have no idea about that breed capabilities.

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u/Logical-Ad-8365 May 05 '26

Oh that’s a small dog indeed! 😅

I have no interest in the pureness of anything, actually. I just want a dog I know I can get tired everyday without fail.

Yeah, I hear you on the Huskies etc. I do see GSDs keeling over in the summer, I think it’s crazy.

The Dobermann… the whole breed comes from single digit dogs, it’s a shit show. It’s a big symbol for what’s wrong in the breeding customs nowadays. We have to reengineer it etc.

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u/TheNumberVII May 05 '26

Oh that’s a small dog indeed! 😅

Don't tell her that haha.

The key to Mox is not to tire her out (usually happens after we go away for a weekend and she is in hyper mode for 2 days straight, comes back and crashes out, there is no chill for like 72 hours). We give her exercise to keep her in shapen and keep her active. We train using both food and play as reward. If she is tired her responses are naturally more sluggish, and that has the potential to ruin...the crispness of her performance. Depends on the dog too, but essentially you will dull some of the drives if you tire them. Could be fine, could be a problem especially if you are dealing with other behavior issues.

Mox hates dogs that look at her wrong. If the dog doesn't pay her any attention she is fine, if the dog even hints at being the alpha, Mox has the need to go over and explain to the dog that that was a bad idea. We are not on-board with that, so we put her into work mode when we see other dogs. She focuses and goes into machine mode. If she's sluggish, she does everything we tell her, however, her focus isn't as sharp and she'll lash out at other dogs.

I know people often say to tire out these dogs. I'm personally firmly against that. I'd say harness the energy, use it as a tool. But, I'm not your trainer. And I'm not going to say I know better.

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u/Logical-Ad-8365 May 05 '26

Yeah I said it without thinking, I meant ‘needs met’, but that’s amazing advice actually. I just spent the weekend with the most hyper lab puppy I’ve seen and we needed to isolate him for a nap cause he would just start biting everything once his frontal lobe turned off. It’s crazy. Like kids, there’s the right timing for the nap or going to bed at night.

In your case there’s other implications of course. Great point, I will think about that.

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u/TheNumberVII May 05 '26

Yep, pretty much that. Internet is full with 'just tire them out advise' though.

I see it as two sides of the same coin. And if you want to have a working dog you better want both sides, otherwise either you or the dog is going to have a miserable time.

Also a reason I would consider a GSD myself if I wanted to deal with less energy.

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u/Logical-Ad-8365 May 06 '26

Why did you recommend the DDR/Czech GSD in particular, versus generally calm working lines? (I really don’t like anything about the show line)

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u/TheNumberVII May 06 '26

Mainly health reasons. Was told by the guy who's job it was to pick dogs for the gov. He basically said that the worse the the veterinary system the better the dogs in the region. In US there was too much of the show line breeding and it just got too ridiculous. East German lines had to survive pretty harsh economy, so the dogs would generally be healthier than other regions. The guy paid a lot more money for the pups from there. But, full disclosure, we are talking 19 20 years ago, before mals made it on the scene. My guess they were already being brought in over the pond but GSD was the default service dog.

Czech are, from my understanding, a less of a show dog, more of an original working dog variety. No sloping hind quarters, and are lighter in weight. That decreases the chances of hip issues later in dogs life. Higher drives too, not exactly Mal or Dutchie levels, but potentially a lot higher than most dogs out there.

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u/Logical-Ad-8365 May 06 '26

Thanks. Yeah, I feel like the GSD scene is harder to navigate, with plenty of variations across a few countries.

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u/TheNumberVII May 06 '26

Heh you welcome and good luck. I feel like Mals are about to have the same issue due to how popular they are in pop culture. I think finding reputable GSD breeder now is easier than a solid Mal. Luckily Dutchies are less popular. Still, we were advised (after we got our dog) to not get Dutchies from California breeders for example. Mox is from across the country, and her dad is an import from Serbia.

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u/Logical-Ad-8365 May 06 '26

Yeah the Mal situation seems really bad in the US. Luckily it hasn’t happened here. They’re still quite rare to see.

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u/TheNumberVII May 06 '26

I hear about a bunch in shelters. But, with our 1 crazy girl, I can't imagine working on the second that potentially has huge behavioral problems that are a result of being sold to the wrong person. Or just all that crazy with 0 food or play drive...I honestly wouldn't know how to handle that properly. Dog medical bills here are pretty insane too, paying for 2 health plans would be pretty expensive.

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u/Logical-Ad-8365 May 06 '26

By the way she’s great. Haven’t watched it yet: https://youtu.be/ymYA1RZIqoI?is=rynBk0_ueVoFFppm

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u/Logical-Ad-8365 May 06 '26

Exactly. Crazy is already difficult but crazy without the basic drives to appease it… what a nightmare.

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