Drentsche Partridge Dog

Brown and white, tri-colour, with or without flecks or spots.

Short, dense, waterproof coat. Feathery around the tail, ears, and legs.

Dark brown, amber.

This is a well-proportioned dog with a strong, muscular frame that allows her to reach the speed necessary for a hunting dog. She has a dense white coat with large brown markings, and a deep chest with a long, well-developed rib cage. She has a wedge-shaped head, short muzzle and long, hanging ears, and her wide-set eyes give her an intelligent expression. These dogs can easily be mistaken for a Springer Spaniel or English Setter.

This friendly, loyal dog is very affectionate towards her owner. She becomes soft and playful around small children.

The Dutch Partridge dog is a very playful breed. She enjoys games that stimulate her physical and mental abilities. 

When she’s working or exercising, this dog is driven, determined and will run and explore for hours. But when the working day is done, she becomes very calm and docile.

Like most working spaniel breeds, the Drentse Patrijshond is an intelligent dog. She picks things up quickly and has a real willingness to follow her owner's commands. 

This dog is a natural tracker with a very high prey drive. She was the dog of choice for many Dutch hunters and specialised in tracking and retrieving birds, rabbits, and foxes. 

This dog is never afraid of strangers.

The Dutch Partridge Dog was bred to co-exist with humans. She tends to be autonomous when hunting, but at other times stays close to her favourite people and looks to them for guidance and companionship. 

She can bear brief absences from her master, but only if her needs have been met and she has plenty to keep herself occupied with.

This smart dog is a real pleasure to train. The vast majority of owners have no problems handling these naturally obedient dogs. 

The Dutch Partridge Dog is a quiet dog that will only bark when she needs to. 

She is a hunting dog who runs away if her environment is not secure. Despite her attachment to her master, the call of a possible prey is always stronger.

A healthy and well developed Dutch Partridge dog should never become destructive. Any destructive behaviour will be linked to behavioural or mental health issues, such as separation anxiety and boredom.

She certainly has an appetite! It is important to stick to recommended portions to help her maintain her weight.

The Drentse Patrijshond makes an excellent watchdog. They’re alert, loyal, and quick to raise the alarm.

They have many traits of the ideal starter dog. This breed needs over two hours of intense exercise every day and shouldn’t be left on her own, so a sporty owner is prefered.

This energetic working dog should never be kept in a flat or a small house. She was designed to live in the countryside and is likely to struggle in built-up modern environments.

At the very least, a Dutch Partridge Dog requires two hours of exercise each day. A short walk is enough to start the day but it must be followed by a longer, and more intense, period of exercise. 

This dog is a fairly good travel companion, although she may struggle on long car journeys. Take regular breaks and give your pooch plenty of chances to stretch her legs, and she can accompany you most places.

The  Drentse Patrijshond can coexist with a cat if she is used to his presence from an early age.

The Dutch Partridge makes a great addition to families who already have dogs. However, if you're thinking of adopting a new dog, it’s always best to introduce them to family pets before making a final decision.

This dog has a real soft spot for children of all ages. She can also be very protective over small children and toddlers.

She would make an excellent pet for the active elderly dog owner. 

This dog sheds moderately during spring and autumn.

This is a very healthy dog, with an average life expectancy of 13 years.

This is a tough, robust animal that was bred to thrive in rugged environments. She’s well-balanced, muscular, and durable. 

This dog sheds heavily in preparation for the warmer months of the year. She has no problems getting through the average British summer, but should be steered towards water in heat waves.

Her dense coat keep the Drentse Patrijshond warm during the winter. 

As she gets older, a Partridge dog becomes noticeably less active. This can lead to unwanted weight gain unless you reduce her food intake. 

• Ear infections
• Hip Dysplasia
• Entropion 
• Hunting injuries

The Partridge dog was developed in the Drenthe region of the Netherlands during the sixteenth century. Although she was primarily used as a hunting and retrieving dog, she often did extra work as a guard dog. 

The Drentse Patrijshond is also much stronger than she looks and many farmers and merchants used this breed to pull carts loaded with goods. 

Today, there are an estimated 5,000 Partridge Dogs registered in the Netherlands. It remains relatively unknown throughout the rest of the world and wasn't recognised by American Kennel clubs until 2010.