Fun Drentse Patrijshond Facts For Kids

The Drentse Patrijshond, also known as a Dutch Partridge dog or Drentsche Patrijshond, is a type of hunting dog originating from the province of Drenthe in the Netherlands, hence the name. It is a spaniel type of dog which was bred from breeds brought in from France and Spain and has since been bred as a purebred.

Originally kept by farmers as working dogs, they are now found in homes all over the world as energetic and loveable pets, known for their beautiful brown and white fur and endless drive for fun.

They are friendly and docile dogs in temperament who are equally ready for a hike or a cuddle, which makes them ideal pets for active families with young children.

To know more about the history and nature of this magnificent dog, read on. Similarly, learn more about some other pawfect dog breeds from our Golden Retriever Chow mix and Pocket Beagle pages.

Drentse Patrijshond Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Drentse Patrijshond?

The Drentse Patrijshond dog is a Dutch hunting dog, which is usually kept as a pet. It is a purebred spaniel-type dog, which is docile and very easy to live with.

What class of animal does a Drentse Patrijshond belong to?

The Drentse Patrijshond is a type of dog, which belongs to the Mammalia class. This means that they are warm-blooded animals, and receive nourishment in the form of their mother's milk.

How many Drentse Patrijshonds are there in the world?

These dogs are usually not found in the wild, they are mostly kept as pets. We do not have any fixed information about how many of these dogs exist in the world, however, there are known to be at least 5000 of them in their native home of the Netherlands.

Where does a Drentse Patrijshond live?

The Drentse Patrijshond is kept as a pet hence it lives mostly in homes, however, it can also live on a farm as it chases away unwanted vermin.

Since they were originally hunter dogs, it is advised to give them plenty of space to run around in order for them to receive the required amount of exercise and stay healthy.

What is a Drentse Patrijshond's habitat?

The Drentse Patrijshond originates from the Netherlands, which has a temperate maritime climate. It can withstand moderate temperatures, and bear both hot and cold weather to an extent. It does not do well in extreme climates. However, nowadays these dogs are not usually found in the wild but are kept as pets.

Who do Drentse Patrijshonds live with?

Partridge dogs are kept by people as pets. They were originally bred in the 16th Century from spaniels brought from France and Spain, and kept by farmers as hunting companions and to transport goods. Since then they have become house-friendly pets.

How long does a Drentse Patrijshond live?

This type of dog lives for around 12-14 years, which is a good lifespan for a dog. Drentse Patrijshonds are prone to a few major health concerns such as hip and elbow dysplasia, hereditary stomatocytosis, heartworms, and progressive retinal atrophy, which need to be looked out for and dealt with if possible.

If they are cared for properly, taken for regular checkups to the vet, and given adequate exercise, these dogs can achieve their maximum expected age.

How do they reproduce?

Like any other dog breed, Drentse Patrijshonds reproduce sexually. The female carries the puppies in her womb for a period of around two to three months from the moment of conception until they are born. The average litter size of this breed is two to seven puppies.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of these dogs is currently Not Evaluated. However, the Patrijshond is considered a rare dog by breeders.

Drentse Patrijshond Fun Facts

What do Drentse Patrijshonds look like?

Drenste Patrijshonds are medium-sized dogs and have slender and athletic frames. They have a thick coat of white fur which has larges patches which range in color from dark brown to golden orange. Their coat can appear feathered or wavy at times.

They have long floppy ears and a bushy tail, and a big brown nose. They have bright, gentle eyes which are usually golden or amber. They are very active and are always considered to be in good health.

How cute are they?

Drentse Patrijshonds, with their fluffy coats and big, gentle eyes can be considered very cute in appearance. Their soft, chocolatey color and brown nose add to their cuteness, making them look very playful and approachable.

They are very gentle and docile in nature, preferring to spend their time in the company of their owners and play with them. They get along well with all family members, as well as any other pets they live with.

How do they communicate?

Similar to every other breed, the Patrijshond dog communicates with whelps, growls, and barks. When with humans, they may also communicate their feelings by licking and rolling around. They can be given training to express their needs with basic paw gestures, sounds, or by responding to special tools.

How big is a Drentse Patrijshond?

The Drentse Patrijshond size is medium, making them the perfect pets for any family. The males are slightly bigger than the females, the average height being between 21-25 in (53-63.5 cm).

They weigh around 48-73 lb (21-33 kg) and have a slight frame due to being active in nature. Their size is similar to that of the common Golden Retriever, however, due to being much more athletic they have thinner frames and are lighter in weight than them.

How fast can a Drentse Patrijshond run?

Originating as hunting dogs, i.e. being trained to hunt alongside a hunter and retrieve their game for them, these dogs are very athletic in nature and can run at high speeds to catch prey. They love to spend their time in nature running and hiking and must be given adequate space in order to fulfill these needs.

How much does a Drentse Patrijshond weigh?

As they are medium dogs, they weigh quite a bit, ranging from 48-73 lb (21-23 kg). This can vary depending on the dog's diet, the amount of exercise it gets, and whether or not it is properly cared for.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There is no distinction regarding the names of the males and females of this breed. However generally males dogs are simply known as dogs whereas females are called bitches.

What would you call a baby Drentse Patrijshond?

Baby Drentse Patrijshonds are known as a Drentse Patrijshond puppies.

What do they eat?

Since Drentse Patrijshonds are very active in nature, they require healthy, good-quality food in order to fuel their daily activities.

A Drentse Patrijshond diet should contain a higher percentage of protein in order to help keep them lean and muscular, and must not be overfed as it could lead to obesity. Every pet's diet can differ depending on their weight, surroundings, and activity, and hence their ideal diet should be discussed once with a vet.

They can be given treats in order to pamper them from time to time or help with training, however, these should be limited in favor of a healthy, nutritious diet.

Are they slobbery?

These dogs are not very slobbery, however, they will give you the occasional lick to show affection like any other dog.

Would they make a good pet?

Drentse Patrijshonds are very gentle in nature and get along very well with humans as they have been bred for centuries to be loyal companions.

They are very energetic and are always ready to play and make great pets for families with young kids. That being said, they have a gentle temperament and are also fond of cuddling and being pet, and will usually let anyone approach them if given proper training from a young age.

They love to spend their time around people and will socialize with other dogs well if introduced to them from puppyhood.

They are relatively easy to train, however since they have high energy levels may appear to be restless at times. Being a single coat dog, it is not considered to be very high maintenance, however, weekly care must be taken in order to keep it in top shape.

They must receive proper dental care as they are at risk of periodontal infections, and must be bathed and brushed at least once a week to keep their coat healthy and shiny.

Did you know...

They are also called Partridge dogs in the Netherlands. Other names for this breed are Drent and Drentsche Patrijshond.

Other than being a gun dog, Drents were also used to pull carts to transport goods to the market and to chase away unwanted vermin from farms.

As they were usually kept by farmers who couldn't afford many breeds of dogs to do different tasks, these dogs were trained to perform multiple tasks as well as to keep them company, which is why they are so friendly and loveable.

Despite being originally found only in Europe, the Drent somehow made its way to North America following the Second World War, where it is now considered as one of America's rarest pet breeds.

As they are considered as a rare type of dog by breeders, these puppies cost a bit on the higher side between $800-$1000.

Behavior and health problems

A Patrijshond is usually energetic and playful in temperament and will act docile among humans and other similarly sized dogs. They are also highly intelligent and if trained well will respond to a number of commands.

However, due to their prey drive being on the higher side they may see smaller animals such as rats, birds, and rabbits as food and may attack.

They must not be left alone with smaller pets such as kittens or guinea pigs for this reason. If found to act aggressive, they can be restrained easily due to being medium-sized.

Since they are full of energy and love to run around, they have a low risk of becoming obese. However, there are a few specific problems that must be watched out for when it comes to a Dutch partridge dog, these being:

Hip dysplasia- This may happen due to the proper formation of the hips not taking place. This leads to the improper bearing of their body weight which can lead to osteoarthritis if not taken care of in its early stages. This affects their health greatly.

Elbow dysplasia- Similar to hip dysplasia, this affects the dog's limbs and may render them lame in a couple of their limbs or affect their ability to rise properly.

Hereditary stomatocytosis- This is a hereditary disorder in dogs that can affect blood cells and cause anemia or dwarfism. Though it is rare, this condition has been noticed to particularly affect the Drent breed.

Progressive retinal atrophy- This is a hereditary, incurable disorder that can cause gradual blindness in a Dutch partridge dog. It slowly progresses from night blindness to complete blindness in all environments. It is a painless condition.

Comparisons with similar breeds

These medium-sized dogs are similar to their spaniel ancestors as well as other hunting dog types such as Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, and English and Irish Setters. Similar to these breeds, the Patrijshond dog has a round head and medium-length silky coat and can adapt to similar moderate climates.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other dog breeds from our Pitbull Lab mix and Bullmastiff pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable drentse patrijshond dog coloring pages.