OSS DUTCH SHEPHERDS The Official Owner & Handler Guide: Equipment, Nutrition, Safety & Preparedness DUTCH TESTED & APPROVED — OSS

Aug 27

10 min read

OSS DUTCH SHEPHERDS

The Official Owner & Handler Guide: Equipment, Nutrition, Safety & Preparedness

DUTCH TESTED & APPROVED — OSS

Bringing an OSS Dutch Shepherd home is more than bringing home a dog. You are bringing home a working breed that was bred, raised, and developed with purpose. With that comes responsibility—and one of my biggest goals at Our Shepherds Shepherds (OSS) is to help our owners be prepared, educated, and confident from the very beginning.

I don't want to simply send a puppy home and say, "Good luck."

Every OSS Dutch Shepherd puppy leaves with an OSS folder, and I am building that folder into a complete Welcome to the OSS Dutch Family Pack. Your printed packet will include information such as vaccination and shot records, worming records, lineage and pedigree information, health documentation, training information, recommended equipment, nutrition and safety information, and information about the training and educational resources I offer.

I want you to be able to put this information into a notebook and keep building that notebook throughout your dog's life.

This blog is part of that mission.

QUALITY EQUIPMENT MATTERS

Dutch Shepherds are incredibly intelligent, athletic, powerful, driven dogs. Especially with a high-drive working dog, inexpensive equipment can become a liability.

I would rather see an owner purchase one quality piece of equipment that lasts for years than continually replace cheap equipment—or worse, have a dog injured because equipment failed.

CRATES — ONE OF YOUR MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS

⭐ My First Choice: Owen's Metal Crates

I highly recommend Owen's metal crates, especially the collapsible models.

These are crates I have personally used for years, including with some of my highest-drive, Tier 1 K9s, and they have survived extremely well.

I recommend purchasing them through Elite K9.

When you call, ask for Luke or Jason.

I also like supporting Elite K9 because purchases through them help support military, law enforcement, and first responders.

Other heavy-duty crate options I recommend owners research include Impact, Ridgecrest, GUNNER, and other professionally manufactured Dutch-Shepherd-proof crates.

The bottom line is simple:

Don't buy a flimsy crate and assume your Dutch Shepherd won't figure out how to escape it.

CRATE TRAINING, DOWN TIME & CRATE SAFETY

Crate training is a foundation skill, not punishment.

Your puppy needs to learn that the crate is a safe place to sleep, rest, decompress, and have quiet down time. High-drive Dutch Shepherds especially need to learn that there is an "off switch." Being able to settle and rest is part of developing a stable working dog.

Crate time should be built gradually and positively while balancing training, exercise, potty breaks, interaction, and appropriate rest. The crate should never become a substitute for exercise, training, supervision, or human interaction.

And please understand that crate safety goes beyond the crate itself.

I do not recommend leaving blankets, small toys, cheap stuffed animals, loose bedding, or anything else your dog can shred and swallow inside the crate while unsupervised unless you have specifically determined that particular dog is safe with it.

Think about your Dutch Shepherd like a human toddler:

If they can tear it apart, they may try to eat it.

Swallowed fabric, stuffing, toy pieces, bedding, or other foreign material can become lodged in the digestive tract and result in an obstruction, emergency treatment, or emergency surgery.

Inspect crates regularly. Check doors, latches, flooring, bedding, and ventilation.

Buy quality. Train properly. Supervise until you know your dog.

COLLARS — BUY FOR FUNCTION, NOT APPEARANCE

For my working dogs, I recommend having multiple collars because different collars have different purposes.

I particularly like durable 2-inch working-dog collars with Cobra-style snap-together buckles.

For appropriate training, my personal favorite is the Herm Sprenger prong collar with the fast-release button.

Proper fitting and proper instruction are critical.

A collar is a tool.

It is never a substitute for training.

LEASHES & LONG LINES

Every OSS owner should have a quality:

6-foot leash
Training leash
Long line
Slip lead
Working/drag line when appropriate
Vehicle restraint or containment system

I prefer quality leather, BioThane, or professionally manufactured working-dog equipment over inexpensive equipment that can fail.

MY FAVORITE WORKING-DOG REWARD

⭐ THE YELLOW WAFFLE BALL ON ROPE

This is one of my personal favorites.

I recommend OSS owners have several.

Working balls can be used for:

Engagement
Recall
Reward-based obedience
Marker training
Place work
Toy motivation
Structured play
Foundation work

I like keeping working toys special rather than allowing the dog unlimited access to them.

The goal is for the dog to understand that the handler controls access to the highest-value rewards.

BITEWORK & WORKING-DOG EQUIPMENT

For owners involved in legitimate working-dog training, protection sports, PSA, or professional K9 work, quality equipment matters.

I personally purchase and recommend equipment from Elite K9 and Leerburg, including working-dog balls, bite sleeves, bite suits, tugs, handler equipment, and other professional training supplies.

But there is something I want to make very clear:

Professional equipment does not make someone a professional trainer.

Bitework and protection work should be performed under competent instruction and appropriate supervision.

⭐ THE BITESTICK

This is one piece of equipment I strongly recommend that appropriately trained working-dog handlers know about.

I personally carry multiple Bitesticks.

I keep them:

In my working-dog pack
In my K9 IFAK
In my truck
In my kennels

A Bitestick is a purpose-built disengagement tool that can assist a trained handler when an appropriate OUT command has failed.

I prefer having an appropriate tool available rather than relying on improvised or outdated methods.

It is not a toy and should never be experimented with on your dog.

If you're going to carry professional equipment, learn how to use it correctly before you need it.

⭐ K9 IFAK — EVERY OSS HANDLER SHOULD HAVE ONE

This is one of the biggest things I want to emphasize to my OSS owners and handlers:

BE PREPARED BEFORE THE EMERGENCY HAPPENS.

I highly recommend the Refuge Medical Large K9 IFAK.

I personally keep one in my truck because it includes supplies designed to address both K9 and human/handler emergency needs.

I carry IFAKs when I:

Hike
Track
Travel
Train
Do bitework
Work PSA
Work dogs in the field

I don't care if I'm going "just for a little while."

The emergency doesn't care how long you planned to be gone.

If my dog is going into the field, the IFAK goes with us.

When purchasing from Refuge Medical, tell them:

"Our Shepherds Shepherds sent me."

You can also source your own equivalent kit through a reputable medical supplier.

5.11 K9 IFAK & HANDLER BAGS

I also recommend looking at 5.11 K9 IFAK equipment and their handler bags.

I particularly like sling bags and hands-free bags for keeping working equipment organized.

Remember, however:

The bag does not necessarily come with the medical supplies.

You can source the medical components separately through reputable suppliers such as Elite K9 or Refuge Medical.

A dedicated K9/handler bag allows you to keep your emergency and working equipment together and ready to grab.

HANDLER VESTS & PATCHES

A quality handler vest can make training much easier.

You can keep:

Balls
Tugs
Treats
Training equipment
Patches
Small emergency equipment

right where you need it.

I recommend quality construction, multiple pockets, D-rings, and easy access.

HARNESSES & TACTICAL WORKING GEAR

For owners doing hiking, tracking, SAR, service work, working-dog sports, or other specialized activities, invest in a professionally manufactured harness.

Some brands worth researching include:

Ray Allen Manufacturing

Ruffwear Working Dog Gear

Elite K9

Don't buy something because it simply looks tactical.

Function comes before appearance.

EYE PROTECTION & MUZZLES

For appropriate working environments, I recommend owners research Rex Specs V2 for eye protection.

Introduce protective equipment gradually and condition the dog before the equipment is needed.

I also recommend every responsible working-dog owner have a properly fitted and positively conditioned muzzle available.

A muzzle can be extremely valuable during:

Veterinary emergencies
Injury management
Transportation
Emergency containment
Situations where a dog is frightened or in pain

Condition it before you need it.

🚫 OSS DOES NOT RECOMMEND RAWHIDE

I do not recommend rawhide chews for OSS dogs.

Rawhide can create choking and gastrointestinal risks, particularly when pieces are swallowed.

I prefer appropriate natural chewing materials rather than artificial materials that a dog can shred and ingest.

Some owners choose appropriately sized natural bones from animals such as cattle or deer.

However, natural bones are not risk-free either and can cause broken teeth, choking, or gastrointestinal injury.

Always supervise chewing and know your individual dog.

CRATE & TOY INGESTION SAFETY

This deserves repeating because I have seen too many owners underestimate how destructive a bored or high-drive dog can become.

I don't recommend leaving small or cheap toys, stuffed animals, blankets, loose bedding, or easily destroyed materials with an unsupervised dog.

A dog may chew it apart and swallow pieces.

Those pieces don't always pass.

They can become a foreign body obstruction and result in emergency veterinary treatment or surgery.

Your puppy doesn't know that the blanket is expensive.

Your puppy knows:

"I can chew this."

Manage accordingly.

OSS NUTRITION

PERFORMANCE-FOCUSED FEEDING

I start OSS puppies on a high-protein, high-fat sports/performance mix appropriate for their developmental stage.

As the puppy grows and develops, nutrition can be adjusted according to the individual dog, activity level, age, body condition, and working demands.

I may incorporate natural foods such as:

Bone broth
Natural broth
Raw chicken
Raw beef
Eggs
Oats
Bananas
Coconut oil
Blueberries
Sweet potatoes
Cucumber
Squash
Pumpkin

My personal preference is chicken or beef rather than pork.

These additions should complement a complete and balanced diet rather than unintentionally replace essential nutrients.

WORKING-DOG SUPPLEMENTS

Working-dog supplements may also be used when appropriate.

Just as humans use targeted nutritional supplements, dogs may have nutritional needs that owners and veterinarians choose to address through supplementation.

Depending on the individual dog, nutritional support may be directed toward:

Immune function
Bone development
Joint health
Eyes
Teeth
Muscle recovery
General conditioning

More is not automatically better.

Discuss significant diet changes and supplements with your veterinarian.

⭐ DUTCH SHEPHERD ANESTHESIA AWARENESS

This is something I want every OSS owner to discuss with their veterinarian.

I have spent considerable time researching reports and experiences involving anesthesia and recovery in Dutch Shepherds and other closely related working breeds.

I have become particularly interested in reports of individual Dutch Shepherds appearing sensitive to anesthetic medications and experiencing prolonged recovery.

Because individual dogs can respond differently, I want every OSS owner to make sure their veterinary team knows:

THIS IS A DUTCH SHEPHERD.

Before any planned procedure, talk with your veterinarian about:

The planned anesthetic protocol
Medications being used
Appropriate dosing
Monitoring
Recovery monitoring
Previous medication or anesthesia reactions
Your dog's complete medical history

This is an area where I continue to encourage awareness among Dutch Shepherd and Belgian Malinois owners.

This information is intended to start a conversation with your veterinary team—not to replace veterinary judgment or tell an owner to alter or refuse anesthesia.

For emergency surgery, communicate the breed and known medical history to the emergency veterinary team as quickly as possible.

WHAT EVERY OSS OWNER SHOULD HAVE

At minimum, I recommend building your own OSS working-dog supply kit with:

Quality crate
Crate-training plan
Everyday collar
Backup collar
6-foot leash
Long line
Slip lead
Yellow waffle ball on rope
Quality tug
Treat pouch
Properly fitted harness
Conditioned muzzle
K9 IFAK
Human/handler first-aid capability
Water and bowl
Identification
Microchip information
Veterinary records
Vehicle containment
Grooming supplies
Emergency contacts
Safe, supervised chew options

For field work, add your specialized tracking, training, working and emergency equipment.

MY PERSONAL "BUY THIS FIRST" LIST

If you're bringing home an OSS Dutch Shepherd puppy and asking me where I would spend money first:

PRIORITY ONE

1. Owen's quality metal crate

2. Quality collar and leash

3. Long line

4. Yellow waffle ball on rope

5. Quality tug

6. Properly fitted harness

7. Properly conditioned muzzle

8. K9 IFAK

9. Human/handler medical capability

10. Quality nutrition

THEN BUILD YOUR KIT

11. Handler vest

12. Working bag/sling

13. Additional working collars

14. Tracking line

15. Professional working harness

16. Vehicle containment

17. Advanced training equipment

18. Bitestick for appropriately trained handlers

19. Eye protection when appropriate

20. Additional field/emergency supplies

RECOMMENDED SOURCES

⭐ ELITE K9

For Owen's crates, working-dog equipment, bitework equipment, collars, handler equipment and professional K9 supplies.

Ask for Luke or Jason.

And tell them:

"Our Shepherds Shepherds sent me."

⭐ REFUGE MEDICAL

For K9 and human/handler IFAK and medical preparedness equipment.

Tell them OSS / Our Shepherds Shepherds sent you.

⭐ LEERBURG

One of my favorite resources for quality, practical and affordable working-dog training equipment.

⭐ IMPACT DOG CRATES

For heavy-duty crate options.

⭐ RAY ALLEN MANUFACTURING

For professional K9 and working-dog equipment.

⭐ RUFFWEAR WORKING DOG GEAR

For working-dog harness and outdoor equipment options.

⭐ 5.11

For K9 and handler bags, IFAK systems and field equipment.

EVERY OSS PUPPY GOES HOME WITH AN OSS FOLDER

One of the things I am working hard to build for our OSS families is a complete information system that goes home with every puppy.

Every OSS Dutch Shepherd puppy leaves with an OSS folder.

I will be including a printed version of this information for your notebook along with your puppy's:

Shot records
Vaccination records
Worming records
Lineage information
Pedigree information
Health information
Welcome information

Inside the Welcome to the OSS Dutch Family Pack, I will also include information about:

OSS training programs
Online/remote training
Obedience training
Advanced training
Working-dog development
OSS Adversity TCCC
OSS K9 TCCC
K9 and handler IFAK education
How to build a K9 and handler IFAK
How to use your emergency equipment appropriately
Owner resources
Future educational videos

MORE OSS EDUCATION IS COMING

I am also working toward releasing videos that walk owners through many of the things covered in this guide.

My goal is to create welcome videos and educational videos that owners can return to whenever they need them.

I want to show you—not simply tell you.

That includes education about equipment, crate training, working-dog preparedness, IFAKs, training, handling, nutrition, safety, and the realities of living with an incredible working breed.

WHY I DO THIS

My goal has never been simply to produce and place puppies.

My goal is to share information and pass on what I have learned so that people starting out with this incredible breed have somewhere to turn.

I want to help OSS families.

I want to help people following our blogs, videos and social media.

I want to help people who attend our training seminars and demonstrations.

And I want to help owners of Dutch Shepherds and similar working breeds understand what they are getting into and how to become better handlers.

Because owning one of these dogs is an incredible privilege.

But it is also a responsibility.

LEARN THE BREED.

LEARN YOUR DOG.

LEARN YOUR EQUIPMENT.

BE PREPARED BEFORE YOU NEED TO BE.

And most importantly:

BUILD THE RELATIONSHIP.

OSS STANDARD

Your Dutch Shepherd is an investment.

Your equipment should be an investment too.

Quality equipment does not replace training.

A tactical vest doesn't create a working dog.

A prong collar doesn't create obedience.

A bite suit doesn't create a protection dog.

A K9 IFAK doesn't replace veterinary care.

And a high-performance food doesn't replace proper nutrition and responsible feeding.

EQUIPMENT DOESN'T TRAIN THE DOG.

THE HANDLER DOES.

Buy quality.

Train correctly.

Maintain your equipment.

Inspect it regularly.

Know your dog.

Know your equipment.

Be prepared before you need to be.

And if you're an OSS owner and you're unsure about something:

Ask me.

I would much rather help you choose the right equipment and learn how to use it correctly than have you accidentally misuse something with your dog.

OUR SHEPHERDS SHEPHERDS