Affectionately called the “Drent,” (a name it shares with the people of the Drenthe province), the Dutch Partridge dog is an excellent pointer and retriever, an ideal all around gun dog breed for an upland hunter who wants a leisurely day in the field without working too hard. Drents can work in a variety of fields, typically searching a surrounding area for a game without wandering too far from the hunter, and certainly never beyond gun range.  What makes the breed so unique, however, is that the dog rotates his long, bushy tail in a circle to warn the hunter when game is located.

The origins of the breed also known as the Drentsche Patrijshond date to the 16th century with dogs related to the Small Münsterländer of Germany, and the Epagneul Français of France.  These are beloved dogs in the Netherlands, admired not just for their good nose, but also for a loyal and sweet disposition, particularly with children. Some 6,000 dogs are now believed to be registered with the breed club in the Netherlands, but Drents are rarely seen outside the country. That said, the breed was registered as the Drentsche Partrijsond (pronounced Da’ Rinse Ah Puh’ Trice Hoon) and listed as an FSS breed with the AKC in 2010, and allowed to participate in AKC hunt tests and agility competitions starting in 2011.

Photo by @akcdoglovers shared with consent