Companion terrier Small size 9-10 kg

Dutch Pinch

A small, cheerful Dutch ratter that suits an active household wanting a low-drama companion, though the breed is rare and hard to source.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Small
Size
9-10 kg, 35-42 cm
Moderate
Activity
Moderate; a good walk and play each day
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Copes with a moderate stretch alone
Moderate
Trainability
Willing but needs steady guidance
Moderate
Coat care
Weekly brushing keeps the coat in order
Very good
Fit with kids
Good family dog with children
Very good
Other pets
Generally good with other dogs and pets
Light
Health burden
Obesity, Hip Dysplasia

The Dutch Pinch typically weighs 9-10 kg, stands 35-42 cm, and lives 12-15 years.

Consider this breed if…

you want a small, cheerful, unexaggerated companion without toy-dog fragility,
your household is moderately active - daily walks plus play, not dog sport,
you like a scruffy low-shedding coat and can hand-strip or brush it weekly,
you are patient enough to wait for one of the very few litters.

Do not consider this breed if…

you want a dog now - this Dutch rarity usually means a waitlist or import,
small furry pets roam your home; the old ratter instinct persists,
the dog would be alone all day, every day - it is a companion breed at heart,
you want a jogging or sport partner with big drive.

A typical day with a Dutch Pinch

  1. 7:30 · Morning
    Cheerful walk around the neighborhood
  2. 9:30 · Midmorning
    Follows the household routine, naps nearby
  3. 13:00 · Noon
    Garden inspection - anything rodent-shaped gets checked
  4. 16:30 · Afternoon
    Play session or a second, longer walk
  5. 19:00 · Evening
    Curled up with the family, easy company
  6. 22:00 · Night
    Sleeps through; not a night barker

Temperament and training

Friendliness High
Adaptability High
Playfulness High
Ratting instinct Moderate
Guarding tendency Low
Independence Moderate
Common owner mistakes
Clipping the rough coat instead of hand-stripping, ruining its texture · Overfeeding a small, food-happy dog into obesity · Assuming rarity means fragility and skipping normal training and socialization

Family and environment

Kids Very good
Sturdy and good-natured with children.
Dogs Very good
Sociable and rarely quarrelsome.
Cats Good
Household cats fine; rodents and hamsters are not.
Apartment Suitable
Size, energy and low bark level all fit flat life.
House with a yard Suitable
A garden is a bonus, not a requirement.
City Good fit
An adaptable, portable urban companion.
Countryside Good fit
Happy anywhere its people are.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Light

Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.

View the full health profile
Top health concerns
Obesity Watch calories and keep the dog active
Hip Dysplasia Joint malformation; screen breeding stock
Allergies & Skin Issues Environmental and food triggers are common
Cruciate Ligament Tear Knee injury that often needs surgery

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

Scruffy, sensible small terrier, far easier to find
Border Terrier
A tough, friendly working terrier that is more trainable than most - a great active-family dog if you can meet its exercise and digging drive.
View profile →
Similar look and size with wide availability
Miniature Schnauzer
A smart, sociable small terrier that trains well and suits many homes, as long as you commit to regular clipping and a careful diet.
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Another rare, friendly European companion breed
Kromfohrlander
A friendly, adaptable German companion that bonds well with families - the trade-off is a one-family loyalty that makes early socialization important to avoid wariness.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Dutch Pinch (Dutch Smoushond) cost?
Be honest with yourself about availability first: nearly all breeding happens in the Netherlands, with only a few hundred puppies born per year worldwide. In Europe a puppy runs very roughly $1,000-$1,800; getting one to the US adds import transport and paperwork costing $1,000-$2,500+. Lifetime food and routine vet care for a small dog typically add $12,000-$18,000+ over 12-15 years.
What kind of dog is the Dutch Pinch?
It is better known as the Hollandse Smoushond or Dutch Smoushond - a small, rough-coated Dutch companion breed that once worked as a stable ratter. It was nearly extinct after WWII and was reconstructed in the 1970s from look-alike dogs, which is why the population remains tiny today.
Does the coat shed much?
Little, which is one of the breed's practical charms. The wiry, tousled coat needs weekly brushing and hand-stripping roughly twice a year to stay healthy; clipping softens and ruins the texture. Low-shedding is not the same as hypoallergenic - allergic households should meet an adult dog first.
Is the Dutch Smoushond healthy?
Generally yes - it is an unexaggerated, natural little dog with a decent lifespan, and no dramatic breed-defining disease is well documented. The flip side of a reconstructed breed is a small gene pool, so buy only from breed-club breeders who track diversity and screen hips, knees and eyes.