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The Keeshond (pronounced KAYZ-HOND; plural: Keeshonden) is a medium-sized dog with a plush two-layer coat of silver and black fur with a 'ruff' and a curled tail, originating in the Netherlands. Its closest relative is the Pomeranian. Originally called the German Spitz, the name was officially changed to Keeshond in 1925.
Appearance: A member of the spitz group of dogs, the
Kees is 17 to 18 inches (about 45 cm) tall and weighs 35 to 40
pounds (about 16 to 18 kg). Sturdily built, they have a
typical spitz appearance, neither coarse nor refined.
They have a wedge shaped head, a medium-length muzzle with
a definite stop, small pointed ears and an expressive face.
The tail is tightly curled and, in profile, should not be
carried as so to be distinguished from the compact body of the
dog.
Coat: Like all spitzes, the Kees has a profuse
double coat, with a thick ruff around the neck. The tail is
well plumed, and feathering on the fore and hind legs add to
the soft look of the breed. The coat is shown naturally, and
should not be wavy, silky, or long enough to form a natural
part down the back.
Color: The Keeshond is a color-specific spitz type;
many of the names of the dog refer to the distinctive wolf
color of the breed. The color is a mix of grey, black and
cream. The top coat is tipped with black, while the undercoat
is pale grey, white, or cream (never tawny). The color can
range from very pale to very dark, but the Kees should neither
be black nor white, and the ruff and "trousers" of
the hind legs should be a distinctly lighter grey.
The other important marking is the "spectacles,"
a delicate dark line running from the outer corner of each eye
toward the lower corner of each ear, which, coupled with
markings forming short eyebrows, is necessary for the distinct
expressive look of the breed. All markings should be clear,
not muddled or broken.
Temperament: Keeshonden tend to be very playful,
with quick reflexes and strong jumping ability. Keeshonden can
be stubborn, but they are quick learners and eager to please.
Because Keeshonden are quick learners, they also learn the
things you didn't necessarily wish to teach them - very
quickly. However, Keeshonden make excellent agility and
obedience dogs.
So amenable to proper training is this bright, sturdy dog
that Keeshonden have been successfully trained to serve as
guide dogs for the blind; only their lack of size has
prevented them from being more widely used in this role.
They love children and are excellent family dogs,
preferring to be close to their humans whenever possible. They
generally get along with other dogs as well and will enjoy a
good chase around the yard. Keeshonden are very intuitive and
empathic and are often used as comfort dogs. Most notably, at
least one Keeshond, Tikva, was at Ground Zero on 9/11 to help
comfort the rescue workers.
They are known by their loud distinctive bark. Throughout
the centuries, the Keeshond has been a very popular watch dog
on manors in the Netherlands and middle Europe, as well as
famously being a watch dog on barges. This trait is evident to
this day, and they are alert watch dogs that warn their owners
of any new visitors.
Despite being a loud and alert watchdog, Keeshonden are not
aggressive towards visitors. They generally welcome visitors
affectionately once their family has accepted them.
Unfortunately, excessive barking may become a problem if not
properly handled. As with other watchdogs, Keeshonden have a
distinct territory that they want to guard. Therefore, a happy
Keeshond should have a yard to watch out for.
Training: The Keeshond is a very bright dog as
evidenced by its level of achievement in obedience work. This
intelligence makes a Keeshond a good choice for the dog owner
who is willing to help a dog learn the right lessons, but also
entails added responsibility. Keeshond ownership, when the dog
and human have worked together to become a good pet and a good
pet owner, is a very positive experience.
Many people purchase a Keeshond thinking that, being a
family dog, they must also be an easy to train dog. While
affectionate, the Keeshond may not be for the inexperienced
trainer. Consistency and fairness is needed with a Keeshond.
While most dogs need a structured environment, it's especially
necessary with a Keeshond. Their intelligence, in some ways,
can be a liability - especially in obedience work, where they
can get bored with repetitive training.
Being an intelligent dog, most problems with Keeshonden
stem from the dog becoming bored and inventing its own
activities (often destructive ones, like digging and chewing).
They need daily contact with their owners and lots of activity
to remain happy. Therefore, it is not the right choice of
breed for those who want a dog that lives happily alone in a
kennel or backyard.
Health: Keeshonden are prone to hip dysplasia,
luxating patellas (trick knee), epilepsy, Cushing's disease,
hyperparathyroidism, hypothyroidism and von Willebrand's
disease. Keeshonden are also prone to bloat. A healthy,
well-bred Keeshond can be expected to live between 12 and 15
years on average.
Grooming: Due to their double coat, a thick
undercoat and a long haired coat above that, Keeshonden need
regular brushing once every two weeks to maintain the coat and
ward off doggy odor normally associated with breeds that have
hair. Proper grooming requires about an hour to an hour and a
half to groom all the way to the skin. If the undercoat is not
groomed out properly then eventually the undercoat will mat
and die and the dog may acquire skin problems.
The Keeshond blows its coat twice a year. This entails
shedding their undercoats completely during an intense
shedding period that can last up to three weeks from start to
finish. The hair comes out in large and small clumps and lots
of vacuuming and brushing are in order. During the
"blow", a Keeshond should be groomed once or twice a
week to facilitate rapid removal of the dead undercoat. If the
coat isn't combed out properly during the yearly sheds, hairs
from that period may be shed for weeks or months after.
A bath once or twice a year may be all that is called for,
as Keeshonden often lack the strong doggy smell of other
breeds. Loose dirt can be brushed out, though any dog that
gets very dirty should be washed.
Keeshonden (or any spitz), unlike breeds such as poodles,
should not be clipped or shaved. Doing so has many detrimental
effects on the coat, which may grow back improperly, tangled,
or not at all. The long coat, which may appear hot during the
summer, is in fact light and airy, and protects the Kees from
excess sun. The coat is essential for protection against all
the elements, and lacking the outer guard coat leaves the dog
vulnerable to cold, rain, and insects like mosquitoes and
fleas.
The dirt-repellent effect of the coat will also be lost,
causing frequent bathing to be necessary. The coat also loses
its distinct color, as the black tipping on the hairs will be
shorn off. If frequent brushing is too much effort, it is
better to chose another breed rather than clip the Keeshond
short.
History: The Keeshond was named after the
18th-century Dutch patriot, Cornelis (Kees) de Gyselaer,
leader of the Dutch rebellion against the House of Orange. The
dog became the rebels' symbol, and when the House of Orange
was returned to power, this wonderful breed almost
disappeared. Luckily, the breed continued as a guard on Dutch
barges. Later, in the 1920s, Baroness van Hardenbroeck took an
interest in the breed and began to build it up again. The
Keeshond was accepted for AKC registration in 1930. Now bred
for many generations as a companion dog, the Keeshond easily
becomes a loving family member.
Breed pronunciation: Out of the 350 some purebreds,
the Keeshond has possibly the most mispronounced name.
"Kay sawn", "Case-hond", "kās-hond",
"keys-hând", "keesh-ond", and
"keesh-hond", as so many will say, are all improper
pronunciations. The proper pronunciation is
"kayz-hond" or "kayz-hawnd" with the
proper pronunciation of the plural being
"kayz-honden" or "kayz-hawnden".
Colored Keeshonden: Historically, Keeshonden came in
several colors—white, black, red, orange, orange-shaded
white (also called orange and cream), and silver gray.
Originally, like many other spitz-types, many colours,
including piebalds, were allowed, but as time progressed, only
the silver-grey and cream (wolf-colored) color was finally
established into the Wolfspitz type.
While colored Keeshonden can have terrific conformation,
they're not allowed to be shown in the show ring. Colored
Keeshonden are considered "pet quality" and thus
should be fixed.
Recently, the appearance of oddly-colored Kees in otherwise
long, purebred lineages has caused research into the early
history of Keeshond coat colors. Because of this, some
breeders wonder whether the Keeshond should be bred for colors
other than grey. There are many bloodlines carrying the
colored gene, and rather than examples of mixed breeding,
colors are legitimate throwbacks to an earlier era of the
breed.
No one knows the exact number of colored Keeshonden born in
the United States. Incorrect, or incomplete, accounts of
documentation make it impossible to determine how many colored
Keeshonden, and of which colors, have been born in the United
States.
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