Privacy Policy: Your email address is 100% safe.
We don't spam and hate it as much as you do :-) You can also unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time.
Subscribe to The FREE Keeshond Training Course to learn how you can easily turn your unruly and disobedient Keeshond into a loving, friendly companion. Step-by-step tips for puppy housebreaking, dog obedience training and stopping bad behavior.
Sign Up
Sign Up
Keeshond: Breed Characteristics, Care & Exercise Needs
About Keeshond
Country of Origin, History of Keeshonds
The word 'keeshond' is a compound word: 'Kees' is a nickname for the 18th-century Dutch Patriot, Cornelius (de Gyselaer) and 'hond' is the Dutch word for dog.
It is still not clear about the origin of the breed; many English references point to the Keeshond originating in the Netherlands. Other sources cite them as being part of the German Spitz family, originating in Germany along with the Pomeranian (toy or dwarf German Spitz) and American Eskimo dog (small or standard German Spitz). The same group includes dogs like Samoyed, Chow Chow, Ekhound etc.
The first standard for "Wolfspitz" was posted at the Dog Show of 1880 in Berlin. The Keeshond was accepted for AKC registration in 1930.
For many generations now, Keeshonds are bred as companion dogs. They easily become loving family members. Because of their friendly disposition, Keeshonds are sometimes referred to as "The Smiling Dutchman".
In an effort to produce a dog that could excel at rat baiting and rabbit coursing, Black and Tan Terriers were crossed with the Whippet.
By 1860 Manchester had become the breed centre for these new terriers, and so they became known as Manchester Terriers. Because of their demeanor, they were called the Gentleman's Terrier in Victorian times.
Keeshond Tools
Breed Selector Tool - is the Keeshond the right breed for you?
Is the Keeshond the right breed for you and your family?
Find out by using our Free Dog Breed Selector Tool
Check Your Keeshond's Learning Style
Are you aware dogs also have a learning style that can greatly affect their ability to housetrain as well as be trained correctly. Evaluate your Keeshond's learning style and personality using our free Learning Style tool so that you are better able to provide him with the proper Keeshond training methods.
Is your Keeshond dominating over you?
Does your Keeshond bark unnecessarily? Does your Keeshond come to you when you call? Download a FREE Report on Dog Dominance for you and your Keeshond and learn how to control your dog.
Do you make these mistakes with your Keeshond?
Are you inadvertently snow-balling bad behavior in your Keeshond? Evaluate your Dog Training Style from our Free Tool and learn how best to deal with your dog.
Keeshond Calorie Calculator
Do you know how many calories your Keeshond needs every day and how many cups of food you should be giving it every day? Click here to use our Keeshond Calorie Calculator.
General Appearance of the Dog
Keeshonden are compact little dogs with oblique chestnut eyes, erect triangular ears, and its medium-length tail rolled on its back. It has a cream or pale gray undercoat and a luxurious outer coat that comes in shades of gray with black tips and stands away from the body.
Coat:
Its coat always appears to have just been washed and combed. The markings are quite definite and there are distinctive pale "spectacles", a delicate dark line running from the outer corner of each eye toward the lower corner of each ear.
Height
Dogs 17-19 inches (44-48cm.)
Bitches are 10% less.
Weight
Some sources say 55-66 pounds (25-30kg.) while others say 35-45 pounds.
Free Keeshond Training Secrets
Free Course on Keeshond Training & Obedience
Stop All Bad Behavior, Excessive Barking and Biting
Keeshond Personality Traits
Temperament of the Dog
An excellent children's companion, lively, intelligent, very alert, affectionate, loyal, friendly, and generally outgoing. The Keeshond loves everyone and needs to be part of the family activities. They are generally good with other pets, although some individuals are reserved or timid, and should be socialized extensively as puppies. They like to bark and are good watchdogs because of its notable gift for warning of danger.
Will be okay in an apartment although they should at least have an average-sized yard. Keeshonden prefer cool climates; they cannot withstand the heat well due to their thick coats.
Exercise & Training
This breed needs to be taken on a daily walk and a good run in a safe, open field each day. This breed is fairly active indoors. When a Keeshond spins in circles it is a sign he needs more stimulating exercise. The Keeshond is a very bright dog as evidenced by its level of achievement in obedience work. It needs patient, consistent training, devoid of harsh punishments.
Being an intelligent dog, most problems with Keeshonden stem from the dog inventing its own activities (often destructive ones, like digging and chewing).
Grooming
Daily brushing of the long coat with a stiff bristle brush is important to maintain the coat and ward off doggy odor. Brush with the grain first, then lift the hair with a comb, against the grain, lay it back in place. Bathe or dry shampoo only when necessary, generally once or twice a year. The dense undercoat is shed heavily twice a year in spring and fall. During the "blow," a Keeshond should be groomed once or twice a week to facilitate rapid removal of the dead undercoat.
Free Keeshond Training Secrets
Free Course on Keeshond Training & Obedience
Stop All Bad Behavior, Excessive Barking and Biting
Health and Care
Keeshonden are prone to hip dysplasia,
luxating patellas (trick knee), epilepsy, Cushing's
disease, hyperparathyroidism, and hypothyroidism.
Von Willebrand's disease has been known in Keeshonden
but is not common. Keeshonden are a prime risk for
bloat. They can also get colds and gain weight if
not taken care of properly.
Life Expectancy: About
12 years
National Breed Clubs
Breed Club & Rescue Link: www.keeshond.org
Group: Northern, AKC Non-Sporting Group.
AKC Popularity Ranking: 95
Also Known As: Dutch Barge Dog, Smiling Dutchman, Chien Loup, German Spitz, Deutscher, Wolfsspitz
Train Your Keeshond To Listen To You
Get Instant Access to Your Training Now - For Free
Sign up for our Free Keeshond Mini Course to have a housebroken, obedient dog that happily comes to you every time you call.
You'll learn new commands to obedience-train your dog as well as how to housebreak your dog in 6 days or less.
You'll also learn how to eliminate bad habits like barking, nipping or biting, jumping, or pulling on the leash.Here's just s small fraction of what else you'll learn in the course:
How to lead and think like a pack dog - the new psychology.
3 dangerous mistakes that most Keeshond owners make when they are trying to potty train their dogs.
The 2 main reasons why your dog barks excessively and how to control its excessive barking.
How to obedience train your Keeshond to permanently end behavioral problems like Jumping, Aggression, Pulling on Leash.
A surprisingly easy way to teach your dog cool new tricks.
How to improve your dog's lifespan and keep it from getting overly heavy with a healthy and nutritious diet.
Getting Pro help fast - how to get access to our expert trainers when you need them most.
One hidden psychological trigger that all Keeshonds have... that practically allows you to "analyze" and "control" your dog's every action.
Priority access to the free online seminars conducted by our training experts.
Whereas other dog training related web sites and books offer generic information for dogs in general, ours is the ONLY web site that offers Keeshond information specifically, from a renowned panel of experts - because as you probably know, Keeshonds have their own special training requirements that other dogs don't have.
What Other Dog Owners Say…
Our Free Courses
Dog Obedience TrainingDog Housetraining
Stop Dog Barking
Stop Dog Biting
HomeMade Dog food
Dog Grooming
Adopting A Dog
Read More
PureBred Dog BreedsMixed Dog Breeds
Dog Groups
Training Small Dog Breeds
Training Medium Dog Breeds
Training Large Dog Breeds
Exercising Your Dog
Dog Health
More Articles
Dog Grooming Needs
Our Tribute