Keeshond

AKC Group: Non-Sporting

Club: Keeshond Club of America, Inc.

Corresponding Secretary : Susan Cullen
Address: 18300 Buck Lake Circle, Prior Lake, MN , 55372
Website: www.keeshond.org
Club Type: Specialty

General Apperance:

The Keeshond (pronounced kayz-hawnd) is a natural, handsome dog of well-balanced, short-coupled body, attracting attention not only by his coloration, alert carriage, and intelligent expression, but also by his stand-off coat, his richly plumed tail well curled over his back, his foxlike expression, and his small pointed ears. His coat is very thick around the neck, fore part of the shoulders and chest, forming a lion-like ruff-more profuse in the male. His rump and hind legs, down to the hocks, are also thickly coated, forming the characteristic "trousers." His head, ears, and lower legs are covered with thick, short hair.

Size:

The Keeshond is a medium-sized, square-appearing, sturdy dog, neither coarse nor lightly made. The ideal height of fully matured dogs when measured from top of withers to the ground is 18 inches for males and 17 inches for bitches-a one inch variance either way is acceptable. While correct size is very important, it should not outweigh that of type.

Coat:

The body should be abundantly covered with long, straight, harsh hair standing well out from a thick, downy undercoat. Head, including muzzle, skull and ears, should be covered with smooth, soft, short hair--velvety in texture on the ears. The neck is covered with a mane--more profuse in the male--sweeping from under the jaw and covering the whole of the front part of the shoulders and chest, as well as the top part of the shoulders. The hair on the legs should be smooth and short, except for feathering on the front legs and "trousers" on the hind legs. Hind legs should be profusely feathered down to the hocks-not below. The hair on the tail should form a rich plume. Coat must not part down the back.

Temperament:

Temperament is of primary importance. The Keeshond is neither timid nor aggressive but, instead, is outgoing and friendly with both people and other dogs. The Keeshond is a lively, intelligent, alert and affectionate companion.

History:

The breed served for countless years on small vessels called rijnaken, that were found in great numbers on the Rhine River. The origin is Arctic, or possibly Sub-Arctic, and it is of the same strains that produced the Samoyed, the Chow Chow, the Norwegian Elkhound, the Finnish Spitz, and the Pomeranian. The Keeshond has changed little in the past two centuries.

In the latter part of the 18th century, he was in the public eye as the symbol of the Patriots, and when the Prince of Orange established his party as the dominant one, few people wanted the dog that stood for the opposition. Many who owned Keeshonden disposed of them quietly, and only the most loyal maintained the breed. The breed was at very low ebb until 1920, at which time the Baroness van Hardenbroek became so interested in the old breed that she undertook an investigation to see how much of the old stock survived. The breed had passed from public attention, but it was still kept in its original form by certain captains of riverboats, by farmers and by truckmen. The Baroness began breeding Keeshonden and spread their story throughout Europe. Within ten years she brought the breed to such a solid position that the Dutch Keeshond Club was established.

As early as 1925, Keeshonden were in England and making a very good impression. The breed was accepted for registration by the American Kennel Club in 1930, and early development in this country, with few exceptions, was based on imports from England, which were in turn the product of British importations from Holland and Germany.