What is keeshond?
What is a keeshond?
Keeshond attracts attraction and sympathy with the round and soft
appearance everywhere he goes. He has a smiling and alert expression
and his movements are brisk. First of all he wants to please his owner.
Keeshond learns easily as an intelligent dog.
Keeshond (earlier called as Dutch Spitz) is a medium sized member of
the Spitz family with long and dense coat with different shades of
grey. Head and back are dark in colour. Dense ruff and high set tightly
curled tail are light grey. Head is wedge-shaped in form and should
show a definite stop. Ears are small and close together, triangular in
shape and set on high. Eyes are dark and with well defined
'spectacles'. Legs are sturdy, straight and with moderate angulation.
Feet are small,
round and cat-like.
Conformation is sound and very close to original breed type. Consequently keeshond is healthy in general and does not have inclination to hereditary faults and diseases.
Features
Keeshond is a good guard, alarming the owner with bark - not attacking
- when somebody is approaching his home area. He enjoys having an own
yard which he wants to guard. He prefers especially to stay on a higher
place from which he has the
possibility to follow what happens in the surrounding area. He is also
an excellent companion and likes to participate in all
activities at home. Keeshond is devoted to whole family, he is not a
one-man dog.
As jogging companion he does not require long daily trips but
it is
enough strong to run several kilometres beside the owner. When left
loose he keeps well close to owner. He does not have game instinct.
In Holland keeshond has always enjoyed
popularity as barge dogs. Thus we can easily understand why he
likes to stay on board of a smaller or bigger boat. He has agile
movements and keeps well
his balance on narrow surfaces. He enjoys travelling in cars and other
means of transport.
In a dog show keeshond is presented in a natural way, i.e.
standing
free. The coat needs to be brushed thoroughly before going to the show.
It is not clipped or trimmed. Only the hocks and feet are slightly
tidied up with scissors.
Keeshond is very well adapted to work as obedience dog. He learns
easily and is eager to perform and obey the owner. It also likes sweet
and by giving prizes it is easy to have learn to do
more difficult tasks. Finnish keeshonds have had great success in
obedience training.
Sanifanin Unelma has achieved the title of Finnish Champion in
obedience three times (1996, 1997 and 1999). Also her son Maruskan
Jesper was at the third place 1999.
Keeshond is also a good agility dog. Although he has to participate in
the bigger dogs' class, he can easily jump easily over the barriers and
is a quick runner.
Due to the friendly and soft appearance keeshond is suitable for work as therapy dog, friend to people in hospitals and to help people in overcoming their dog fear.
Keeshonden have been trained as rescue dogs,
searching people from rumbles and woods.
Coat care
General perception of keeshond's dense coat is that it is
difficult to keep in condition. However,
it requires less work one would think of at first sight. Good food,
sufficient physical exercise and suitable circumstances are the
prerequisites for healthy and beautiful keeshond. Double coat protects
from cold and it also insulates from heat and rejects dirt.