KEESHOND Breed Standards
The exact origins of the Keeshond, or Wolf Spitz, are unknown, though the dog’s appearance places it firmly in the Spitz family; close relatives include the Finnish Spitz, Norwegian Elkhound, Chow Chow and Samoyed. The breed was well known in the Netherlands by the 18th century, and was commonly employed as a river boat and barge watch dog, as well as a companion pet.
The Keeshond would reach its greatest popularity and eventually face near extinction as a result of political upheaval in the Netherlands during the late 19th century. Cornelis (Kees) de Gyselaer, the leader of the Dutch patriot faction, owned a Wolf Spitz named Kees that was so strongly associated with the political leader that it became a symbol of the Patriot rebellion. When the rebellion was quashed and the House of Orange was restored to power, few people wanted to be seen with the rebel symbol, and the dogs began to disappear. The breed had all but vanished by the early 20th century, but luckily for the Keeshond, the Baroness van Hardenbroek began a campaign to restore the breed in 1920.
The Wolf Spitz arrived in England and America during the 1920s, and was recognized as the Keeshond (in honor of Cornelis (Kees) de Gyselaer) by the American Kennel Club in 1930. Today, the Keeshond is a moderately popular pet in the United States, as well as the national dog of the Netherlands
SKILLS: 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. The Keeshond is to be shown in a natural state with trimming permissible only on feet, pasterns, hocks and - if desired - whiskers. TRIMMING OTHER THAN AS DESCRIBED TO BE SEVERELY PENALIZED. Faults: Silky, wavy, or curly coats. Part in coat down the back.
A dramatically marked dog, the Keeshond is a mixture of gray, black and cream. This coloration may vary from light to dark. The hair of the outer coat is black tipped, the length of the black tips producing the characteristic shading of color. Puppies are often less intensely marked. The undercoat is very pale gray or cream, never tawny.
CARE REQUIRED: Grooming is not as troublesome as you might expect, but daily brushing of the long coat with a stiff bristle brush is important. 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. The dense undercoat is shed heavily twice a year in spring and fall.
CHARACTER: 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.
EXERCISE: These dogs have a moderate exercise demand. They need a half mile walk or a good hour-long run in an open field each day. In some Keeshonden that have unsound stifles, very demanding exercise will cause trick knee to develop. A choke chain should not be used, as it will spoil the spectacular ruff. This breed is fairly active indoors.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: 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.
TRAINING: An excellent children's companion, lively, intelligent, and very alert. A real character that is quick to learn if their owners are consistent. They should be trained gently and patiently without a lot of jerking. Keeshond are full of personality. When they get excited about something, it is a common trait for them to spin in happy circles.
