THE KEESHOND
(DUTCH BARGE DOG)
This is the Dutch National
Breed used as a watchdog on barges in
The Keeshond dog
was originally brought to
The
name was changed a year later to “The Keeshond Club” in 1926 at the request of
the Kennel Club. Whilst on holiday with
her family the then, Miss Hamilton-Fletcher, stopped in a village called Zaandam and stayed for a week buying her first Keeshonds
thus the start of the first ever Keeshond kennel VAN ZAANDAM KEESHONDS. It is to this lady and others like her that
we owe so much as without them we could not have the breed that we all love and
admire in the
The
Keeshonds general appearance is a short, compact body, confident carriage, thus
giving the square outline on the body desirable to breeders. The Fox-like head, when looked at from above
should be wedged shaped with dark small erect ears. These are velvet to the
touch and shaped like an ivy leaf. The
muzzle should be dark in colour and equal to the length of the flat skull. The
Keeshond should have a well-defined stop.
The Keeshond should have an alert and intelligent expression,
this is achieved by the correct “spectacles” a delicately pencilled line
slanting slightly upward from the outer corner of each eye to the lower corner
of the ear, coupled with distinct markings and shadings forming short but
expressive eyebrows. The eyes should be dark in colour of medium size being
almond in shape and obliquely set. The
mouth should have black lips with a complete set of teeth with the correct
scissor bite.
A
large ruff should be present around the neck, shoulders and chest giving the
impression of a lion’s mane. The body
should be compact with a short straight back, with a good spring of ribs and
depth of brisket.
A
Keeshond should have a well-feathered tail curled over its back forming a part
of the overall outline of the dog. The
tail should be light in colour with a black tip.
Movement
should be brisk, straight and sharp.
When viewed from the back the hind legs should be strong and muscled
with the pasterns parallel to each other.
The front legs should be straight turning neither in nor out. The feet should be cat like with black nails
and cream in colour.
The colour is a
mixture of Grey and Black with a thick undercoat of pale grey or cream. Standing 18 inches in the
dogs and 17inches in the bitches.
The Keeshonds coat
although consisting of two layers an undercoat of soft thick, light coloured
hair and an abundant outer coat of straight harsh, grey shaded hair. It is surprising how easily the coat is kept
in good condition. The best thing you
can do for your Keeshond is to regularly groom him, this giving you the contact
with him and the chance to check for any abnormalities on your dog’s body. If your dog has been trained from an early
age he should find the grooming process an enjoyable experience. Bathing need
only be done as necessary as the Keeshonds coat keeps its self clean with
regular grooming.
There
is some trimming to do on the Keeshond but this can achieve good results if
time is taken over it. The feet are the
main area which needs trimming; you do this by trimming the excess hairs, which
grow between the pads, then you trim around the feet to give them a neat
appearance. The nails need to be trimmed
to keep them short.
The
legs are trimmed to give a nice neat appearance, trimming all straggly hair on
the feathering on the front legs. The
hind legs have the hair on the back of the leg up to the hock neatened.
You
will need some brushes and a good metal toothcomb. You start by parting the hair down to the
skin and brush through removing all knots with the comb. Always brushing the coat
towards the head. Lifting the coat as you go the end result will depend
on how much time you take on the grooming.
Fan the tail out
making sure that there are no knots.
When you have
finished let him shake and admire the finished dog.
The Keeshond
should only need a good stiff weekly brushing to keep the coat in top shape.
Keeshonds love to
show off and make fantastic show dogs wanting to please their owners all the
time.
Many children have
showed Keeshonds (thus making them an ideal junior handling dog).
A Keeshond will if
treated with respect give you years of unconditional love and respect but be
warned having got your first Keeshond expect the second to follow soon as you
can never seem to get enough of them.
It’s
sturdy, intelligent and adaptable characteristics make for the ideal companion
and guard dog. A Keeshond will naturally
protect the family children although he has not been trained for it. Although very loyal they can be as stubborn
as any child when they do not wish to do something.
There
are two clubs in the
There
is also a Breed Rescue Society were there are sometimes dogs requiring rehoming.
The Keeshond Club
Mrs N Barnes, Church Farm,
Tel:
01795 843442 e-mail – norma@rufcharm.freeserve.co.uk
The North of
Mrs
R Burgess, Bridge Cottage,
Tel:
01969 640254
Keeshond Rescue
Mrs J Waller,
Tel:
01293 516284
Copyright 2001 Kichigai
Spitz. kichigaispitz@aol.com All
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