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The Keeshond Shop

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Keeshond Breed Summary

Loving, Affectionate, Loyal, Intelligent and Happy

These dogs are sometimes referred to as the 'Smiling Dutchman' as they nearly always display happy and cheerful expressions on their faces! For this reason, they have found their place in many homes across the Globe.

They are fairly vocal by nature, but this means that they make excellent watchdogs, particularly on farms and in domestic environments. They have found a huge fan following not only because of their looks, but also because they are so devoted and make lovely pets!

Fun Fact: Lady Diana Spencer was actually able to grow up with a Keeshond in the home. In fact, her sister, Lady Sarah, owns one to this day!

Kennel Club Group Non-Sporting
Lifespan 12 - 14 Years
Height (at the withers) Males 18in, Females 17in
Weight Males and Females 35lb - 45lb
Coat Coats are Harsh, Straight and Thick. They stand Well Off the Body
Color Grey, Silver Gray, Silver, Gray and Black
Eye color Dark
Common health issues Hip Dysplasia, Congenital deafness, PHPT, Epilepsy, Luxating Patella, Obesity
Other Names Kees, Dutch Barge Dog, Smiling Dutchman, Chien Loup, German Spitz, Deutscher Wolfspitz, Wolfspitz

These dogs are known for their love of humans. They form extremely strong bonds with their families and love to be the center of attention. However, because they love their owners so much, they don't like to be left by themselves for too long as it can lead to them developing separation anxiety. This can result in destructive behaviors meaning someone will need to be in the house with them for most of the day.

They get on tremendously well with children, dogs, cats and other animals and these dogs are sometimes referred to as 'smiling dutchman' as they are rarely seen without a smile on their faces. They are a great choice for first time owners as they are so easy to train.

The Keeshond (“kayz-hawnd”; Keeshonden, plural) was a hardy, nimble-footed barge dog long kept as a guard and companion on Dutch vessels that sailed the manmade waterways of the Low Countries. An unpretentious “people's dog,” the Keeshond was a symbol of the 18th-century Dutch Patriots Party in its long opposition to the royal House of Orange. There's historical disagreement over why the breed is called Keeshond: The name might refer to a Patriot mascot dog called Kees, or to two different Patriot leaders nicknamed “Kees.”