The Keeshond originated in the Netherlands and was used as an alarm for danger as well as a companion to people when they took trips over seas. They are a mixture of the Pomeranian, Samoyed and Chow Chow. The Dutch barge dog, the German spitz, or Wolfsspitz are other names for this breed.

The Keeshond is a fluffy, medium sized dog that has a pointed muzzle like that of a fox. Their ears are triangular and pointed upward giving them a constant alert expression. This breed has an athletic body and straight toned legs. These dogs have a tail that is coiled over and touches their lower back with their paws being rounded like a cat.

The Keeshond is a lively, curious dog that has a playful and animated character. They will make great family pets because they are devoted to their masters, great with children and interact well with other pets. These dogs are not a breed that enjoys being left alone often as they can become quite depressed. Although bred to warn their owners of strangers, the Keeshond will generally be quite friendly towards people they’ve never met giving up the “watch-dog” trait they have mastered.

The Keeshond comes in one colour variety which is the black and gray with accents of tan. The top coat will be a dark gray or black and the undercoat will be a light gray accented with tan. Their coat colouring is complex but the end result is a beautifully marked breed.

This breed has a very thick, lustrous double layered coat that protects them from the extreme cold. The top coat is wispy, long and plentiful while the undercoat is soft, plushy and insulating giving this breed the ultimate winter jacket! The fur of this breed is not curly or even slightly wavy, it is straight and stands on end giving them the puffy look that is desired among the breed.

The Keeshond is a bright, charming breed that will need an owner who has the time they need to spend with them. They are a breed that needs a large amount of affection as they require this to be truly happy. Training these dogs will not be too difficult because they are clever enough to grasp the concepts of different types of training quickly. Although they can be a willful dog, the Keeshond just needs a patient owner and short training lessons to be able to teach them anything!

This breed’s purpose was to keep an eye out for danger or strangers and to this day, this is their job. They can be barky as they get quite excited when something is near their territory so this will need to be controlled or they can become a loud mouthed dog! If strangers are to enter their territory, they become their new best friend and will show off their outgoing, happy personality.

This breed will need a large amount of grooming maintenance to upkeep their coat. They have thick, long fur that will need to be brushed at least 5-6 times per week and bathing should be done every 2-3 months. The Keeshond is prone to heart disease, luxating patella’s, hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, skin allergies and bloat. Before purchasing a puppy, the parents medical history should be checked to ensure they have no major inherited diseases that they could pass on to their offspring.

The Keeshond will need firm repetitive training in order for them to grasp the basic obedience concept. They are bright dogs but need to have consistency to truly understand what they are being taught. Lessons that are kept short and made to be fun will have much more effective results.

This breed will need about an hour of exercise per day to tire them out and this can be done in an off-leash dog park or on a long walk. These dogs will burn their energy better running around chasing a ball or playing with another dog as opposed to going for a walk. The Keeshond will do well in an apartment and a backyard would be preferable so they have an outdoor area at home to sniff around in. Since these dogs have such thick coats they should be monitored outside in the summer as they can become overheated.