Keeshond breed guide

A well-kept secret is that Keeshonden are very smart and highly trainable. AKC says some are nationally ranked in obedience. The first multiple MACH in agility was a Keeshond named Molly.

Many Keeshonden have distinguished themselves in therapy work too. Shadings around the eyes give the impression of designer eyewear that draws attention to an alert, intelligent expression.

Keeshonden live 12 to 15 years. AKC calls them a healthy, active breed. The Keeshond Club of America recommends tests before breeding: X-rays for hip and elbow dysplasia, an exam for patellar luxation, a CERF eye exam and genetic screening for primary hyperparathyroidism.

Keeshonden need regular grooming, but going through the coat once a week with a pin brush usually does the job, keeping the undercoat brushed out and shedding to a minimum. The only trimming needed is tidying around the feet, pads and hocks.

Keeshonden adapt to many environments, historically from farms with lots of space to barges with little room to move. They need regular exercise. A free run or a nice walk daily benefits them physically and mentally.

The Keeshond was a hardy, nimble-footed barge dog long kept as a guard and companion on Dutch vessels sailing the manmade waterways of the Low Countries. An unpretentious people's dog, it was a symbol of the 18th-century Dutch Patriots Party in its long opposition to the royal House of Orange.

Historians disagree over why it is called Keeshond: the name might refer to a Patriot mascot dog called Kees or to two different Patriot leaders nicknamed Kees.