Out of the 350 purebreds, the Keeshond has possibly the most mispronouned name. "Kay Sawn" "Case-hond," "Kas-hond,"Keys-hand,""Keesh-ond,"Keesh-hond,"
and even "Keesh-hound,"an many will say, are all improper pronunciations. The proper pronunciation is "Kayz-hond" or "Kayz-hawnd."
Many American references point to the Keeshond as we know it orginated in the Netherlands. With the Keeshond gentle disposition and their orgin is why today we know the Keeshond as The Smiling Dutchman.
Group classification: Non-Sporting
Country of origin: The Netherlands
Date of origin: 18th century
Weight (M): 45 lb Height (M): 17 - 19"
Weight (F): 35 lb Height (F): 16 - 18"
Life expectancy : 12 - 14 years
The Keeshond is a square proportioned dog with distinct Spitz characteristics. The head is wedge shaped and well proportioned with a clear stop. Black markings around the eyes, called “spectacles,” add to the dog’s alert, fox-like expression. Ears are small, triangular and carried erect. The body is strong and compact, and the tail is long and feathered, and lies tightly curled over the back and close to the body. The Keeshond’s outer coat is long, harsh and straight, and stands straight out from the body; the coat forms a mane around the neck. Coloring is in various shades of black,
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The Keeshond is a friendly, outgoing breed that is intelligent and active. The breed learns quickly, and can be trained with relative ease so long as the owner is clear and consistent. This dog makes an excellent house pet and is very friendly toward children, and is usually quite good with pets as well. The breed is extremely affectionate and truly appreciates human companionship. The Keeshond loves to bark, and therefore makes a wonderful watchdog. One unique and rather endearing characteristic of the Keeshond is its habit of literally spinning in circles when excited.
The Keeshond has a moderate need for exercise and will generally be okay with a daily walk, although a nice run or romp in a park or field will always be appreciated. It is important to avoid overfeeding the Keeshond, as the breed can put on weight very quickly. This dog is physically able to live outdoors in moderate climates, but it much prefers to sleep inside and be around its family as much as possible. To maintain the Keeshond’s respectable appearance it is important to brush the dog’s coat on a daily basis. The breed sheds heavily twice yearly, once in the spring and again in the fall. Serious health issues are rare in this breed, though it may develop canine hip dysplasia, epilepsy, patellar luxation and skin problems.
AKC'S Official
Standard for the Keeshond
Approved November 14,1989-Effective January 1,1990
General Appearance
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 over his back, his foxlike expression, and his small pointed ears. His coat is very thick around the neck, forepart 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, head, ears, and lower legs are covered with thick,short hair.
Size,Proportion,Substance
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 the 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.
Head
Expression-Expression is largely dependent on the distinctive characteristic called "spectacles"-a combination of markings and shadings in the orbital area whice must include a delicate,dark line slanting from the outer corner of each eye toward the lower corner of each ear coupled with expreesive eyebrows. Markings (or shadings)on face and head must persent a pleasing appearance, imparting to the dog an alert and intelligent expression. Very serious Fault: Absence of the dark lines, which form the "spectacles."
Eyes-Eyes should be dark brown in color, of medium size, almond shaped, set obliquely and neither too wide apart nor too close together, Eye rims are black.
Faults: Round and/ or protruding eyes or eyes light of color.
Ears-Ears should be small, triangular in shape, mounted high on the head and carried erect. Size should be proportionate to the head-length approximating the distance from the outer corner of the eye to the nearest edge of the ear.
Fault: Ears not carried erect when at attention.
Skull- The head should be well-proportioned to the body and wedge-shaped when viewed from above-not only the muzzle, but the whole head should give this impression when the ears are drawn back by covering the nape of the neck and the ears with one hand.Head in profile should exhibit a definite stop.
Faults: Apple head or absence of stop.
Muzzle-Of medium length, neither coarse nor snipey, and well proportioned to the skull.
Mouth-The mouth should be neither overshot nor undershot. Lips should be black and closely meeting- not thick, coarse or sagging-and with no wrinkle at the corner of the mouth.
Faults:Overshot,undershot or wry mouth.
Teeth-Thr teeth should be white,sound and strong meeting in a scissors bite.
Fault:Misaligned teeth.
Neck,Topline,Body
Neck-The neck should be moderately long, well shaped and well set on shoulders. The body should be compact with a short, straight back sloping slightly downward toward the hindquarters, well-ribbed, barrel well rounded, short in loin, belly moderately tucked up, deep and strong of chest.
Tail-The tail should be moderately long and well feathered, set on a high and tightly curled over the back. It should lie flat and close to the body. The tail must form a part of the "silhouette" of the dog's body, rather then give the appearance of an appendage,
Fault:Tail not lying close to the back.
Forequarters-Forelegs should be straight seen from any angle. Pasterns are strong with a slight slope. Legs must be of good bone in proportion to the overall dog. Shoulder to upper arm angulation is between slight to moderate.
Hindquarters- Angulation in the rear should be between slight to moderate to complement the forequarters,creating balance and typical gait. Hindquarters are well muscled with hocks perpendicular to the ground,
Feet-The feet should be compact, well rounded, catlike. Toes are nicly arched, with black nails.
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 a 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, was 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 the feet, pasterens, 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.
Color and Marking
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 the color. Puppies are often less intensely marked. The undercoat is very pale gray or cream, never tawny.
Head-The muzzle should be dark in color. "Spectacles" and shading, as previously described, are characteristic of the breed and must be present to some degree. Ears should be very dark-almost black.
Ruff,Shoulders and "Trousers"- The color of the ruff and "trousers" is lighter then that of the body. The shoulder line markings of light gray must be well defined.
Tail-The plume of the tail is very light in color when curled on the back, and the tail should be black.
Legs and Feet- Legs and feet are cream.
Faults: Pronounced white markings. Black marking more then halfway down the foreleg, penciling excepted. White foot or feet.
Very Serious Faults: Entirely black or white or any solid color: any pronounced deviation from the color described.
Gait
The distinctive gait of the Keeshond is unique to the breed. Dogs should move boldly and keep tail curled over the back. They should move cleanly and briskly; the movement should be straight and sharp with reach and drive between slight to moderate.
Temperament
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.