Keeshond
A friendly, wolf-grey spitz with spectacle markings, known as a Dutch barge dog and devoted family companion.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 45–55 cm · Females 43–53 cm
- Weight
- Males 16–22 kg · Females 14–20 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- 45–60 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Double coat, long
- Colours
- Wolf grey
- Bred for
- Companionship, Guarding
- Country of origin
- Germany
- FCI
- Group 5, no. 97 · Spitz & primitive types
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 4/5 – High |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 4/5 – High |
| Prey drive | 2/5 – Low |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 4/5 – High |
| Grooming effort | 4/5 – High |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 4/5 – High |
| Suits apartment living | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Adaptability | 4/5 – High |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with cold | 5/5 – Very high |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a sociable, family-oriented dog
- live in a cooler climate
- enjoy regular brushing
Think twice if you …
- dislike barking
- are away for long hours
- live somewhere very hot
Care
Temperament
Keeshonden are friendly, outgoing and very attached to their people. They are good watchdogs that announce visitors but generally welcome them afterwards.
Exercise
A daily walk of about an hour plus play suits most adults. They enjoy obedience, agility, rally and family outings.
Grooming
The dense double coat needs thorough brushing two or three times a week and daily during the heavy seasonal moult. Do not shave it.
Training
They are bright and eager to please, responding well to gentle, positive methods. Teach a quiet cue early to manage barking.
Health
Hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, hypothyroidism and primary hyperparathyroidism are known in the breed. Ask the breeder for hip, knee, eye and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Kneecaps (patella)
- Eye examination
- Thyroid
DNA tests
- PHPT (primary hyperparathyroidism)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Keeshond is the wolf-grey member of the German Spitz family and became especially linked to the Netherlands, where it guarded barges and farms in the 18th century. Under the FCI it is the Wolfspitz, part of the German Spitz standard, though it is widely known by its Dutch name.
Keeshonden are sociable, people-focused dogs that like being in the middle of family life. They are alert and will bark at arrivals, but they are rarely sharp. The thick coat makes them comfortable in cold weather and less so in heat. They usually do best in homes where someone is around for much of the day.
Did you know?
The name is linked to Cornelis (Kees) de Gyselaer, an 18th-century Dutch Patriot leader whose spitz became a symbol of his party.