Keeshond Picture Gallery

Keeshond Breeders

Keeshond Clubs/Associations

The Full Keeshond Description

The Keeshond (KAZE-hond) is a happy dog by nature. They are extremely affectionate. When a Keeshond joins the family, he looks forward to being an important part of it. He loves children and will gladly play games and bounce around with them.

Did you know?

The Keeshond is the national dog of Holland.

So you want to own a Keeshond?

The Keeshond is a handsome, intelligent companion dog distinguished by a friendly, outgoing temperament and a lively interest in the world around him.
They do not need a lot of exercise as they expend most of their energy bouncing about in one place. They are ideal pets and companions who are playful and affectionate and show a true love of life.

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

Short, compact body, confident carriage. Fox-like head with small pointed ears, alert expression, large ruff, well feathered tail curled over back.

Characteristics

Sturdy, intelligent and adaptable, ideal companion, good guard, shows boldly.

Temperament

Bold, alert, friendly with marked guarding tendency.

Head and Skull

Well proportioned, wedge shaped when seen from above; from side showing definite stop. Dark muzzle equal to length of flat skull. Neither coarse nor snipey. Nose black.

Eyes

Dark, medium size, almond-shaped, obliquely set. Well defined ’spectacles‘ shown as a delicately pencilled black line slanting from outer corner of eye to lower corner of ear, coupled with distinct marking and shading forming expressive short eyebrows.

Ears

Dark, small ivy-leafed in shape. Erect, velvety texture. Well set on head, neither too wide nor meeting.

Mouth

Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Lips black.

Neck

Moderately long and arched, covered with thick, profuse coat forming large ruff.

Forequarters

Shoulders well sloped. Straight front of medium width with good bone.

Body

Short, compact; length from withers to tail equal to height at withers, well sprung in rib. Good depth of brisket.

Hindquarters

Strong muscled, hindlegs straight when viewed from behind. Hock showing slight angulation when viewed from side, profuse light-coloured trousers down to hocks.

Feet

Well padded, round, cat-like, tight, cream in colour; black nails.

Tail

Moderately long, high-set, tightly curled over back, double curl highly desirable. Light plume on top where curled, with black tip, carried closely at all times.

Gait/Movement

Clean, brisk, straight and sharp.

Coat

Harsh, off standing, straight. Dense ruff, well feathered on forelegs and profuse trousers, not feathered below hock. Soft, thick, light-coloured (not tawny) undercoat. Never silky, wavy or woolly, nor forming a parting on back.

Colour

A mixture of grey and black. Undercoat very pale grey or cream (not tawny). All shades of grey acceptable, body hairs black tipped. Shoulder markings well defined and all markings definite. Forelegs and hocks cream with no black below wrist or hock. Pencilling acceptable.

Size

Ideal height: dogs: 46 cms (18 ins); bitches: 43 cms (17 ins).