The Keeshond
Are you looking for your future dog for your family?
The Keeshond breed is medium sized and is such a happy-go-lucky kind of dog!
They are:
comical & silly
intelligent & serious
food motivated
good-natured & outgoing
cuddly, friendly & loving (hugs & kisses)
In addition to temperament, my breeding program focuses on structure & movement. If you aren’t familiar with dog breeding & showing, just keep in mind that a “reputable” dog breeder is someone who creates puppies *not for the money*. A responsible dog breeder is focused on creating puppies to carry on the legacy of the ideal dog of the breed, showing their dogs to a large variety of judges for recognition of breed type.
Breed Standard
Why is the Breed Standard important?
To preserve the traits of this breed, we never support cross-breeding with other kinds of dogs. The Keeshond is such a marvelous dog that we want it to be clear that the Keeshond is indeed a Keeshond.
So what makes a Keeshond?
- "Spectacles" - a combination of markings and shadings in the orbital area which must include a delicate, dark line slanting from the outer corner of each eye toward the lower corner of each ear coupled with expressive eyebrows.
- Ears should be small, triangular in shape, mounted high on head and carried erect
- 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 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, as 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.
- Tail - The hair on the tail should form a rich plume. The tail should be moderately long and well feathered, set on high and tightly curled over the back. It should lie flat and close to the body
- Tail - The plume of the tail is very light in color when curled on the back, and the tip of the tail should be black.
- Color & Markings: Ruff, Shoulders and "Trousers" - The color of the ruff and "trousers" is lighter than that of the body. The shoulder line markings of light gray must be well defined. Legs and feet are cream.
Dog Health
Many dog breeders say that their dogs are “health tested.” This does not mean that the dogs are just brought to the vet!
I breed healthy, happy, and well-rounded dogs for you to bring into your home. All of my adult dogs get specific health testing prior to breeding. After all tests are completed for the adult dogs for breeding, then the dogs receive a certification & ID number from the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.
- Hips: dogs get X-rays of their hips, which are then evaluated & graded by veterinarians. This grading helps me see the likelihood of a dog getting Hip Dysplasia or not.
- Elbows: X-rays of elbows get evaluated for any signs of joint problems or arthritis, as some joint issues are genetic.
- Patellas: Bad knees? Kneecaps are evaluated to see if they move. Dogs with a luxating patella do not get bred, because this can be passed onto offspring.
- Cardiac testing: Each dog is to be examined & classified by a veterinarian with expertise in the recognition of canine heart disease, in accordance with procedures outlined in The Basic Cardiac Exam section.
- Eyes - eyes are tested to make sure they are clear from any genetic eye diseases
- Primary Hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) - Keeshonds need genetic testing for this condition of the parathyroid glands.
Resources
Get more information about this dog breed:
- The American Kennel Club (akc.org)
- Keeshond Club of America (keeshond.org)
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (ofa.org)
Get in Touch
Interested in a Kees as your next pet or addition to your show kennel? Feel free to contact us!
