Keeshond

Updated January 7, 2025

Updated January 7, 2025

Keeshonden are friendly and intelligent dogs who require regular grooming and moderate exercise. They thrive in loving homes with pet parents who appreciate their playful nature.

Temperament

Devoted, Sociable, Intelligent

Weight

Male: 36-40 pounds

Female: 36-40 pounds

Height

Male: 18 inches

Female: 17 inches

Life Expectancy

12 to 15 years

Coat Color

Black and Silver, Gray and Black, Gray Cream and Black, Gray Silver and Black, Silver and Black, Wolfgray and Black

Brains and beauty—the Keeshond (pronounced kayz-hawnd) has them both in spades. These intelligent dogs were originally bred to be watchdogs for barges traveling the waterways of Holland. These days, however, they’re more of a couch potato, although they still retain their watchdog smarts (and barking tendencies). Fabulously fluffy with large manes, Keeshonden (plural for Keeshond) are quite the attention getters—and seekers. This dog breed loves to make friends of all ages and species. Ever the social butterfly, your Keeshond will likely be the most popular pup on the block, but you’ll always be their No. 1.

Keeshond Characteristics

Remember: Dogs are individuals and not all dogs, even those of the same breed, will exhibit all the same qualities.

    Keeshond Appearance

    Keeshonden are medium-sized dogs with a wooly undercoat and longer overcoat. Their coat colors come in black, gray, silver, and gray cream combinations. Male Keeshonden have thick, full manes, whereas the female’s mane is slightly less lush. They have fox-like faces with pointy ears and spectacle-rimmed eyes, and their plumed tails curve up and over their back.

    Photo of a Keeshond
    1. Ears

      Keeshonden ears are small, pointy, erect, and set high on their heads.

    2. Eyes

      A Keeshond's eyes are almond-shaped, dark and rimmed in black

    3. Nose

      Keeshonden have a wedge-shaped muzzle with a dark black nose.

    4. Coat Length

      Keeshonden have long, thick, rich coats with large manes and trousers on the hindquarters.

    5. Coat Color

      Keeshonden coat colors include gray, cream, black, wolfgray and silver.

    6. Tail

      A Keeshond's tail is plume-like and furry, held high and curves over the back.

    Keeshond Temperament

    If your Keeshond dog had a Facebook page, their friends list would be a mile long. This delightful Northern European breed is friendly, outgoing and loving. They make lovely pets for families with children and get along well with almost everyone they meet, two- or four-legged alike.

    Their deep love for people and attention can sometimes be a detriment. They hate being alone, and some suffer from separation anxiety if given too much time by themselves. But for all their clinginess, they’ll reward you kindly with their loyalty.

    Once bred to watch over the barges on the waterways of Holland, Keeshonden are highly intelligent and easy to train. However, this intelligence means they can have a mind of their own, and they will find creative solutions if you try to block them from something they want, like their favorite sofa. Positive reinforcement training, which rewards good behavior, is necessary for their gentle, sensitive personality.

    Thanks to their history as a watchdog, your Keeshond will likely bark—loudly—but more as an alert or a welcome when someone visits. (Woohoo! Guests are here!) They aren’t exactly guard dogs and might end up covering an intruder with kisses.

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    How to Care for a Keeshond

    Keeshonden are medium-maintenance pups. While you will spend oodles of time caring for that luscious double coat (consisting of a thick, downy undercoat and heavier topcoat), they only need a little time spent in exercise or training. Read on for more Keeshond 101.

    Grooming

    Training

    Diet

    Exercise

    Environment

    Keeshond Health

    The Keeshond lifespan is 12 to 15 years. They are a generally healthy breed, although they do have a few health problems for pet parents to be aware of. These include:

    • Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is a degenerative condition of the hip joint that typically gradually worsens and plagues many breeds, including the Keeshond. It can cause lameness, pain, and arthritis. Various treatments include weight management, joint supplements, laser therapy, acupuncture, pain medication, and, in severe cases, surgery.
    • Elbow Dysplasia: Elbow dysplasia, similar to hip dysplasia, occurs when the elbow joint doesn’t form properly and rubs, causing the dog pain. A pup with elbow dysplasia may limp or seem to be in pain. Surgery is often recommended for elbow dysplasia.
    • Patellar Luxation: This is when a dog’s kneecap slips out of its patellar groove. Dogs will often skip for a couple of steps when walking, bunny hop, limp, or show other signs of being in pain. Depending on the severity, treatment options range from joint supplements and pain medications to surgery.
    • Tetralogy of Fallot: This is a congenital heart defect with symptoms that often include murmur, weakness, fainting, shortness of breath and blue gums or skin. If your vet detects a heart murmur, they will likely refer you to a veterinary cardiologist for an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) to determine the underlying cause.
    • Hypothyroidism: This occurs when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormone. Symptoms include dry skin, hair loss and weight gain. Treatment is typically daily oral medication.
    • Hyperparathyroidism (PHPT): PHPT is an inherited disorder of the parathyroid glands that causes them to secrete excessive amounts of parathyroid hormones. This can lead to too much calcium in a dog’s bloodstream, which can damage the dog’s kidneys. In most cases, this occurs due to a tumor on the parathyroid glands, so treatment is surgery to remove the glands. There is a genetic screening test available so be sure to ask your breeder.

    Keeshond History

    Working-class villagers in the 18th century originally bred Keeshonden to be watchdogs for the barges that sailed along Holland’s canals and rivers, earning them the name of Dutch Barge dogs. They developed this breed from the lineages of other Spitz breeds. Keeshonden were also known as Wolfspitzes in Germany.

    Named after the 18th-century Dutch patriot Cornelis (Kees) de Gyselaer, leader of the Patriots Party and a rebellion against the ruling House of Orange, the breed became a symbol of that rebellion and of the patriots. Many owners abandoned the breed when the uprising failed to avoid being recognized as rebels. If it hadn’t been for the peasants and farmers who kept their dogs, the breed may not have made it to America in the 1920s. The American Kennel Club recognized Keeshonden in 1930—the 85th recognized breed. Today, they are Holland’s national dog.

    So, where is the best place to find a Keeshond puppy? You can find a list of reputable Keeshond breeders on the American Kennel Club’s website. Depending on the breeder, the average cost of a Keeshond puppy is between $2,000 to $2,500, and for that, you usually get a dog screened for health and temperament issues that might even come with pedigree papers. You can also reach out to a Keeshond rescue organization, keep an eye out for the breed at your local animal shelter, or search Chewy’s database of adoptable dogs in your area.

    FAQs

    Are Keeshonden hypoallergenic?

    Do Keeshonden bark a lot

    Are Keeshonden rare or extinct?

    Are Keeshonden good family dogs?

    Are Keeshonden aggressive?

    What are the most common Keeshond mixes?


    Expert input provided by Sarah Wooten, DVM, CVJ at PumpkinCare and Alex Smith, a trainer at the Positive Puppy Trainer.

    Breed characteristic ratings provided by Dr. Sarah J. Wooten, DVM, CVJ, a veterinarian at Sheep Draw Veterinary Hospital in Greeley, Colorado; dog trainer and behavior consultant Irith Bloom, CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, owner of The Sophisticated Dog, LLC, in Los Angeles; and certified animal behavior consultant Amy Shojai, CABC, in Sherman, Texas.

    The health content was medically reviewed by Chewy vets.