Keeshond
Updated July 15, 2026
Keeshond
Updated July 15, 2026
The Keeshond is a playful pup with a lively, social personality. They’ve also got their smarts about them, and you’ll have a blast teaching them new tricks. Better yet, your adoring pup will be so proud to show off what they’ve learned.
Friendly, Outgoing, Sidekick
36–40 pounds
17–18 inches
12–15 years
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 smart dogs were originally bred to work on barges traveling the waterways of Holland. These days, however, they’re more often found as family pets, although they still retain their working smarts (and barking tendencies).
Fabulously fluffy with large manes, Keeshonden (plural for Keeshond) are quite the attention-getters. 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
Keeshond Appearance
Keeshonden are medium-size dogs with a woolly undercoat and longer overcoat in a variety of colors. Male Keeshonden have thick, full manes, whereas the females’ mane is slightly leaner. They have foxlike faces with pointy ears and spectacle-rimmed eyes, and their plumed tails curve up and over their back.
- Ears
Their ears are small, pointy, and set high on their heads.
- Eyes
A Keeshond's almond-shaped eyes are dark and rimmed in black.
- Nose
Keeshonden have a wedge-shaped muzzle with a black nose.
- Coat Length
Keeshonden have long, thick coats with large manes and trousers on the hindquarters.
- Coat Color
A Keeshond’s coat colors include black and silver; gray and black; silver and black; wolfgray and black; gray cream and black; and a variety of other solid colors like black, white, and tawny.
- Tail
A Keeshond's tail is plumelike and furry; it’s held high and curves over the back.
Keeshond Temperament
This delightful Northern European breed is friendly, outgoing, and doting. They make lovely pets for families and get along well with almost everyone they meet, two- and four-legged alike.
While the loving company is definitely a positive, it can also be frustrating for your Keeshond when they realize they can’t accompany you absolutely everywhere.
They can have separation anxiety, but forgive them if they’re a little clingy—it’s only because they adore you so much.
Once bred to watch over the barges on the waterways of Holland, Keeshonden are highly intelligent and easy to train. The typical Keeshond personality is also adorably mischievous—and they have their ways of getting what they want.
Related Breeds
How to Care for a Keeshond
Keeshonden are medium-maintenance pups. You’ll spend oodles of time caring for their double coat, with a bit of time on training and exercise, too.
Grooming
Training
Diet
Exercise
Environment
Keeshond Health
The typical Keeshond lifespan is 12–15 years. Here are some health issues to be aware of.
- Elbow and hip dysplasia: Elbow and hip dysplasia are genetic conditions that develop during puppyhood when the joints don’t align well and become looser than normal. Signs include limping, and treatment might involve weight loss, reduced activity, joint supplements, physical therapy, pain meds, or surgery in severe cases.
- Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine disorders in dogs. It is caused by decreased activity of the thyroid gland due to inflammation or atrophy. It can be diagnosed with a blood test, so thyroid levels should be a normal part of screening bloodwork as your dog ages. Hypothyroidism commonly causes skin and ear infections, as well as weight gain and sluggishness. It can be managed with oral meds.
- Luxating patella: Keeshonden can develop a luxating patella, where the kneecap slips out of place. A bunny hop, skip, or limp could be among the symptoms. It may be treated with supplements and meds if mild, though surgery may be necessary.
- Tetralogy of Fallot: This is a rare but serious congenital heart defect. Symptoms include a heart 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. The Keeshond is the most affected breed, and a relaxed lifestyle is often recommended to temper the condition.
- Hyperparathyroidism (PHPT): PHPT is an inherited disorder that can lead to too much calcium in a dog’s bloodstream, which can damage the kidneys. In most cases, this is due to a tumor on the parathyroid glands, so surgery is necessary to remove the glands.
Keeshond History
It’s thought that the Keeshond shares a similar lineage to other Spitz breeds: a group of pups who came from Europe and Asia and have thick double coats, like the Pomeranian or Samoyed. In Germany, Keeshonden were also known as Wolfspitzes.
But their story begins with 18th-century working-class villagers, who originally bred Keeshonden as guardian dogs for the barges that sailed along Holland’s canals and rivers. This earned them the name “Dutch barge dogs.”
These pups were named after Cornelis “Kees” de Gyselaer, a leader of an 18th-century Dutch rebellion. The breed became a symbol of that rebellion, but many uncaring owners abandoned the breed when the uprising failed.
If the peasants and farmers hadn’t saved these dogs, the breed may not have made it to America in the 1920s. The American Kennel Club recognized Keeshonden in 1930, and today they have earned their place as Holland’s national dog.
Keeshond breeders may charge thousands of dollars. If you choose this route, pick a responsible breeder.
You can also adopt a Keeshond: Look for a local rescue, like the Southern California Keeshond Rescue; keep an eye out at your local shelter; or search Chewy’s database of adoptable dogs.