- Dog suitable for owners with some experience
- Extra training required
- Need to be aware of potential health issues
- Enjoys active walks
- Enjoys one to two hours of walking a day
- Medium dog
- Some drool
- Requires grooming daily
- Chatty and vocal dog
- Barks, alerts and may be physically protective/suspicious of visitors
- Could have issues with unknown dogs but gets along with known dogs
- May need additional training to live with other pets
- Great family dog
- Needs a large garden
- Can live in semi-rural areas
- Can be left occasionally with training
Key Facts
Lifespan: | 13-15 years |
Weight: | 16-18kg |
Height: | 46cm for males and 43cm for females |
Colours: | Black and grey with a cream or very pale grey undercoat |
Size: | Medium |
UK Kennel Club Groups: | Utility |
Ratings
Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
Exercise needs: | 3/5 |
Easy to train: | 4/5 |
Tolerates being alone: | 2/5 |
Likes other pets: | 5/5 |
Energy level: | 4/5 |
Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
Shedding: | 5/5 |

Personality
Alert, cheerful and described as impertinent by those who know the breed well, the Keeshond is still a natural watchdog, and remains very keen to let their owners know that trouble is a-foot! Friendly and companionable and very adept at living in small spaces, they are often called the ‘Smiling Dutchman’ due to their appealing bright eyed, happy face.

History and Origins
Country of Origin: Holland
Closely linked to other spitz types such as the German Wolfspitz and the Pomeranian, the Keeshond takes his name from Kees de Gyselaer, the leader of the 18th century Dutch Patriots party. Their original function was as a working guard and companion, living and working on the Dutch barges. For this reason, they are also known as the Dutch Barge Dog and it is under this name that they were first shown in the UK in 1923. It is likely they also performed useful functions as ratters and vermin deterrents but their main job was to bark and alert their owners to intruders.

Did You Know?
- One of the less obvious roles the Keeshond had on the barges was to act as a foghorn, sitting on the bows of the barge the Keeshond would bark as soon as they spotted another barge approaching through the fog. Since barges move slowly and are between 70 and 120ft long, this gave the bargee plenty of warning.
- Despite being relatively rare outside the Netherlands, the Keeshond has had some celebrity owners including Walt Disney, Irish poet W.B. Yeats and Princess Diana.