Keeshond

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Keeshond" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Keeshond
Distinct characteristics of Keeshonden include a lion-like ruff, spectacles, small and dark triangular ears, definite contrast, and a thick double coat.
Other names	Dutch Barge Dog, Smiling Dutchman, German Spitz, Deutscher Wolfspitz, Wolfspitz, Dire Pomeranian
Common nicknames	Kees
Origin	Netherlands
Traits Height Males 44 to 48 cm (17 to 19 in) Females 40 to 46 cm (16 to 18 in) Weight 15 to 20 kg (33 to 44 lb) Coat Double Color Mix of Silver, Light Gray, Dark Gray, and White. They are cream at the Forehead and Legs.
Kennel club standards Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The Keeshond (/ˈkeɪshɒnd/ KAYSS-hond, plur. Keeshonden) is a medium-sized dog with a plush, two-layer coat of silver and black fur with a ruff and a curled tail. Their closest relatives are the German spitzes such as the Großspitz (Large Spitz), Mittelspitz (Medium Spitz), Kleinspitz (Miniature Spitz), Zwergspitz (Dwarf-Spitz) or Pomeranian.

The Keeshond was previously known as the Dutch Barge Dog, as it was frequently seen on barges traveling the canals and rivers of the Netherlands. The Keeshond was the symbol of the Patriot faction in the Netherlands during political unrest in the years immediately preceding the French Revolution.

In the late 19th century, the breed was developed in England from imports obtained in both the Netherlands and Germany. In 1930, the Keeshond was first registered with the American Kennel Club.^[1]