{"data":{"slug":"keeshond","name":"Keeshond","url":"https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/keeshond","api_url":"https://techtools.cz/dog-atlas-api/v1/breeds/keeshond","also_known_as":["Dutch Barge Dog","Wolfspitz","German Spitz Wolfspitz"],"kind":"breed","extinct":false,"group":{"key":"spitz","label":"Spitz \u0026 Primitive","fci_group":5,"fci_group_name":"Spitz and Primitive Types"},"size":"Medium","origin":"Netherlands","countries":["Netherlands","Germany"],"height_cm":{"min":43.0,"max":46.0},"weight_kg":{"min":14.0,"max":18.0},"life_expectancy_years":{"min":12,"max":14},"temperament":["Friendly","Intelligent","Alert","Affectionate","Playful"],"exercise_level":"Medium","wikipedia_views_60d":20156,"summary":"The Keeshond is a plush, silver-and-black spitz with 'spectacle' markings, a curled tail and a devoted, people-loving nature, once a canal barge watchdog in the Netherlands.","photo":{"url":"https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/photos/keeshond-95e50619c0-1280.webp","small_url":"https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/photos/keeshond-95e50619c0-640.webp","width":1161,"height":1064,"author":"dancing with wolves","license":"CC BY 2.0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0","source_url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Keeshond_Majic_standing_cropped.jpg"},"updated_at":"2026-10-15T14:58:24Z","ratings":{"energy":3,"exercise":3,"grooming":4,"shedding":4,"trainability":4,"barking":4,"kids":5,"other_dogs":4},"coat":"Dense double coat with thick ruff","colors":["Silver and black","Grey and black with cream undercoat"],"fun_fact":"A Keeshond named Tikva worked as a comfort dog among rescue workers at Ground Zero after the September 11 attacks.","sections":{"overview":"The Keeshond is a medium-sized spitz with a thick silver-grey and black coat, a ruff around the neck and a tail curled over its back. Its fox-like face is framed by distinctive dark 'spectacles'.\n\nLong a watchdog on Dutch barges, it is now a cheerful family companion. It wants to be close to its people, and is clever, sociable and quick to learn.","history":"The breed is named after Kees de Gyselaer, a leader of the eighteenth-century Dutch Patriot movement, whose faction adopted the dog as a symbol. After the House of Orange returned to power the breed nearly vanished.\n\nIt belongs to the German spitz family, and the FCI treats it as part of that group. It was developed in England in the late nineteenth century from imports from the Netherlands and Germany, and was first registered with the American Kennel Club in 1930.","appearance":"The Keeshond is sturdily built, with a wedge-shaped head, a medium muzzle, small pointed ears and an expressive face. It stands about 43 to 46 cm and weighs roughly 14 to 18 kg.\n\nThe double coat is thick, with a lighter ruff and trousers. Grey outer hairs are tipped in black over a pale cream undercoat, and the dark lines from eye to ear form the typical spectacles.","personality":"Keeshonden are playful, affectionate and eager to please. They are often called shadows because they follow their people from room to room, and they dislike being left alone or kept apart from the family.\n\nThey are alert watchdogs with a loud bark, though not aggressive, and usually welcome visitors once the family has. They are good with children and other dogs, and have been used as therapy and comfort dogs.","care":"Keeshonden need daily walks and play, and enjoy agility and obedience. They do best when they live indoors with their family; a dog kept alone in a yard may become a nuisance barker.\n\nBrush the thick coat regularly, more often during the heavy seasonal shedding. Never shave it, as the undercoat protects against both heat and cold.","health":"The breed is generally healthy, with a typical lifespan of around 12 years. Conditions that occasionally occur include hip dysplasia, luxating patella, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, diabetes and primary hyperparathyroidism, for which a genetic test exists."},"recognition":{"fci_number":null,"fci_standard_url":null,"akc_url":"https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/keeshond/"},"sources":{"wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keeshond","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q38843","wikipedia_revision":1368882544},"profile":{"written_by":"AI model (Claude Sonnet) from the sources above","written_at":"2026-10-15T13:37:29Z"}}}