Dog breed

Keeshond

The Wolfspitz, known around the world as the Keeshond, is the largest variety of German Spitz: a fluffy, silver-gray dog with black "spectacles" around its eyes. It's alert, cheerful and extremely devoted to its owner. It has no hunting instinct, which is why for centuries it has made a fine house guardian and family companion.

FCI Group V · Spitz and primitive · standard no. 97

Weight: 16–20.5 kg
Height: 43–55 cm
Lifespan: 12–15 years
Origin: Germany

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Photo: Lilly M, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The FCI standard describes the Wolfspitz as always attentive, lively and exceptionally devoted to its owner, very teachable and easy to train. According to the standard, its natural distrust of strangers and lack of hunting instinct make it the ideal family dog and guardian of house and farm. The AKC sees it a little differently, giving it a high score for openness to strangers; in practice, a Keeshond loudly announces a visitor but quickly makes friends. The AKC also gives it top marks for affection, getting along with children and dogs, playfulness and trainability. It likes to be at the center of family life and does poorly when shut out in the yard. It can be barky.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Keeshond for?

The Keeshond is a good choice for families with children, first-time owners and people in an apartment or house who want a cheerful, alert medium-sized dog, enjoy training and don't mind brushing. It gets along well with other animals. It's a weaker choice for people looking for a quiet dog, those living in a hot climate without air conditioning, or anyone who doesn't want dog hair in the house.

Pros

very devoted and quick to learn
gets along well with children and animals
no hunting instinct
an alert watchdog

Challenges

heavy seasonal shedding
needs regular brushing
tends to bark
doesn't handle heat well

Size and looks

Size and looks: Keeshond
Height at the withers	males 43–55 cm, females 43–55 cm
Weight	males 16–20.5 kg, females 16–20.5 kg
Lifespan	12–15 years
Coat	long
Colors	wolf gray (silver gray with black-tipped hairs)
Country of origin	Germany
Classification	Group V: Spitz and primitive types
Also known as	Wolfspitz, German Wolfspitz, Dutch Barge Dog

Care and exercise

45–75minof exercise a day

4/5grooming needs

3/5shedding

The Royal Kennel Club recommends up to an hour of exercise a day, and a Keeshond will happily spend it on walks, play and learning tricks. It enjoys dog sports, especially obedience and agility. The thick coat with its abundant undercoat is the breed's trademark, but also a commitment: the Royal Kennel Club lists daily grooming, and twice a year the dog sheds heavily. Brush down to the skin, layer by layer, especially behind the ears, on the ruff and on the trousers. Don't shave a Spitz short, because the coat protects it from cold and sun. In summer, walk during cooler hours. Teaching calm behavior at the door early on will cut down on barking. Training goes quickly because the dog wants to cooperate, but it reacts badly to yelling. Watch food portions too, since the fluffy coat easily hides extra weight.

How much should the Keeshond eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The AKC describes Keeshonden as a healthy, active breed that lives 12–15 years with good care. The Keeshond Club of America recommends hip and elbow X-rays, a patella evaluation, an eye exam and a genetic test for primary hyperparathyroidism before breeding; this disease disrupts calcium balance and can lead to bladder stones and kidney problems. The Royal Kennel Club considers hip and elbow X-rays the minimum and an eye exam and PHPT DNA test good practice. Thanks to testing, these diseases have become less common. When buying a puppy, ask for the parents' results.

primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT)An inherited disease that leads to high blood calcium; a DNA test is available.
hip and elbow dysplasiaThe Royal Kennel Club considers hip and elbow X-rays the minimum before breeding.
patellar luxationThe Keeshond Club of America recommends a patella evaluation for breeding dogs.
eye diseasesAn eye exam is recommended for breeding dogs.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED)
PHPT DNA test
patella evaluation
eye exam (ECVO)

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

According to the FCI standard, German Spitzes descend from the Stone Age "peat dogs" and the later spitzes of lake-dwelling settlements, and they are the oldest dog breed in Central Europe. They gave rise to many other breeds. The AKC describes the Keeshond as a hardy, agile barge dog that guarded boats on the canals of the Netherlands. In the 18th century it became the symbol of the Dutch Patriot Party, which opposed the House of Orange. The name may come from a mascot dog called Kees or from Patriot leaders who went by that nickname. In the FCI, the Wolfspitz remains part of the German Spitz standard.

Fun facts

According to the FCI standard, German Spitzes are the oldest dog breed in Central Europe.
The FCI standard describes the distinctive black "spectacles" around the eyes as a typical feature of the Wolfspitz.
In the 18th century, the Keeshond was the symbol of the Dutch Patriot Party.
The FCI height for the Wolfspitz is 49 cm, plus or minus 6 cm.

Frequently asked questions

Do Keeshonden shed?

Yes, and heavily twice a year when they blow their undercoat. Daily brushing is essential then. The rest of the year, thorough brushing a few times a week is enough.

Is the Keeshond the same as the Wolfspitz?

Yes. Keeshond is the name used outside German-speaking countries for the Wolfspitz, the largest variety of German Spitz described in FCI standard no. 97.

How long do Keeshonden live?

The AKC gives 12–15 years. Many dogs stay in good shape into old age, especially when the parents were tested for dysplasia and PHPT.

Can a Keeshond live in an apartment?

Yes, if it gets daily exercise and activities. It's medium-sized and calm indoors, but you'll need to teach it not to bark at every sound in the hallway.

How much does a Keeshond weigh?

Adult dogs of this breed usually weigh: males 16–20.5 kg, females 16–20.5 kg. Height at the withers: 43–55 cm. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.