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title: "Keeshond - temperament, price, health, breeders | Pedibase"
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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+10
Dogs
# The Keeshond: temperament, price, health, and breeders
Netherlands / Germany
The Wolfsspitz of Dutch barges: smiling, loyal and dressed for winter.
Size MediumLife expectancy 12–15 yearsBudget ≈ €102/monthPuppy €1,000 – €1,800
[Find a breeder 6](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-keeshond) [ Compare with other breeds](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare-dog-breeds?races=keeshond)
The right choice?
## Is this breed right for you?
[Find your ideal breed with our online quiz!](https://www.pedibase.com/en/choose-your-dog)
Families and children Excellent
Daily exercise needs Moderate
Apartment living Very good
First-time owners Very good
Other pets Very good
Tolerance of being alone Limited
Guarding instinct Good
Strengths and weaknesses
- Family temperament: He is generally sociable, loyal and fairly easy-going.
- Coat beauty: His ruff and his spectacles make him a very expressive spitz.
- Medium size: Big enough to go for walks, compact enough for indoors.
- Heavy shedding: Dead hair is abundant.
- Alert bark: He warns, sometimes too much in an apartment building.
- Heat poorly tolerated: Heatwave summers tire him.
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- Families: He loves home life and respectful children.
- Apartments that accept shedding: He adapts to it if he is taken out and brushed.
- Spitz lovers: He offers the Wolfsspitz type in a companion format.
Not recommended for
- Allergic to hair: Its shedding is too heavy.
- Looking for a quiet dog: Alertness is part of its character.
- Very hot climates without air conditioning: Its coat becomes a handicap.
Meet the breed
## What does it look like?
1,75 mHuman
49 cmKeeshond
- Height at the withers
- 43–55 cm
- Weight
- 14–20 kg
- Coat
- Long, double, abundant ruff and breeches
- FCI group
- 5
- Origin
- Netherlands / Germany
- Grooming
- High-maintenance coat
## Photos and videos
See the Keeshond in photos and videos: coat colors, size, and distinctive expressions.
Origins
## Where does it come from?
The Keeshond is the large grey spitz, or Wolfsspitz, which became the barge dog and the Dutch patriotic symbol in the 18th century. It belongs to the German Spitz family, of which it is the largest variety along with the Giant Spitz. Its name comes from Kees, a nickname linked to a political party of the time. In the 20th century, the breed became established as a companion dog, while keeping its alert bark and its spectacular coat.
Appearance
## What does it look like?
Medium-sized Spitz, almost square, with a smiling expression. The head is wedge-shaped, the muzzle neither too long nor too pointed, the ears small and erect. The double coat forms a ruff, breeches and a plumed tail curled over the back. The coat is wolf grey, lighter on the spectacles, the legs and the plume. The undercoat is very dense.
Temperament
## Temperament and personality
Affectionate, sociable and fairly easy-going in the family, he likes to take part in household life. He alerts by voice more than he really guards. With children, he is generally patient. He can be sensitive to loneliness and sudden changes.
Affectionate Intelligent Easy to train Sociable
Living together
## Living with children and other pets
He adapts to apartment living if he is accepted as a dog that sheds and barks. He needs daily walks, not an extreme sport. Heat bothers him. At home, he follows his humans and comments on the slightest noise on the landing.
Training
## Training and socialization
Cooperative and intelligent, he learns quickly if you stay consistent. Barking is managed through habit and reinforcing calm, not by shouting. Early socialization prevents the wariness of the companion spitz.
Budget
## Price and budget for the Keeshond
A companion Keeshond from a well-monitored breeding program is often priced between 1 000 and 1 800 euros. Grooming work and health tests justify a higher price than that of a non-monitored spitz.
[See cost breakdown](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/keeshond/price)
Health
## Health at a glance
Beautiful dog, but certain lines carry hormonal, skin or neurological predispositions. Breeding that tests and that refuses overly heavy subjects clearly improves the prognosis. The undercoat requires maintenance to avoid skin problems.
[Prevention and things to watch for](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/keeshond/health)
Nutrition
## Feeding your pet well
The Keeshond needs a complete, digestible diet adjusted to its age, its activity and its body condition. Protein quality and control of energy intake matter as much as the volume of the ration.
[Our feeding advice](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/keeshond/food)
Did you know?
## Fun facts and popularity
It is recognized by its lighter “spectacles” around the eyes. On barges, it served as an alert and a companion. In Germany, the standard still classifies it as Wolfsspitz within the German Spitz.
FAQ
## Frequently asked questions about the Keeshond
Answers to common questions from future owners before their new companion arrives.
### Is the Keeshond a German Spitz?
Yes. It is the Wolfsspitz, the large grey variety of the German Spitz, popularized in the Netherlands under the name Keeshond.
### Does it shed a lot?
Yes, spectacularly twice a year. Regular brushing is essential.
## Find a Keeshond breeder
The areas where Pedibase lists the most Keeshond breeders, along with their litters and typical prices.
### Keeshond breeders by country
[42 breeders of Keeshond in Germany](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-keeshond/germany) [8 breeders of Keeshond in the Netherlands](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-keeshond/netherlands) [6 breeders of Keeshond in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-keeshond) [4 breeders of Keeshond in Austria](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-keeshond/austria) [4 breeders of Keeshond in Finland](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-keeshond/finland) [2 breeders of Keeshond in Belgium](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-keeshond/belgium) [2 breeders of Keeshond in Croatia](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-keeshond/croatia) [2 breeders of Keeshond in Denmark](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-keeshond/denmark) [2 breeders of Keeshond in Italy](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-keeshond/italy) [2 breeders of Keeshond in Poland](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-keeshond/poland)
[All breeders of Keeshond in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-keeshond)
## Ready to welcome a Keeshond?
Find a registered, verified breeder near you and meet your future companion with confidence.
[View breeders](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-keeshond)
## Discover other breeds
[German Spitz
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/german-spitz)
[Eurasier
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/eurasier)
[Italian Volpino
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-volpino)
[Samoyed
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/samoyed)
[Chow Chow
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/chow-chow)
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