Zach and I are looking into getting a dog in the future. We want a dog that is good with children (we have two nieces), good with small animals (the birds and cat), and is affectionate and a good companion. We think we've found all this in the Keeshond. What we want now is someone to weigh the pros and cons of being owned by a Keeshond.

I know of a rescue in Oregon, but they will only adopt to people within driving distance of Portland. The drive from here to Portland is about 4-5 hours. I don't think that would be good enough for them. We also want a puppy so we can train it to be good with the birds and cat from a young age.

Does anyone know of a breeder in (preferably Western) WA?

Thanks!

I just wanted to let you know that Keeshounds shed like MAD, all year round. Grooming doesn't usually help a lot, as they continously lose hair because of the double coat, which is intended to protect them from harsh cold.
You put them inside and they just shed and it is light, fluffy stuff. I don't know how bad that would be for the bird.
you might consider a non shedding breed of dog, which would not be a short haired dog, but a non shedding dog, since you have children and birds.
Not to be mean, just trying to point out something you might not be fully aware of.
Lori

LOL That's one of the things we love about the Kees...they look like big Pomeranians! I have no problem with shedding, our old dog Sucia shed a ton! Thanks for the info, though, I really appreciate it!

Dani

YES, they shed A LOT! I have a friend who used to raise them.
They are known for a really nice temperament and USUALLY get along well with children and other dogs (hers bit EVERYBODY )

They are believed to be the only dog that has actual FUR instead of just hair. It's been said that fur coats can be made from their hides. YIKES!!!! Now what idiot would even think of such a thing!?

She told me that the worst fault in them is only in coloring. They must be mixed tones of grey, black, brown, beige and tan...no white, no SOLID colored dogs and the muzzle must be very dark. I guess if I saw a pup I wanted, and it didn't bother ME if it had some white on it, I'd just have it if I wanted it!!!

The funniest thing about them is that they wear glasses. They have a light colored ring around the eyes that makes them look like they have them on.

Her male dog was a biter, but her females were just peachy. When they got wet, they didn't smell too good and it took them a long time to dry.

We had Australian Shepherds for years and love them dearly, but they need a lot of room to RUN RUN and RUN, and shed a lot and put off a dander, which I found I am allergic to. We also had a couple of Great Danes. They are lazy and just happy to be with you. (and you don't even have to bend over to pet them)

I now have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, wanted one for many years and adore her, but had no idea that they bark at EVERYTHING and want you to throw the toy for them 20 hours a day!

Best wishes with whatever you get

Thank you soo much Weeza!

I certainly wouldn't want to have a coat made from a dog! I wouldn't want a fur coat, period...it's hard to know if the animal died naturally or was killed for it's coat...I don't want to support that kind of thing.

Anyway, thank you so much for the information.

We were also considering a German Shepherd or Great Dane, but a big dog would be too much for me to handle, and since I'm the one who would be walking it and stuff, we need a dog that I can handle.

Our old dog Sucia was a Shepherd/Lab/Husky mix, and for the first six months or so after we adopted her I fell down every time I walked her because she wanted to chase the squirrels. She got better about that though...

my friend had one that they named flower because when she was a puppy she would curl up in a flower pot. They are really good dogs. Try doing a google search for them.

http://www.findbreeders.com/dog_breeders_K...Washington.html

Here is some that I found

Yippeee!!!! That is exactly what I was looking for!!!!! Thank you sooooo much, jujusaffiemom!!!! *huge hugs* Oh, I'm so excited now!!! Yay!!!!

Those are the only ones I found in Washington. You are very welcome.

OMG My mom is a Keeshond Breeder!!! She has a litter of puppies due this summer!! She has 2 females and 2 males!! I love those dogs : ) Her female--Chloe Belle is hopefully preggers. Hers are beautiful-- Her male that she just got last year is gorgeous-- His name is Diesel.

My mom loves her dogs. They are great with my kids and Fancy even puts up with my 3 year old trying to pick her up--lol They are awesome dogs. She has one male-- Turbeau-- that she got neutered and I thought about adopting him, but my husband won't let me-- as we have asthma and allergies.

They do shed a lot but usually they are only heavy shedders at certain times of the year. They "blow" their coat and as long as you keep up with regular grooming it isn't bad.

We live in TOledo, OH and that is far from you though.

Yes, Ohio is a bit far...but I'm glad you responded, can I pick your brain a bit? I have a question for you...

I read that they can't wear a collar because it will mess up their "mane" (or whatever you call it!)...how do you take them for walks if they can't wear a collar?

Thanks!!

Dani


I've sent two of them emails asking about their breeding programs...thanks again, sooo much!

I have another (really odd!) question...I went and had lunch with Zach today, and he asked what Keeshonds fur feels like...is it soft or rough?? I know their undercoat is soft, but what about the hair on top?

you can also try the AKC and these clubs

Hey there, my parents had a Keeshonden named Candy Dancer Al a Mode! And I Loved that
dog she was sooooo Sweet! She was such a good hearted girl and it hurt when she died
many years ago. She was smart she would pick her leash up when Id say "Wanna go out,
pick up the leash!"

My parents bought her from professional people who showed Champions. Her
"eye glassess" maybe could of been a tad more pronounced but they were there. The pick
of the litter was high! But she was such a joy many years.

Years later I was with my X and I adopted one from the newspaper. I ended up giving her
to my MIL who lived in the country because she had a mean streak and would be slightly
viscious at times. A dissapointment, but my feeling is that dog was prolly feom a
Puppy Mill as those traits are def not included in that breed.

Shedding we didnt have a real terrible time but we did brush her.
Arent their tails and glassess Cool?!
So heres Wishing you great Joy with your soon new Arrival!

PS All the hair is very Soft!!

Cheeky's Mum...thank you so much for sharing your stories! I'm getting really excited because of all the wonderful things I'm learning about Keeshonden (thank you for correcting me on the plural)! Yes, their markings and tails are super cool! Thanks!

Your making me want another one LOL!!!

LOL I want one SOON! But my parents would absolutely kill us if we got another pet anytime soon. We're thinking in the next couple years...but they're soooooo cute!

Wearing a collar would likely mat their necks but that happens with any dog that has hair long enough to mat up. A martingale collar could fix that They are also known as as "humane choker" because they don't choke like a choke chain does. It looks like a normal collar with a small area that is made up of a loop of chain (or sometimes matching collar material) where the leash clips on. If the dog tries to pull the collar tightens up but it can only tighten a little bit so it doesn't choke the dog. It's also great for dogs that 'slip' their collars because their heads are smaller then their necks (greyhounds). It could be ideal for your Kees since it will be loose most of the time and only tighten up if he tries to run after something on a walk . They also don't get tangled or 'lock' like a choke chain can.

Failing that, a harness should be fine and if pulling might be a problem then look for a harness with 2 points of contact - 1 on the chest and 1 on the shoulders (not the back). Then you have power steering and power breaks provided you use the double ended leash . The farther back the point of contact is on a dog the easier it is to pull, some sled dog harnesses have the point of contact all the way back on the dogs butt! So conversely, the higher up on the dog that the point of contact sits the more control you will have over the pulling

Yes they wear a collar- I suppose if you were going to show them than it might mess up their mane but all of my mom's do and they are fine. I know that when I dog sit I walk them on a leash and use a collar. I wouldn't recommend not using a collar : )
I would be cautious of how you groom them and do research on grooming them as you can hurt the dog if you do it improperly.
Also I would start training early as they can be jumpers--and I don't beleive in the "oh that is just what type of dog they are." They can learn not to jump on people-- Her boys are jumpers and I don't like it one BIT!! The males tend to be quite a bit bigger than the females. But I haven't found a temperment difference in either.



I think that their coat is pretty soft, not like bunny rabbit soft but it is not wirey either. They will get a spot where their tail lays on top of the back, my mom calls it their nest-- They are huggable dogs -- their fur is sort of fluffy -- It is hard to think of a comparison : ) They are softer than German shepards but not as soft as a shih tzu-- they do sort of feel like pomeranians-- but IMO softer.

Hi Jaime and Amsue0222!

Jaime, thank you sooo much for the info. about collars! I actually joined a Keeshond group on Yahoo! yesterday, and one of the members gave me a link to White Pine Outfitters.

Amsue0222, thank you so much for the heads up on the grooming and jumping. I found a link on training that was extremely helpful...Small Dogs vs. Medium and Large Dogs. I have to admit, I'm one of "those" people they're talking about in the article, and I'm really going to try to change that.

Thank you both for your responses!

Dani

Yea my mom just thinks that it is ok for her dogs to jump up and on the furniture!! She says oh well that is what kind of dogs they are -- I totally disagree. I think that they are perfectly trainable!! I have taught my dogs to stay out of rooms and to stay off of the furniture-- I don't have to close doors, they just know not to go in the baby's bedroom. She has asthma and we keep all pets out of her room.

I just bought a book on Keeshonden, and a training guide...How did you train them to stay out of the baby's room? I think that's amazing, the woman who sold me the books said her parents had a Keeshond and they trained it to stay out of the kitchen!

Thank you so much!
Dani

Havent heard of that sort of breed...does anyone have a pic so I know what you all are talking about!!!!!!

Here you go! Keeshond Pictures

They are 17-19 inches tall and weigh around 40 pounds. They're soo cute!

Oh yes! Can see why you want one

Soooo cute and fluffy!!!!

They look like big Pomeranians

Well I just would not let them in there when we were hanging out and finally they would get the picture-- I just would point my finger toward the door and say out!! My shih tzu was the hardest to train-- now she sits outside of the door and stares at you-- LOL The golden retriever sheds so bad and I hated all of that hair in her room so when we got new carpet I just made it a rule. I did keep the door closed at first but now that they are used to it, no big deal. It has been about 3 years and no dogs in there. My dogs do listen to me for the most part. They respect me, I am kind and nice to them but they get reminded that they are dogs : ) I don't yell or anything but if they are doing something I just give them a EH or OT!

Thanks for that bit of information! I have to admit, my family has never been big on pet discipline. LOL I just bought my first book on dog training, and it's really interesting. The stuff on Small Dogs vs. Medium and Large Dogs was REALLY fascinating for me, I had never heard of that kind of discipline for a little dog before. One of my parents former neighbors had a couple of Australian Cattle Dogs and she had them trained perfectly...when she would only let them on one spot in the living room, or some other rule she had for them I thought she was being really strict and mean....I never said that to her, though! But it really does make sense now. LOL I'm like, "Oh, this makes sense! I can do this!"

Dani

I've joined two groups on Yahoo! and am making friends...I'm very glad to have those conctacts for when the time comes for Zach and I to get our new puppy!! Won't be for at least a year, but I'm so excited! LOL With the way things are going at this point, Zach won't be able to hold out for a year...he can't stand to disappoint me and seeing me so excited is driving him crazy.

This thread is old, but I didn't want to start a new one on the same topic, so here we go again...

In April, Zach and I went to a parade that the Pacific Crest Keeshond Club was walking in. It was great, we met a lot of really nice people, and they gave us the name of a breeder not too far from us in Canada. Well, I sent her an email and she invited us to a dog show. So I went on June 27th. It was fantastic, I met several breeders and actually, the woman I had been writing to told one of her colleagues that I was coming so she brought a couple of older dogs that she is placing in homes. They're both females; Spice is 5 years old and Ruby is 6 months old. Unfortunately, I fell in love with Ruby but I don't have the money for her. That's why I want to sell some of my gemstones...see this thread. I have to come up with $500 by August 16.

Of course, it really wouldn't be the end of the world if I didn't adopt Ruby, but it just seems like the ideal situation. She's almost fully potty trained, she's crate trained and such a sweetheart. And she's young enough that we could teach her the birds are off-limits.

Oh well, if it's meant to be it will happen. Right?