|
The Keeshond Breed Standard
The Keeshond - An Illustrated Breed Standard
Presented below are both the written Breed Standard, as approved by The Kennel Club, and The Keeshond Clubs’ own Illustrated Breed Standard, which comprehensively describes through text, drawings and photographs the individual elements of the written Standard.
When viewing the Illustrated Breed Standard, it should be remembered, that the photographs used in each instance are not meant to depict the 'perfect dog'. Rather, they are considered by breed specialists to be typical examples of the breed.
Clicking the  icon below each individual point of the written standard will display, in Adobe, the relevant section of the Illustrated Breed Standard. If Adobe Reader is required this free software software can be downloaded from here.
Purchase a copy
Although the Illustrated Breed Standard is presented here as a series of print disabled Adobe documents this invaluable information, as a handy pocket companion, can be purchased from The Keeshond Club. Please click here for further details.
The Keeshond Breed Standard
General Appearance
Short, compact body, confident carriage. Fox-like head with small, pointed ears, alert expression, large ruff, well feathered tail curled over back.
Characteristics
Sturdy, intelligent and adaptable, ideal companion, good guard, shows boldly.
Temperament
Bold, alert, friendly with marked guarding tendency.
Head and Skull
Well proportioned, wedge shaped when seen from above; from side showing definite stop. Dark muzzle equal to length of flat skull. Neither coarse nor snipey. Nose black.
Eyes
Dark, medium size, almond shaped, obliquely set. Well defined "spectacles" as a delicately pencilled black line slanting from outer corner of eye to lower corner of ear, coupled with distinct marking and shading forming expressive short eyebrows.
Ears
Dark, small, ivy-leafed in shape. Erect, velvety texture. Well set on head, neither too wide nor meeting.
Mouth
Jaws strong, with a perfect regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Lips black.
Neck
Moderately long and arched, covered with thick, profuse coat forming large ruff.
Forequarters
Shoulders well sloped. Straight front of medium width with good bone.
Body
Short, compact; length from the withers to tail equal to height at withers, well sprung in rib. Good depth of brisket.
Hindquarters
Strong muscled, hindlegs straight when viewed from behind. Hock showing slight angulation when viewed from side, profuse light coloured trousers down to hocks.
Feet
Well padded, round, cat-like, tight, cream in colour; black nails.
Tail
Moderately long, high set, tightly curled over back, double curl highly desirable. Light plume on top where curled, with black tip, carried closely at all times.
Gait/Movement
Clean, brisk, straight and sharp.
Coat
Harsh, off standing, straight. Dense ruff, well feathered forelegs and profuse trousers, not feathered below hock. Soft, thick light-coloured (not tawny) undercoat. Never silky, wavy or woolly, nor forming a parting on the back. Any shortening of the coat which alters the natural outline should be penalised, with the exception of feet and pasterns which may be lightly trimmed.
Colour
A mixture of grey and black. Undercoat very pale grey or cream (not tawny). All shades of grey acceptable, body hairs black tipped. Shoulder markings well defined and all markings definite. Forelegs and hocks cream with no black below wrist or hock. Pencilling accepted.
Size
Ideal height: Dogs 45.7 cm (18 inches); Bitches 43.2 cm (17 inches)
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum
Acknowledgements
- The Keeshond Breed Standard
Copyright © The Kennel Club
Reprinted with kind permission of The Kennel Club
- The Keeshond - An Illustrated Breed Standard
Copyright © The Keeshond Club
The whole publication or extracts thereof are not to be reproduced without the permission of The Keeshond Club.
The Keeshond Club gratefully acknowledges
Mrs. Jeane Waller, for providing some of the drawings used in the publication.
Sally Anne Thompson, for the photographs featured on the front cover and used within the Illustrated Breed Standard.
Page Last Updated: November 2007
|
