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FOREQUARTERS
Shoulders well sloped. Straight front of medium width with good bone.
Shoulders well sloped;
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Correct shoulders
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Incorrect shoulders,
upper arm to short
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Ideally, the shoulders of a Keeshond should be well sloped. The angle of the Scapula (shoulder blade) being approximately 45 degrees to the vertical and 110 degrees to the humerus (upper arm).
The length of the scapula and humerus should be approximately equal. Too short a humerus would alter the angle between it and the scapula, causing the dog to be too upright in shoulder. Often upright shoulders, will also result in the dog having the appearance of too little neck.
Straight front of medium width with good bone;
Forelegs must be straight when viewed from any angle when standing. The forelegs should come down in a perfectly straight column to the pasterns. Pasterns should be firm and slightly sloping to accommodate the typical Keeshond 'spring and bounce'. Feet should point forwards at all times, turning neither in nor out.
As the standard stipulates, the front should be of 'medium width'. Ideally, the width between the forelegs should be such that one could comfortably fit ones hand into the space and feel the brisket with the palm of one hand.
'Good bone' means exactly that. This statement does not mean that you should expect to find bone which would not look out of place on a Shire horse, nor are fine, spindly legs acceptable. Preferably the bone should be good, round and in proportion to the overall dog.
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Good front of
medium width
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Incorrect, too
narrow in front
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Incorrect, ‘fiddle front’
note feet turn outwards
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Incorrect, feet
turn inwards
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FAULTS
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Upright shoulders.
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Insufficient width between front legs.
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Lack of bone.
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Weak pasterns.
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Feet turning either in or out.
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The Breed Standard
Copyright © The Kennel Club
Reproduced with their permission
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The Illustrated Breed Standard
Copyright © The Keeshond Club
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Page Last Updated: February 2010
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