An Introduction to the Keeshond

The Keeshond (plural is Keeshonden) is an extremely affectionate dog that tends to get along wonderfully with people and with other pets in the household. They are a medium sized dog, weighing about thirty-five to forty-five pounds and stand at seventeen to eighteen inches tall.

The Keeshond History – Dog of the Patriots

The world almost didn’t get to enjoy this great companion dog, though. It was in the late 1700s that the breed almost disappeared. The people of Holland dared to stand up to the royalists at about the same time the colonists in the New World were preparing to fight King George of England.

The Dutch commoners chose as their mascot a medium-sized dog that had served for centuries as the guard dog on barges and as a household companion. The leader of the Patriots had one of these dogs that followed him everywhere. The dog’s name was Kees.

The Patriots were not victorious and people were afraid to be seen with a dog that had stood for the rebellion, so these great dogs almost disappeared. Then in 1920 Baroness van Hardenbroek found a few of these dogs that had been kept in low profile by farmers and river boatmen. She used the fine individuals to bring the breed back.

The Baroness fought the attempt to change the name of the dog to German Spitz, and in 1925 the breed was officially changed to Keeshond (after the dog Kees, mentioned above, and the Dutch word for dog, “hond”). It is now the national dog of Holland.

The Keeshond’s Temperament

The Keeshond is very smart and such a great companion that it’s a bit of a mystery why it is not more popular in the United States. In 2006 they were ranked 93rd most popular dog by the AKC.

Like many dogs they want to be inside with their family instead of locked outdoors. They make great housedogs: playful, attentive, loving, content to take it easy, and yet ready for adventure. A daily walk and a play time is all they need each day to satisfy its needs for exercise.

They are also easily trained, friendly to everyone but yet an alert watchdog, and an excellent companion for children and adults. With their thick fur they can tolerate cold temperatures but cannot tolerate heat.

Like dogs such as Border Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs, the Keeshond has a double coat to keep them warm. This coat requires brushing once or twice a week and more often when shedding.

Unlike herding and hunting dogs the Keeshond is a general, all-purpose dog. An excellent watchdog, friendly and affectionate, they are a wonderful pet for any family who is looking for a dog to share their home.

Some interesting facts:

Energy level - 3 (out of 5)

Playfulness - 3

Affection level - 5

Friendliness towards strangers and household pets - 4

Ease of training - 3

Cold tolerance - 4

Heat tolerance - 1

Although not for the faint of heart, Irish Wolfhounds are strong, muscular, beautiful dogs that are usually even tempered and friendly. Originally they were used in Ireland to hunt wolves and Irish elk. But today they are a favorite among dog enthusiasts for their gentle disposition and commanding appearance.

The temperament of this dog breed is soft-natured and easygoing. They are calm around the house and patient. These qualities make them a good dog with children, pets, and other dogs.

History of the Breed

The Irish Wolfhounds in their earliest form were actually dogs that went to war and were trained to kill men and beasts. They were also used as guard dogs and as hunting dogs early on as well.

It is believed that their history has been long, perhaps even reaching all the way back to the first century BC. During the 19th century, when it became popular to give a number of these dogs as gifts to foreign royalty and as the wolf became extinct in Ireland, they almost became extinct.

Thankfully, Captain Graham began to breed Irish Wolfhounds with other breeds, such as Great Danes and Deerhounds, to keep the breed from dying out. This interbreeding led to variations in color and in a mellowing of the temperament as well.

Characteristics of Irish Wolfhounds

Although in history these dogs were used as war dogs and guard dogs, the Irish Wolfhound today does not make a great guard dog. While they do have a penchant to hunt, these dogs love people and require a great deal of interaction with the family.

The Irish Wolfhound is actually the tallest hound in the entire world and they are a stately and proud dog. Their coats feel rather rough to the touch, and they come in a variety of different colors, including brindle, pure white, red, brown, black, gray, and fawn.

They typically live to be about seven, although there are dogs that live to be as old as ten. Increasing numbers of breeders, however, are now selecting for longevity and this will hopefully increase the lifespan of the Irish Wolfhound in the future.
What Irish Wolfhounds Need

If you decide that you want to own an Irish Wolfhound, it is important that you take into consideration the special needs of these dogs and take care of them properly to promote the best health possible. They need plenty of room to stretch out and a daily long walk.

Irish Wolfhounds need to be with people and need plenty of interaction, so before you purchase one, you need to be sure that you have the time to properly take care of your dog.

It is important that you train your Irish Wolfhound well or he may get out of hand. Starting to train from the time your dog is a puppy will help you avoid problems later in the dog's life.

Having an Irish Wolfhound can bring a great deal of joy and pleasure to your life and these dogs make wonderful companions. If you are ready to invest some time in a dog, take care of a dog properly, and you want a dog that will keep you company, you may want to consider having an Irish Wolfhound as a pet.

Some more facts about this magnificent breed:

Energy level - 1 (out of 5)

Exercise requirement - 3

Watchdog ability - 3

Protection ability - 2

Cold tolerance - 4

Heat tolerance - 1

Affection level - 3

In 2006 Irish Wolfhounds were the 77nd most favorite dog in the United States according to the AKC (up from #83 the year before).

A healthy male will weigh a minimum of 120 pounds (many are much bigger) and a healthy female will weigh a minimum of 105 pounds (again, many are much bigger). The picture at right is of a three-month old puppy. At this young age he is already bigger than many full-grown dogs!
If you can imagine, the male is at least 32 inches tall at the withers! In case you would like a comparison, a Great Dane is 32-35 inches and a Newfoundland is about 28 inches. There are Irish Wolfhounds that are 37 inches at the withers!
The pictures on this page were graciously provided by Anne and Paul Vaudin. If you want to know more about Irish Wolfhounds, or would like to see more pictures, I highly recommend their Web site, Torteval Irish Wolfhounds.

Some people take one look at the fluffy, immaculately groomed Standard Poodles in the show ring and discount them as silly, shallow dogs. However, the Standard Poodle is considered by many people to be the most intelligent breed in the world, with the reasoning ability of a three year old child.

These dogs may look like lightweights in the show ring, but they were originally bred to work hard in the water. The Standard Poodle spent hours retrieving water fowl for hunters and the breed's dense coat helped protect it from the cold, damp working conditions.

Because the breed is not commonly used as a working dog today, The American Kennel Club classifies the Standard Poodle as part of the Non-Sporting Group. These dogs weigh 45 to 70 pounds and stand over 15 inches tall.

The Standard Poodle has a muscular body under all of that hair. Its ears are long and fold over close to the head and its eyes are dark brown and filled with intelligence. This dog's tail is docked and stands erect. The tail should not curve over the dog's back.

The Standard Poodle comes in a wide range of colors, including apricot, black, cream, red, blue, gray, silver, brown, parti-color, and white. Overall, the white and cream colored Standard Poodles seem to be a bit more high strung and nervous than other colors, while black Standard Poodles seem calmer.

The Standard Poodle does best in family settings and is extremely devoted to its family's children. This breed also is an excellent choice for families with more than one dog, as the Standard Poodle rarely meets a dog it doesn't like. If you have a cat, be prepared for your dog to rampage through the house as he gives chase, although when he finally catches up to the cat, he will just want to play.

If you live in an apartment, your dog will need to take a long walk or go for a romp in the park every day. These dogs can live in apartments, but do much better in a home with a fenced yard.

Because of its high intelligence, this breed enjoys learning and should attend puppy obedience classes. In addition, Standard Poodles need to be socialized as puppies, or their natural aloofness with strangers can turn to fear.

Your puppy will work hard during classes, because he will want to please you. If he can't figure out what you want him to do, he will wrinkle his brow and try again. If he still can't figure it out, he may start to get depressed and frustrated.

If this happens, give him a command that he already knows and after he joyously obeys he will be ready to try to learn the new command again. Many Standard Poodles and their owners go on to take advanced classes so that they can compete in obedience and agility trials.

The Standard Poodle breed has several common health problems. Addison's disease, hip dysplasia, and epilepsy problems are prevalent enough that many breeders actually screen their parent dogs to be sure they don't carry these genetic faults. Your dog could also suffer from renal disease, bloat, and skin problems.

Standard Poodles are big dogs and have big appetites. If you've never had a big dog before, be prepared for a noticeable increase in the grocery budget.

These dogs also should receive a daily vitamin. In addition, ask your veterinarian about giving your poodle a daily vitamin C tablet, which many veterinarians say can help decrease the chance of hip dysplasia.

If you do not want to spend time grooming a dog, don't buy a Standard Poodle. These dogs need to be brushed daily, and, with their large size, it can take an hour or more to thoroughly brush out a Standard Poodle's coat. Also, you will have to learn to cut your poodle's hair or you will need to take him to a professional groomer every six weeks.

The Standard Poodle is a fun loving, intelligent dog. If you don't mind brushing your dog instead of watching the news, this may be the breed for you.

Some more facts about the Standard Poodle:

Energy level - 3 (out of 5)

Exercise requirements - 4

Playfullness - 4

Friendliness towards other pets - 4

Ease of training - 5

Watchdog ability - 5

Protection ability - 4

Miniature and Standard Poodles need a lot of interaction with people. Like herding dogs, they also need mental challenges. They really enjoy a daily walk and a daily brief, but challenging, obedience or play session.

Poodles, both miniature and standard, are ranked 8th favorite dog breed in the United States (as of 2003), and are good with children.

More than one traveler stranded in the snowy Swiss Alps owes the ponderous Saint Bernard his life. Monks in the Alps actually developed this massive dog to be used as a rescue dog. The Saint Bernard breed is quite an old one, going back as far as the 1700s.

The American Kennel Club places the Saint Bernard in the Working Group. These big dogs weigh from one hundred twenty to two hundred pounds and stand twenty six to twenty eight inches tall. This breed can be short haired or it can have a long haired coat.

Originally, all Saint Bernards had a short haired coat, since snow did not stick to the short hair easily. However, when these dogs became popular as pets in Victorian England, Saint Bernard fanciers bred them to have longer hair. They also worked to make them bigger and bigger.

Unfortunately, some breeders today still are more concerned with appearance than they are with personality. Before buying a puppy, make sure that your prospective Saint Bernard's parents are outgoing and sweet tempered dogs.

Otherwise, you may end up with a fearful or aggressive dog. Please don't underestimate the importance of choosing a puppy with a good temperament.

The Saint Bernard is usually a gentle giant and plays well with children and other dogs. However, a young Saint Bernard and small children is usually a bad combination, since these dogs make awkward, clumsy puppies.

More than one toddler has been accidentally knocked down and injured when trying to play with a Saint Bernard puppy. Older dogs are usually more graceful and are careful not to knock children down.

The Saint Bernard does not do well in apartments or town homes. These dogs need a lot of room and are not happy without a home that has a fenced yard. If they do not have enough exercise, Saint Bernards tend to get into a lot of trouble. A bored puppy of this size can sure make a lot of damage.

Saint Bernards are loyal, loving dogs with a strong desire to please. However, their enormous size means that they can be hard to control.

You may want to consider enrolling your puppy in obedience classes while you still outweigh him. These classes will help you train him, but they also play another important role, socializing your puppy. He will meet plenty of strangers and their dogs in the classes.

Saint Bernards eat a sizable amount of food, so it is no surprise that feeding a Saint Bernard increases the grocery bill. Since this breed suffers from hip dysplasia, you may want to use a food that is formulated to help large breed puppies grow healthy and strong. Saint Bernards are also prone to heart disease and tumors.

Short haired Saint Bernards need very little grooming. Even long haired dogs don't require too much work, since they are not heavy matters. Just be sure you brush through your dog's hair once a week.

The Saint Bernard is a wonderful companion dog and a good family dog. As long as you don't mind having a dog who is bigger than most people, a Saint Bernard may be the right choice for you.

Some more facts:

Energy level - 2 (out of 5)

Affection level - 4

Friendliness towards other pets - 4

Ease of training - 3

Protection ability - 1

Cold tolerance - 5

Heat tolerance - 1

The Saint Bernard cannot tolerate heat, so if you live in a warm climate it would be better to get another kind of dog. They also cannot handle living in an apartment or townhome. They need lots of space, and a houes with a yard.