Friday, December 21, 2018

Could The Keeshond Be The Right Pet For You And Your Family

By Donna Lee


If you're a dog lover, you probably have a favorite breed or two. The popularity of breeds changes over time, but today many favor Labs and teacup miniatures. These are not by any means the only breeds out there though. Anyone looking for a pet that will have people taking notice and asking questions, should consider the Keeshond. Not only are they show stoppers, they are lovable, intelligent, and family friendly.

This breed has been around for hundreds of years. They originated in Holland where they were raised to keep barge and boat rowers company, and to serve as guard dogs. This is the reason they are still known as Dutch Barge Dogs. The dogs are cousins to Pomeranians, Chows, and several other breeds. They are still Holland's favorite dog. Barge Dogs were not bred in America until the late 1920s and were registered with the American Kennel Club in 1930.

Barges make good apartment dogs even with their heavy coats and massive, plumed tails. They reach a height of around eighteen inches and weight about 45 pounds when fully mature. The adult males are a little taller and about five pounds heavier than the females.

Barges love people. They especially devoted to their families and love to be included in family activities. These dogs are extremely smart and so willing to please that most owners don't have much trouble training them to respond to basic commands. Most Barges do not lack for personality and will show off at the drop of a hat. Spinning in a circle at the sight of their owners is a common occurrence with these lovable pups.

Barges are a generally healthy breed. They are inclined to have certain conditions and diseases like all animals. You should familiarize yourself with the kinds of health issues a dog is prone to before committing to any pet. Barges can develop Addison's Disease. They may also suffer from diabetes, hip dysplasia, and Von Willebrand's Disease.

These dogs can live almost anywhere, including boats, as long as they have plenty of company. If they are left alone for long periods of time, they have a tendency to bark, which will annoy your neighbors and stress out your pet. If you want a dog to run alongside you for extended distances, this is not the animal for you. Barges need only minimal exercise and can become overheated with too much exercise. Because of their heavy coats, they love the cold, and have to be protected from the heat.

You'll be pleasantly surprised to learn that this breed is fairly easy to maintain. Even though they have double coats and an undercoat, matting really isn't a problem as long as they are brushed a couple times a week. They shed intensely twice a year.

The professionals say you should not have them shaved in the summer, even though they can't tolerate much heat. Their coats are insulators which actually help protect them from the summer sun. The coats also help prevent sunburn.




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