The
Keeshond is a member of
the Spitz Group and as
such has the highly
distinctive Spitz
characteristics of
upright ears, curled
tail, and alert
expression. The Spitz in
it's many forms is
believed to have
originated in Western
Asia from where they
spread to Siberia, China,
Japan and further west to
Europe.
It
is thought the ancestors
of the Dutch Keeshond and
it's German counterpart,
the Wolf Spitz,
originally came from the
north on ancient water
craft, certainly they
were already dogs of the
peasantry along the Rhine
River, one of the great
trade routes of Europe in
the 17th Century and
paintings of the time
show the type quite
clearly. The watch dogs
of the Rhineland and
Westphalian farms and
homesteads were valuable
assistants to the bargees
who made the long journey
along the waterways and
into the
Netherlands.
Since this traffic
continued over a long
period the Spitz dogs
became as much a part of
the Dutch rural scene as
they were in Germany.
They were used as watch
dogs in the home, on
farms and on boats and
barges.
The
name Keeshond appears to
have been derived from
the name Cornelius
(shortened to Kees) and
Hond, the Dutch word for
dog. The Cornelius
referred to was either
Cornelius De Witt, a
Dutch political leader
murdered in 1672 or
Cornelius de Gyselaer,
leader of the Dutch
Patriots Party in the mid
1700's in their struggle
against the Prince of
Orange - or possibly
both, as each man was
reputed to own a Keeshond
and in each case the dog
is supposed to have been
taken as a symbol
representing the ordinary
people of the time.
The
close link between the
Keeshond and the Patriots
Party almost proved the
dog's downfall. Being so
much in the public view
as the Patriot symbol,
when the Prince of Orange
established his party as
the dominant one, few
people wanted to be
associated with the dog
that stood for the losing
side! Many Keeshonds were
quietly disposed of, with
only a few people
maintaining the breed.
The
19th Century bought
speedier methods of
transport and less demand
for the barge dogs, but
it was also the time of
increased interest in
systematic breeding and
organised dog shows -
below is a little about
the Keeshond in
Holland/England/Ireland
in date order and dates
of arrival in other
countries in those early
days.
HOLLAND
The
revival of the Keeshond
in Holland is generally
credited to Miss J.G. van
der Blom, who was
actively associated with
the breed in Holland,
Germany and England over
a number of years. She
showed her first Keeshond
in 1891 at an Amsterdam
show and over a number of
years imported dogs from
Germany for showing and
breeding. Later Miss van
der Blom tried to start a
branch of the German
Spitz Club in Holland,
but the Dutch fanciers
preferred to be
independent and the first
Dutch Keeshond Club was
formed in 1924.
ENGLAND
When
the breed was first
introduced into England
they were known as Dutch
Barge Dogs. The first two
arrived in 1905 bought by
Mrs. Wingfield-Digby
while on a trip through
Holland. From that time
she continued to breed
occasionally and import
dogs from Holland and
Germany, but it was not
until after the 1st World
War that she thought
seriously about
campaigning for the
breed.
1923
The
first Dutch Barge Dogs
were shown. They were
Mrs. Wingfield-Digby's
dogs "Breda"
and "Saanie."
1925
The
Dutch Barge Dog Club was
formed, but the next year
the name was changed to
the Keeshond Club at the
request of the English
Kennel Club because that
was the name the dogs
were known by in Holland
and it was also decided
to anglicise the plural
form to
"Keeshonds"
rather than the Dutch
plural of Keeshonden.
1928
The
first challenge
certificates were granted
by the Kennel Club in
England and the winning
dog was Bartel van
Zandaam who was bred by
E. Schmidt and recorded
at the time as being
owned by Mrs. J. Moore.
The Bitch challenge
certificate was won by
Wachter Berner, bred by
B. Rubesheim and owned by
Mrs. F. Morton.
Mrs. Alice Gatacre, a
Dutch breeder, moved from
the province of
Guelderland to England
after her marriage. From
her Guelder kennels came
foundation stock for
early British, American
and Canadian breeders.
1929
"CH.
DOCHFOUR HENDRIK" The
first English Keeshond
Champion - Owner Baroness
Burton
1933
The
first BREED Specialty
Show was held at
Tattersalls.
1957
"CH
VOLRIJK of VORDEN" -
Mrs.
Tucker's home-bred
Keeshond became
the first and only
Keeshond to date to win
Best in Show at Crufts
over what was a world
record entry at the time
of 6,562 dogs.
In the same year she also
won Best in Show at the
Ayr Championship Show.
*In
her show career
"Volrijk"
shattered all breed
records by collecting 24
CC's at 25 successsive
championship shows and
was Best of All Breeds in
18 of them, topping her
sensational career with
the Supreme Champion
Award (BIS) at Crufts.
IRELAND
1932
The
Keeshond made it's first
official appearance at
the Irish Kennel Club
Show in Dublin. The first
breeder of Keeshonds in
Ireland was Mrs.
Savell-Hicks.
1935
"Peter
of Cherry Mount" won
Best Exhibit in Show at
the Royal Ulster Show in
Belfast.
THE
KEESHOND ARRIVED IN THESE
COUNTRIES IN THE
FOLLOWING YEARS
America in 1926 imported
by Mr. C. Hinderer.
Canada in 1929 imported
by Miss M Butler.
Australia in 1949
imported by Mrs. C.
Bourne
( see seperate web page
for Australian History)
Sweden in 1950
South Africa circa 1951
Norway in 1966
New Zealand in 1950
Keeshond
Books
For
anyone interested in finding out
more about the Keeshond and its
History,
the following books may be of
interest -
The
Keeshond. 1938 - Alice Gatacre (out
of print, but occasional copies
can sometimes come on to the
market)
The Complete Keeshond - 1971 -
Clementine Peterson (also
out of print but sometimes copies
do become available)
The Keeshond - 1984 - Anna
Katherine Nicholas
The
New Complete Keeshond - 1987 -
Carol and Ron Cash
History
(c) by Anne Jellett
Western Australia 2003
"CH.
DOCHFOUR HENDRIK"
"CH
VOLRIJK of VORDEN" -
Mrs.
Tucker's home-bred
Keeshond became
the first and only
Keeshond to date to win
Best in Show at Crufts
over what was a world
record entry at the time
of 6,562 dogs. 
