New Zealand Keeshond Breed Standard

Note: If someone from New Zealand would help me, I am looking to add a photo of one of New Zealand's top winning dogs.


Multi BISS Champion Bargeway Firestorm
GENERAL APPEARANCE
A short, compact body, alert carriage, foxlike head; small pointed ears; a well-feathered, curling tail, carried over the back, hair very thick on the neck, forming a large ruff; head, ears and legs covered with short thick hair. Dogs should move cleanly and briskly (not lope like a German Shepherd) but movement should be straight and sharp. Dogs should show boldly.

HEAD AND SKULL
Head well proportioned to the body, wedge-shaped when seen from above; from the side showing definite stop. Muzzle should be of medium length, neither coarse nor snipy.

EYES
Dark with well-defined spectacles.

EARS
Small and well set on head, not wide and yet not meeting.

MOUTH
Should be neither over nor undershot, upper teeth should just overlap under teeth and should be white, sound and strong (but discolouration from distemper not to penalize severely).

FORQUARTERS
Forelegs feathered, straight, with good bone and cream in colour.

HINDQUARTERS
Hind legs should be straight, showing very little hock and not feathered below the hock. Cream in colour.

FEET
Round and cat-like with black nails.

TAIL
Tightly curled, a double curl at the end is desirable. Plume to be white on the top where curled, with black tip.

COAT
Dense, and harsh (off-standing), dense ruff and well feathered, profuse trousers; a soft, thick, light-coloured undercoat. Coat should not be silky, wavy or woolly, nor should it form a parting on the back.

COLOUR
Should be wolf, ash-grey; not all black or all white, and markings should be definite.

WEIGHT and SIZE
The ideal height is 45.7 cm (18 in) for dogs and 43.2 cm (17 in) for bitches, but type is of more importance.

FAULTS
Light eyes, prominent eyes. Curly or wavy tendency in coat. Silky coat. Absence of spectacles. Nervous demeanour. Drop ears. Whole white foot or feet. Black marks below the knee, pencilling excepted. White chest. Apple head or absence of stop.

NOTE
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.


Prepared by:
Kathy Stewart



Home | FAQ | About Us | News | Our dogs | Ancestors | Puppies | Older dogs | Fun | Genetics | Articles | Links | Contact | Site map |


All rights reserved. © 1998 - 2010 Klompen Keeshonden. This and subsequent pages may be reproduced, but only with permission from Kathy Stewart.