Page 20 - Oct 16 Breed Standard.pub

Coat Colour

A dramatically marked dog, the Keeshond is a mixture of grey, black and cream. The colouration may vary from light to
dark. The hair on the outer coat (guard hair) is black tipped, the length of the black tips producing the characteristic shading
of the colour. Puppies are often less intensely marked. The undercoat is very pale grey or cream, never tawny.

“Dramatically marked” means obvious markings with distinct contrast. Shoulder line markings should be well
defined. The colour of the ruff and trousers must be lighter than that of the body. Hair on the Keeshond is
generally black tipped. Darker looking dogs have more length of black tipping than lighter colour dogs do. The
degree of light or dark is irrelevant as long as the required markings are present.
The undercoat is thick and downy. It may be very pale grey or the colour of fresh cream. Light undercoat is
preferred to get the dramatic markings.

Puppy undercoats may also tend to have a darker cream colour on the head and around the ears this is not a
fault. Usually this will clear between 10 and 14 months of age

It should be noted that a Keeshond will darken with age.