Page 34 - Absolute Final 13 Spring 2025 Newsletter

Keeshonden love people and adore their human
families. Being with them is the most important thing
in their lives, ranking far higher in importance than food
and treats. Don’t go thinking you can palm him off with
a sausage; it’s your company and attention he wants
and needs far more (and we all know how much he
likes a sausage). Keesies are bred to be companion
animals so should be fully involved in their owner’s
lives not left for hours stuck in a cage - whether day or
night - for your convenience. If you can’t commit to
that, then they’re not the breed for you. But, if you can, you will be rewarded
with real devotion that lasts a lifetime.
In the American Kennel Club ‘affection ranking’ they score the full 5/5 and are
often seen as the classic ‘Velcro dogs’; little grey shadows that will follow you
around at every opportunity and give you a gentle tap or nudge when it’s time
for a bit of attention.

You wouldn’t get a gnat tying his bootlace without Mr
Kees knowing if it was happening in his back yard.
Nothing gets past his telescopic eye and bionic ear
even when he appears to be deep in slumber. If you
attempted to hover in on a cloud he’d smell you; this
chap can scent a liver square upwind at 100 yards -
or thereabouts.
Consequently - they love scent work training and
mantrailing activities.

Keeshonden have the emotional intelligence to understand and judge us and
our behaviour. They are able to discern kindness and fair play in humans and,
when given a choice, will gravitate towards people who display these qualities.
You’ll find that if members of the family are having a go at each other, the resident
Keesie will often be able to sum the situation up and, by his expression,
communicate to those involved if he feels they are sitting on the moral high
ground on this one, or should in fact step back and apologise. Watch him, and
you’ll see what I mean.

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