Keeshond (kāsˈhŏnd) [key] (pl. Keeshonden), breed of medium-sized nonsporting dog raised in Holland for several hundred years and introduced into England in the year 1900. It stands about 18 in. (46 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 32 to 40 lb (14.5–18.1 kg). Its weather-resistant double coat consists of a thick, downy underlayer and an abundant, straight, harsh topcoat that stands out from the body. The undercoat is gray or cream-colored, and the outer hairs are black-tipped. Undoubtedly of Arctic origin, the Keeshond is related to the Norwegian elkhound, the Samoyed, the chow chow, and, most closely, the Pomeranian. In Holland it was so common a sight in the barges on the Dutch canals that it was first registered in England under the name "Dutch barge dog." The Keeshond is raised as a pet and watchdog. See dog.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
More on Keeshond from Fact Monster:
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Dogs