Of course, we, the members of the Southern California Keeshond Club, think that Keeshonden are wonderful, even perfect pets, but no breed is right for everyone. Check below to see if the Keeshond is the right breed for you:
Pros:
Cons:
Affectionate, good-natured, great with children Needs attention, needs to be with you and the family, not a good backyard dog
Friendly, known as the “smiling Dutchman” Will want to jump on and play with guests
Playful and happy temperament, good sense of humor and fun Will want you or another dog to play with them
Clever and intelligent Mischievous, may get into trouble if bored
Doesn’t need a big yard for exercise Likes to climb on furniture and may run around energetically inside the house (especially young dogs)
Doesn’t require frequent bathing, little or no doggy smell Requires regular brushing (many people find this a relaxing pastime, however)
Usually sheds moderately – daily vacuuming not required Once or twice a year, will shed his or her undercoat, which comes out in handfuls producing “dust bunnies”
Good watchdog Can be a barker, especially if left alone
Adult dogs:
There are a number of purebred Keeshonden available for adoption to good homes. For pictures and descriptions of these dogs, as well as information on how to adopt a dog, contact the Southern California Keeshond Rescue (Susan McCoy) at 805-527-4096 or www.foreverkees.org
Puppies:
KCSC strongly recommends that you acquire a puppy from a reliable breeder. To ensure that only the best dogs are used for breeding, reliable breeders exhibit their dogs in AKC Conformation Shows where they are evaluated for soundness of structure and conformation to breed standards. By carefully breeding show-quality dogs to other show-quality dogs, the health and quality of the breed can be maintained. Not all pedigreed dogs are breeding quality! Breeding non-show-quality dogs increases the incidence of health problems such as painful arthritis. Even though you may just want a pet puppy and not a show dog, we still recommend buying from a show breeder as your best chance to get a healthy puppy with a good temperament. Do NOT buy a puppy from:
  • a pet store. Pet stores usually buy from puppymills, which breed litter after litter for maximum profit regardless of the health of the animals. For more information on puppymills, see critterhaven.org and nopuppymills.com
  • a newspaper ad, unless the breeder can show that he or she is a member of their local breed club, most of the ancestors in the puppy's pedigree are AKC champions for at least four generations (preferably, the sire and dam should be AKC champions), and you verify that the dam and sire are certified as free of hip dysphasia with the OFA - Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. (Click here to verify OFA numbers.) CERF - Canine Eye Registration Foundation - certification is also recommended. (Click here to check CERF numbers.)

The KCSC Breeders Committee can provide more information on available puppies. All KCSC members have agreed to abide by the Keeshond Club of America's Breeders' Code of Ethics. (KCSC provides breeder information for reference only and not as a recommendation. Remember that dogs are living creatures and no one can guarantee they will be free of health problems.)
Commitee member Kennel Name City Phone Email
Kris Arnds Winsome Mission Viejo (949) 586-5989 karnds@aol.com
Jan Corrington Kemont Claremont (909) 626-6962 jacorrin@verizon.net
Tawn Sinclair Shoreline Malibu (310) 457-3569 tawnsinclr@aol.com
Are you sure you want a puppy?
Puppies are adorable and fun. It is fascinating to watch them grow and get to know their unique personalities. And it is very rewarding to nurture their loving, trusting young spirits as the bond between you develops. But all puppies, of all breeds, require a great amount of work. No matter what breed of puppy you have, you should be prepared for:
  • Play time – Puppies need to play with you or another dog. Puppy energy and behavior can last two years or more. Adult dogs are much calmer and require less playtime and physical activity-type attention.
  • House-breaking – This could take just a few weeks or it may take months.
  • Teething – Puppies lose baby teeth and grow adult teeth just like human children. During that time, they are particularly likely to chew anything they can get hold of.
  • Socializing – Puppies do not come out of the box knowing human rules or language. Be prepared to teach them what they are and are not allowed to do.
  • Training – Take your puppy to puppy obedience classes. Most classes are held once a week for 6 to 8 weeks. Your puppy will benefit from continual reinforcement so he doesn’t forget the skills he learned in class.
  • Grooming – Train your puppy to be used to grooming. Handle them: play with their paws, mouths, and ears, turn them on their backs, etc. Brush them, trim their toenails, bathe them, and brush their teeth.
  • Crates, toys, chews, vet visits – These are the usual expenses of owning a puppy.