This is about a breed of
dog called Keeshond. First a little history about the breed. The Keeshond has an arctic origin. In the eighteenth century
the Keeshond was known as "a dog of the people." In its veins runs the blood of the Samoyed, Chow Chow, Elkhound,
and Pomeranian. At the beginning of the French Revolution, it became the symbol of the common and middle-class Dutchmen who
were led by the patriot Kees de Gyselaer. The breed then suffered a long period of neglect. They were first introduced into
the UK by Mrs. Wingfield-Digby and did not become popular again until 1920, when it arrived in the US. This typical Spitz
type breed was used to guard canal boats. It became known as the Dutch Barge Dog, although in Victorian England it was perhaps
rather unkindly referred to as the overweight pomeranians. Keeshonden are compact little animals with a strong resemblance
to its ancestor the Samoyed, with oblique chestnut eyes, erect triangular ears, and its medium-length tail rolled on its back.
It has a cream or pale gray undercoat and a luxurious outer coat that comes in shades of gray with black tips and stands away
from the body. Its coat always appears to have just been washed and combed. The markings are quite definite and there are
definate pale spectacles around its eyes.
