k ees h ond
Q&A
square-appearing dog—this does not mean they have to be square, this means they need to have a short back and short loin. Our breed is unique in as much as, not many standards call for a well-rounded barrel dog. Please remember coat color, coat length and length of neck can trick the eye as to the actual size of the dog. CAROLYN SHALDECKER
weighed down by the snow and rain instead of the rain and snow falling off the outer guard coat. Remember our breed standard states under Faults: “Trimming other than as described is to be severely penalized.” 7. Can you describe Keeshond movement? The Keeshond should move straight when coming towards you at a sharp brisk pace converging slightly as the speed increases—with neither a narrow front or pinched front or excessively wide front. Moving away, you should be able to see the back of pads and the hocks should be moving in a parallel direction, as the speed increases you should see a slight convergence. The Keeshond is a double tracking dog with slight conver- gence towards a center line as the speed increases. Remember moderation, the Keeshond movement should be moderate as viewed from the side, gating should be brisk and balanced, moving efficiently. A Keeshond should not have a mincing or swinging motion when moving, nor be pounding in the front. 8. Is there anything Keeshond handlers do you wish they would not? I wish handlers would not race their dogs around the ring. The Keeshond should move at a nice moderate pace, on a loose lead, as they are a moderate moving dog with moderate reach and drive. 9. Name a dog not currently being shown that exempli- fies your ideal type. Over the years there have been several dogs that, I feel, have exemplified breed type. It is difficult for me to single out one particular dog. 10. Anything else you’d like to add? The Keeshond Standard is very vague on many points; this leaves a lot open for interpretation as to what the ide- al Keeshond should be. Our standard specifically states our keeshond head should have a wedge-shaped head, It is important to make sure you put your hands on the top of the dog’s head and pushing back the ears to check for that wedge. The top skull should be the same length as the muzzle or slightly less than the top skull. Remember you are looking for that wedge. Spectacles are one of the hallmarks of the breed and must be present to some degree, the spectacles are enhanced by the black eye rim pigmentation, NOT pink, grey or liver. When judging the Keeshond you need to make sure you get your hands underneath the coat to really see what is dog and what is hair. Hair can hide a lot of faults. The Keeshond is a “the keeshond is A sQuAre-AppeAring dog THIS DOES NOT MEAN THEY HAVE TO BE SQUARE...”
1. Please tell us about your back- ground in Keeshonden, including kennel name, highlights, judg- ing experience. We’d also like to know where you live and what you do outside of dogs. I have been involved with Keeshon- den since 1978. I bred several litters under the kennel name “Imagine” producing a number of champions
and a few specialty winners along the way. I became eli- gible to judge the Keeshond breed with the AKC in 2007. My most memorable judging assignment to date is as one of the judges for the Keeshond Club of America 75th Anniversary National Specialty in 2010. It was truly an honor as a newer judge to have been asked to judge such a memorable event by a vote of my peers. I am currently very involved in several of the companion events (agility, obedience, nosework) with my dogs. I have lived in Iowa the majority of my life and currently live outside Solon, IA with my husband, Vernon. When not involved with dog activities, I am employed at a food ingredient distributorship in quality assurance and enjoy spending time with our two grown sons and their families who live nearby. We stay very busy following the activities of our five granddaughters. 2. What five traits do you look for, in order, when judging Kees? What do you consider the ultimate hallmark of the breed? When judging the Keeshond I look for balance in sil- houette, strength and balance in structure, soundness in movement, depth and definition in the headpiece and clear dramatic coat color. The hallmark of the breed is their expressive head and dramatically marked coat. 3. Do you see incorrect color or coats, including excessive trimming, in the breed? is rare that one would see an incorrect colored Kees- hond in the ring. Coat texture has improved, but one might occasionally come across an exhibit or two with softer, cottony coats. Our veteran dogs will have a softer coat texture in general (if spayed or neutered), but the same texture should not be found in the younger dogs. I would say that trimming is more under control. It has not ceased altogether, let’s be realistic, but the butcher whacking and sculpting at least has gone more by the wayside.
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