Kooikerhondje

The Kooikerhondje is a spaniel-type dog, bred to hunt waterfowl. It was developed in the Netherlands several centuries ago, and is well-known in that country. Now it is treasured as a family pet, an excellent watchdog, and is also used in search and rescue. It is believed to be the ancestor of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. This medium-sized dog is sturdy, strong and compact. It possesses an exceptional scenting ability and easily maneuvers in various difficult terrains such as swamp and thorny underbrush. The back is just slightly longer than the height; this gives the dog a long appearance, rather than square. The Kooikerhondje stands an average 14 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder, and weighs an average 20 to 24 pounds. It has a well-developed musculature and the stamina to work all day in the field. Its ribs are well-sprung, allowing for good lung capacity. It may have dewclaws removed. The tail is natural, heavily plumed with white feathering. The ears are large and pendulous, wide and rounded at the ends; this breed has a characteristic black tipping in the feathering at the ends of the ears, and at the base of the ears this is known as "earrings."� The longer or more pronounced the earrings, the more valued the individual for breeding. The eyes are round, alert in expression and are dark brown. The coat of the Kooikerhondje is of medium length, straight or slightly wavy. The color is a deep, rich red and white, in any pattern. Ears, tail, underside, and legs are lightly feathered. The coat is double; the outer coat is soft to the touch, very thick and has a pronounced water-proof quality, and deflects dirt and debris. The under coat is dense and woolly. Duck "tolling"� is a type of duck-hunting where the dog performs some action along the shore of the water that peaks the curiosity of the ducks and lures them in close enough to catch. In the case of the Kooikerhondje, this dog walked alongside the water, back and forth, feathered tail waving, so that he could be seen periodically moving along the shore by the ducks. The hunter waited in a blind. Eventually, curiosity got the better of the ducks and they were lured in far enough to swim into a trap a sort of pipe canal with a cage at the end, called "koois,"� , where the waterfowl could then be caught by the hunter, who was known as the "Kooiker"� ("decoy man"�). It is thought that the ancestor dogs of all the modern hunting and gun dogs were domesticated by 7000 BC. Around the coastlines of what is now Europe and the British Isles, ancient man hunted accompanied by these dogs. By the Mesolithic Age, these dogs were essential partners in the procuring of food for survival. By the Renaissance era in Europe these "spaniel-type"� dogs were depicted in tapestries and paintings of nobility. The Dutch masters often included a small red and white decoy type dog. Specific documentation of the Kooikerhondje comes in 1572, when William of Orange's Kooikerhondje woke him to warn him of a pending assassination attempt, and saved his life.During the 17th and 18th centuries, duck tolling was the most common method of procuring waterfowl, and the Kooikerhondje was in wide use. But by the beginning of the 19th century, duck decoys fell out of fashion, and so did the Kooikerhondje. By 1939, fanciers suspected that only 25 still existed. After the Second World War, a fanatical dog fancier and breeder, Baroness van Hardenbroek van Ammerstol, started a breeding program to revive the breed, and she was spectacularly successful. The Dutch have kept a stud book from 1942, recording all Kooikerhondje litters and even health information. The Dutch Kennel Club Recognized the breed in 1966. The Kooikerhondje is little known outside the Netherlands even today. A little was first born in the United States in 1999, and the Kooikerhondje was listed with the American Kennel Club's Foundation Stock Service in 2004. The Kooikerhondje is well known for its friendly, affectionate nature and can make an exceptional family companion. It is not given to excessive barking, but will alert the household to approaching visitors. It was bred to be a working dog, and has a moderate to high need for daily vigorous exercise. Without this outlet, it may become neurotic and destructive. A fenced yard is ideal for the Kooikerhondje, with the addition of daily walks outside the home territory an activity essential for mental health in an active dog. This breed should be leashed during walks, as the strong hunting instinct could cause it to bolt after prey into traffic.The coat of the Kooikerhondje deflects weather, mud and debris and stays fairly clean. However, it should be brushed several times a week to prevent matting, which can become a source of continuous pain for the dog and can instigate skin infections. Brushing also removes debris and parasites from the coat, along with dead fur. The Kooikerhondje is a moderate shedder. The ears of this breed are shaped in such a way that they can easily harbor parasites or infection. They should be checked at minimum once a week for signs of mites or ear infection. Neglecting these conditions can result in permanent damage to the hearing apparatus. The Kooikerhondje is a fairly healthy breed, but some disorders have begun to show up in the breed, including Von Willebrand's disease, epilepsy, cataracts, patellar luxation and hereditary necrotizing myelopathy a degenerative disease of the muscles. The average lifespan of this breed is 12 to 14 years. This breed can be reserved with strangers but is generally friendly with everyone it knows. It gets along well with other dogs and with other household pets. The Kooikerhondje has a very watchful and suspicious streak, that enables it to function as an exceptional watchdog. It can occasionally be sensitive to correction and even to excessive play. Caution should be used when introducing this dog to youngsters. Training is fairly easy with this intelligent, inquisitive dog, but if it is bored or distracted, its focus can wander. But with patience, consistency and positive methods, this breed can be trained to a high level of performance. Besides hunting with the Kooikerhondje, the owner of this breed may enjoy scenting and tracking trials, search and rescue, water dog competitions, and obedience trials.

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