The Keeshond has a medium length coat that's made up of a thick and extremely waterproof outercoat and a denser, much softer undercoat. They shed quite heavily throughout the year, only more so during the Spring and then again in the Autumn when more frequent brushing is usually necessary to keep on top of things. They need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep things tidy. It’s worth noting that a Keeshond’s adult coat only grows through when dogs are between 18 months to 2 years old.
It's also important to check a dog's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax is allowed to build up in a dog's ears, it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short, prevention is often easier than cure when it comes to ear infections.
The Keeshond is an intelligent little dog and one that likes to be involved in everything that goes on around them. They need to be given a minimum of 20 to 40 minutes exercise a day and it has to include lots of mental stimulation for them to be truly happy, well rounded characters. When a Kees gets bored, they can quickly develop some unwanted behavioural issues and this includes being very destructive around the home.
A shorter walk in the morning would be fine, but a longer more interesting one in the afternoon is a must. These dogs also like to be able to roam around a back garden as often as possible so they can really let off steam. However, the fencing has to be extremely secure to keep these active, high energy dogs in because if they find a weakness in the fence, they will soon escape out and get into all sorts of trouble.
With this said, puppies should not be over exercised because their joints and bones are still growing. This includes not letting a dog jump up and down from furniture or going up or down the stairs. Too much pressure placed on their joints and spines at an early age could result in a dog developing serious problems later in their lives.
If you get a Kees puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.
Older dogs are not known to be fussy eaters, but this does not mean they can be fed a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.
