KEESHOND

Keeshond. also called Dutch Barge Dog, breed of dog long kept on Dutch barges as a guard and companion. Originally a dog kept by working-class people, the Keeshond was the symbol of the 18th-century Dutch Patriots Party. It derived its present name from a dog, Kees, belonging to Kees de Glyselaer, the leader of the Patriots. Descended from the same ancestors as the Samoyed, Norwegian elkhound, spitz, and Pomeranian, the Keeshond has a foxlike face and a plumed tail carried high over its back. Its long, thick, gray coat consists of a pale undercoat overlaid by black-tipped hairs. The mature Keeshond stands 43 to 46 cm (17 to 18 inches) and weighs 25 to 30 kg (55 to 66 pounds). See the Table of Selected Breeds of Non-Sporting Dogs for further information.