Kooikerhondie

Characteristics of Kooikerhondie

Brief information

• Agile, active and sociable;
• Strongly attached to the family;
• Likes to play;
• Quick-witted.

Character

The friendly and good-natured Kooikerhondje is believed by cynologists to have first appeared in the Netherlands in the 16th century. This strong dog was originally bred to lure ducks into hunting cages. At the signal of the owner, she began to walk around the trap, attracting birds with her tail. On another signal, she quickly hid in the thickets, and then ran out from the other side, directing the duck to the right place. Today, the coiker can still perform his hunting tasks as well as take part in various dog sports.

Representatives of this breed are distinguished by obedience and patience, and the natural love of games and attachment to humans developed over the centuries make them ideal pets for families with children. In addition, they are non-aggressive and know how to adapt to the mood and capabilities of the owners.

Despite the fact that the ancestors of these dogs participated in the hunt alone, this breed quickly finds a common language with other dogs. The rest of the pets are good-natured.

Kooikerhondie Care

Weekly grooming for this breed includes the following: nail clipping – strong and fast growing, they require regular trimming with clippers, otherwise the nail plate may crack; examination of the ears – the ears should be checked often enough, as they quickly accumulate earwax and debris that can lead to infection; cleansing the mouth – the condition of the dog’s teeth should be monitored especially carefully, since the formation of tartar is easier to prevent than to cure.

Less often, Kooikerhondje needs bathing (with the exception of daily washing of paws after a walk) – his coat gets dirty slowly, but taking a shower in time will save the dog from itching and unpleasant odors. It is not necessary to specially comb the dog after water procedures.

Kooikerhondje sheds mainly during the seasonal change of coat – in spring and autumn. Shedding is noticeable, but not abundant – it is enough to comb the dog for several minutes several times a week.

The health of this breed is good. The modern breed club today does not allow breeding dogs suffering from cataracts and luxating patella. However, future owners should ask the breeder for an anamnesis of the puppy’s parents, and subsequently you need to show the dog to the veterinarian at least once a year.

Conditions of detention

Like many hunting breeds, the Kooikerhondje is prone to overeating and gaining excess weight, so he needs an active pastime. Walks can be short only if the dog leads a fairly active lifestyle. Participation in dog sports such as agility , obedience and rallying is also a great way to develop your dog.

Kooikerhondje, due to its small size, gets along well even in a small apartment, but keeping it on the street is contraindicated for him.

Kooikerhondie – Video