Keeshond vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Keeshond vs Australian Collie - Breed ComparisonKeeshond is originated from Netherlands but Australian Collie is originated from Australia. Keeshond may grow 8 cm / 4 inches higher than Australian Collie. Keeshond may weigh 7 kg / 15 pounds lesser than Australian Collie. Keeshond may live 4 years less than Australian Collie. Both Keeshond and Australian Collie has almost same litter size. Both Keeshond and Australian Collie requires Moderate maintenance.

History

keeshond - historyKeeshond is the term used for German Spitzes and although many American references have it that the Keeshond originated in the Netherlands, some say the dog originated in Germany and is a member of the German Spitz family.

The Club for German Spitzes was founded in 1899. The Nederlandse Keeshond Club was formed in 1924. The Keeshond is also referred to as ‘The Smiling Dutchman’.

It was in the 17th and 18th centuries that the Keeshond was used greatly as a watchdog, appearing in England in the late 1800s, but after the turn of the 20th century, Mrs. Wingfield Digby of Dorset, England and Mrs. Alice Gatacre, a Dutch breed authority, living in England, stirred interest in the breed with their kennels.

An English breed Club was formed in 1926, and the first Keeshond was registered with The American Kennel Club in 1930.

australian collie - historyThe Koolie, as a breed we know today, originates from Australia. But, before they were breed and imported, they were the mix made of Britain smooth coated blue merle Collie and the Black and Tan Collie from the Highlands of Scotland. The Koolie came to Australia to work as a kennel dog since they are known as the working, farm dog that can adapt to any weather condition. They were bred to be agile and non-aggressive quiet herding dogs, and they have kept most of those good characteristics until today.

Basic Information

Group:
Non sporting dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
Netherlands
Australia
Height Male:
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
36 - 40 cm
14 - 16 inches
Height Female:
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
36 - 40 cm
14 - 16 inches
Weight Male:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
15 - 25 kg
33 - 56 pounds
Weight Female:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
15 - 25 kg
33 - 56 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 18 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 8
4 - 6
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
German Spitz , Dutch Barge Dog, Smiling Dutchman
Australian Koolie, German Koolie, German Coolie
Colors Available:
silver, Grey, black and cream
red or blue patterned merle; some of them are born as one colored, usually red/chocolate or black. When they have two colors, they are red and white, black and white, black and tan, red and tan. Tricolor Collie is merle, with tan points and a white chest.
Coat:
Long, straight, coarse
smooth and short or short and rough; double coated or single coated. Some of them have longer coat their legs or without.
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Social
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

keeshond puppy - descriptionThe Keeshond is a medium-sized dog and a member of the Spitz group of dogs. He stands at 43 – 48cm in height and weighs 14 – 18kg.

He has a 2-layered, dense coat which is fairly long, straight and coarse and colors are grey, silver, black and cream. His undercoat is a very light cream color. He has erect ears, a fairly shop muzzle and a feathery, plumed tail which curves over his back.

The hair on his legs is fairly short accompanied with some feathering. A typical marking-feature of the Keeshond is the dark line which runs from the outer corner of each eye to the lower corner of each ear. It's what gives the dog his well known keeshond expression. The eyes of the dog are dark brown.

Temperament:

The Keeshond, just like other Spitz dogs, are playful, affectionate, friendly and eager to please. He is intelligent too and will respond well to training and socialization.

He makes a wonderful family pet as he is friendly and playful with children, loving all their games. He gets on well with other pets too. He is a social dog, thriving on being with his human family, wanting to participate in all family activities.

They are sensitive, loving pets and become very attached to their owners. They have even been used as comfort dogs in rescue situations, as they bond so well with people.

He makes a good watchdog too with his loud bark which he uses to deter intruders. He may well be a good watch- and guard dog but he isn't an aggressive dog.

australian collie puppy - descriptionKoolie is a medium bred. Their head is small, with a pointy jaw. Ears are pricked, semi-dropped or dropped. Their coat can be smooth or rough, short or medium length, always with the undercoat. The colours can be Red or Blue Merle, solid Red or Black, sometimes with minimal white or cream speckles. They are usually two-coloured or tricoloured, but some of them are actually one-coloured.

Some Koolie have one or two blue, green or yellow eyes. Eye colour is, of course, affected by the gene that creates the coat pattern and eye colour as well.

They are athletic dogs, with fine bone structure but great stamina. Actually, they were breed to be like that – to work hard, be noticeable among the sheep, eat little and be loyal to one person.

Characteristics

keeshond dog - characteristicsThe Keeshond, with his thick double coat, loves to be outdoors in cool weather. He won't be there too long however, because he will be missing his human family. He is such a social dog, craving human company and therefore isn't a dog to be put out in the backyard and left day after day.

He loves games and being totally involved with his human family. Look after your Keeshond well – he is a companion dog - and you will find him to be a most exceptional friend of yours.

Around children

australian collie dog - characteristicsKoolie is naturally energetic, playful and affectionate so they are naturally very good to raise with children.

Special talents

They are known as great obedience dog. They are very famous as the tracking dogs.

Some of them are successful as the rescue dogs, therapy dogs or educators for school children.

Adaptability

This is not a type of dog that will be alone in the house, wait for you and then be quiet while you rest. They need a great deal of activity and they are not such great choice for indoor life anyways. The best thing for them would be the large yard, with somebody home most of the time. They are great if raised in a family, with children and active owners. They will be great for a loner at the farm as well since that is in their blood. They need enough place to run, chase, play, rest on the sun and be active as they please. They get affectionate towards their families, but they will be accepting their new home when they are older just fine.

Learning ability

They are very good at learning. Intelligent, yes, but yet very silly and playful to do what is told all the time. They will surprise you with how quickly they will pick up the new trick but not feeling like doing it every time you would like them to. Everything is a play for them, so it would be best if you know how to play, be affectionate and friendly to become a good owner of this breed.

Health Problems

keeshond puppies - health problemsWith good food, fresh water, exercise and lots of interaction with your Keeshond, he can reach 12 to 14 years of age.

No matter how healthy your dog is, he can still get ill, but the chances are less likely when he is feed nutritionally. Nonetheless look out for hip dysplasia, bloat, ear infections, skin rashes and eye diseases.

Cataract:

This is a problem in the lens of the eye. Your dog has a cloudy look to the eye. A cataract can occur when the cells are damaged. A disease such as diabetes can also cause a cataract and high blood sugar levels can change the metabolism of the cells in the lens.

The lens should be crystal clear, but with a cataract, the vision of the dog is obscured. It can cause blindness. Thankfully, cataracts aren't painful and most times dogs with cataracts can still see. There is the option of surgery to remove them too.

australian collie puppies - health problemsIf you are careful enough, you will choose your Koolie form patiently chosen breeders, after checking the health history of the pup and the pup’s family. Advisable is to do these things in person and never to buy a Koolie from a pet shop.

Sometimes, pups can be born blind or deaf pups. They have the great chance of joint problems because of their extreme activity. Their need to run, jump and play all the time may result in damage to cartilage and ligaments, especially since they are not aware of their age most of the time.

There is a chance that pup has skin allergies or immune system issues if they are growing on a farm near the chemicals used for plants, so be careful what kind of herbicide you use if you have a Collie.

In some rare cases, they suffer from seizers. If untreated, they can cause death. If you decide to take him to a regular vet check, you will have a happy and playful life together.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

keeshond dogs - caringWith his double coat, your Keeshond will need regular brushing to get rid of all those loose hairs. He is a dog which doesn't have that typical dog odor about him so bathing him is discouraged. Too much bathing irritates a dog's skin and dries it out.

Check the inside of his mouth and make sure that his teeth are in a healthy state. If you are unsure, speak to your vet about dental hygiene as bad teeth won't only cause pain and discomfort for your pet, the teeth can affect his immune system and other body parts.

Check his claws too and have them cut when they become too long. When they are long they can hook on things and injure the sensitive area of the paws.

Exercise:

The Keeshond is a sturdy dog, loving all the activities and games that his family are involved in. He will love to be your walking companion and looks forward to his walk every day.

He is such a playful, adventurous dog and is always willing to join you in new games. Never put him in your back garden and forget about him, as this will make him ill and depressed. He must be part of the family to be healthy and happy and relies on you to include him in all your activities. He can live in the city or the countryside but will require being exercised wherever he is.

Diet:

Top quality dry kibble will work for your Keeshond. If you want to keep him bright eyed and bushy tailed, mix in some quality home-made food too such as cooked chicken, rice and vegetables. You can also try to sometimes include a little bit of raw meat as well.

He is an active dog and will need a diet high in protein. Also, his thick coat needs to be maintained, and apart from regular brushing, look for quality dog foods that have Omega-3 fatty acids in them so as to maintain the skin and coat of the dog. Make sure he always has access to fresh, cool water.

Feeding the puppy and adult

australian collie dogs - caringWhether you choose canned food or dry food, treats as biscuits or left-overs, the quantity is the safest way of keeping the balanced diet for your Collie. They like raw meat and raw bones. Make sure not to feed them with cooked bones because they can do more harm than good.

Grooming

Since Koolie coat can be very short with the undercoat or a bit longer with undercoat, bristle brushing every 3 or 4 days will be enough for them. Some of them like the water and some of them don’t and that is perfectly fine since there is no need for a regular bath.

Points for Good Health

Lots of activities and lots of love. They express their love all the time and you can learn a lot from them actually. They like raw bones and from-the-table delicious treats but make sure not to overfeed them.

The best type of activity

Games that need them to be fast and think quickly. Running with them, driving a bike with them (but not on the leash!) would be a great fun for them. Why not leash? They are so playful and happy and they tend to jump and run to the side to chase a butterfly or catch the falling leaf.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Keeshond vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Keeshond vs Chow Chow - Breed Comparison
  3. Keeshond vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  4. Keeshond vs Dalmatian - Breed Comparison
  5. Keeshond vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  6. Keeshond vs Australian Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Mexican Hairless vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  8. Tibetan Terrier vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  9. Standard Poodle vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  10. Norwegian Lundehund vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  12. Pomsky vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  13. Sakhalin Husky vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  14. Other vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  15. Olde English Bulldogge vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  16. Old English Bulldog vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  17. Schnauzer vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  18. Puggle vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  19. King Charles Spaniel vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  20. Schnoodle vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  21. Pharaoh Hound vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  22. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  23. Hungarian Vizsla vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  24. Redbone Coonhound vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  25. Norwegian Elkhound vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  26. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  27. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  28. Bearded Collie vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  29. Collie vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  30. Dutch Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  31. Blue Healer vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  32. English Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  33. Australian Collie vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  34. Australian Collie vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  35. Australian Collie vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  36. Australian Collie vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  37. Catahoula Cur vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  38. Catalan Sheepdog vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  39. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  40. Bergamasco vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  41. Berger Picard vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  42. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  43. Queensland Heeler vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  44. German Coolie vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  45. Bohemian Shepherd vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  46. Croatian Sheepdog vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  47. Red Heeler vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  48. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  49. Blue Lacy vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  50. New Zealand Huntaway vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds