Keeshond vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison

Keeshond vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed ComparisonKeeshond is originated from Netherlands but German Wirehaired Pointer is originated from Germany. Keeshond may grow 20 cm / 7 inches shorter than German Wirehaired Pointer. Keeshond may weigh 14 kg / 30 pounds lesser than German Wirehaired Pointer. Both Keeshond and German Wirehaired Pointer has almost same life span. Both Keeshond and German Wirehaired Pointer has almost same litter size. Both Keeshond and German Wirehaired Pointer 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.

german wirehaired pointer - historyMedium to large sized, the German Wirehaired Pointer is a griffon type dog breed hailing from Germany and developed for hunting purposes in the 19th century.

Known as the Drahthaar in Germany, the dog is a mix of griffon, Deutscher Stichelhaar, German Shorthaired Pointer, Deutscher Kurzhaar as well as the Pudelpointer.

He was imported into the United States in the 1920s, and it was in 1953 that the German Drahthaar Club of America was formed.

Basic Information

Group:
Non sporting dog
Sporting dog
Origin:
Netherlands
Germany
Height Male:
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
Height Female:
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
57 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
27 - 32 kg
59 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
10 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 8
6 - 10
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
German Spitz , Dutch Barge Dog, Smiling Dutchman
Deutsch Drahthaar, Drahthaar
Colors Available:
silver, Grey, black and cream
black flecked , Liver and white
Coat:
Long, straight, coarse
Straight, wiry, harsh
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, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
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.

german wirehaired pointer puppy - descriptionWell muscled, this is a medium to large sized dog standing at between 57 and 68cm in height and weighing between 27 and 32kg.

He has a weather resistant wiry coat which is of medium length and which is wiry and harsh. Coat color is liver and white as well as black flecked.The undercoat provides insulation against the cold.

He has quite a bit of facial hair in terms of eyebrows, beard and whiskers.He has webbed feet, typical of German Pointers. His tail is docked to about two-fifths of its natural length, but these days it is often left long.

Temperament:

Lively, playful, affectionate and intelligent, the German Wirehaired Pointer is easy to teach. He becomes wonderfully obedient with training and socialization and responds well to instructions to sit, come and stay.

He is an active dog and likes to be involved in the activities that his human family are involved in. He becomes bored and frustrated when he doesn’t get the exercise and attention he craves.

He isn’t suited to life in the city where the premises are small as he needs plenty of vigorous exercise every day. They do well in the country where they have plenty of place to run and where their hunting skills come into action.

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.

german wirehaired pointer dog - characteristicsGerman Wirehaired Pointers make awesome pets as they’re lively, playful, social and loving. They particularly suit living in a home where the people are active, outdoor types.

They make superb jogging- or cycling companions and will thrive on sharing these activities with a family member. He is a dog who has a need to be loved and included in all that his family gets up to. He wants lots of pats and stroking to show him that you care.

Give him the love and care he craves and you’re guaranteed to have the most wonderful loving pet.

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.

german wirehaired pointer puppies - health problemsGerman Wirehairs are generally healthy, and when you look after them well they can reach 12, 13 or 14 years of age. Also, if both German Wirehaired Pointer parents have certificates proving they were tested and cleared of hip dysplasia, hereditary eye diseases and blood-clotting disease, then your pet will have less risk of developing these conditions.

Your pet isn’t likely to get sick, but like all breeds of dogs, they're prone to certain diseases and conditions. Hip Dysplasia is something that can be noticed when your pet is still a puppy.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a heritable condition where the thigh bone doesn't fit properly into the hip joint. Your dog can battle with pain so that he no longer wants to play, he battles to get up after lying down and he may even begin to show signs of lameness. Arthritis can develop too.

Cataracts:

You’ll notice cloudiness on the eye lens that can grow over time. Not all cataracts impair vision, although there are some instances where vision loss is experienced. Cataracts can sometimes be surgically removed with good results.

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.

german wirehaired pointer dogs - caringYour German Wirehaired Pointer isn’t a heavy shedder so brushing his coat twice a week will be ideal for him to rid the coat of loose hairs.

Diet:

Your German Wirehaired Pointer is an active dog and this has to be taken into account when looking at diet. He will require a diet with quality protein. You’ve also got to look at things such as whether your dog is neutered or spayed as they require less calories. On the other hand there are dogs that will require more calories because of their activity levels.

Make sure your German Wirehaired Pointer eats a top quality dog food. Add in some homemade food such as cooked brown rice, chicken and vegetables from time to time as well as some raw meat. You have to constantly remember that your dog’s health depends on the nutrition you provide.

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. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  27. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Chesapeake Bay Retriever - Breed Comparison
  28. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Bull Arab - Breed Comparison
  29. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Eurohound - Breed Comparison
  30. Gordon Setter vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  31. Magyar Agar vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  32. Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Noir vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  33. Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Orange vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  34. Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolore vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  35. Tweed Water Spaniel vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  36. Samoyed vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  37. Labradoodle vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Mixed vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  39. Great Pyrenees vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  40. Old English Sheepdog vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  41. Presa Canario vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  42. Labrador Husky vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  43. Perro de Presa Canario vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  44. Irish Setter vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  45. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  46. Giant Schnauzer vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  47. Greyhound vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  48. Goldador vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  49. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  50. German Wirehaired Pointer vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds