Keeshond vs Africanis - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Keeshond vs Africanis - Breed ComparisonKeeshond is originated from Netherlands but Africanis is originated from South Africa. Keeshond may grow 12 cm / 4 inches shorter than Africanis. Keeshond may weigh 27 kg / 59 pounds lesser than Africanis. Both Keeshond and Africanis has almost same life span. Both Keeshond and Africanis has same litter size. Keeshond requires Moderate maintenance. But Africanis requires Low 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.

africanis - historyAfricanis is one of the original African breeds. This breed was not shaped by humans, but they went through the process of natural selection. Humans did not affect this breed by standard breeding practices. Through the history, this breed became stronger and stronger because only the strongest of the breed survived. Africanis descent is the early dog that is originally from ancient Egypt. Approximately 4500 BC was the period of first data about this breed.

As time passes through, Africanis became more and more popular through the whole continent. This breed migrated with people for thousands of years, and now, a modern Africanis is similar to Greyhound dog. The original Africanis can be found in tribes and more traditional people. One of the oldest breeds in the world is one of the lasts that has been recognized by Kennel Union of Southern Africa.

Basic Information

Group:
Non sporting dog
Working dog
Origin:
Netherlands
South Africa
Height Male:
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
Height Female:
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
25 - 45 kg
55 - 100 pounds
Weight Female:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
25 - 45 kg
55 - 100 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 8
2 - 8
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
German Spitz , Dutch Barge Dog, Smiling Dutchman
Bantu Dog, African Dog, Umbwa Wa Ki-Shenzi, Khoikhoi Dog, Hottentot Hunting Dog, Zulu Dog
Colors Available:
silver, Grey, black and cream
Tan, White, Black, Brown and Black & Tan
Coat:
Long, straight, coarse
Short, Hard and Thick
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Friendly, Independent, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

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.

africanis puppy - descriptionAfricanis origins from South Africa. The average Africanis weights 25-45 kg, with a height of 50-60cm, while females are slightly smaller. They are medium sized dogs who are friendly, but also independent and territorial. They can are good pets for training, but it requires persistent work.

The lifespan of Africans is 10-12 years, but lifespan always depends on health, genetics, and care of the dog. Therefore, if they are healthy and well cared they can live longer than average.

Litter Size variates a lot, so female can have 2-8 puppies.

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.

africanis dog - characteristicsAfricanis is a very good and healthy breed. They are very intelligent and friendly breed. They are not an aggressive breed, but they tend to protect the master. Africanis is a natural guard dog. This breed is used to being alone because for the centuries they migrated close to humans, but they also have been independent.

Training Africanis is not very hard. They tend to learn very quickly. Positive training with awards is the best way to train your Africanis. The old-fashioned way of training dogs with punishment is not recommendable for Africanis. They are intelligent breed who requires patience and constancy.

They are very good with other animals too, but they need proper socialization. Africanis requires daily exercise so if you keep your dog in the apartment it should have few daily walks. Africanis can live in the apartments though.

Overall, they are very healthy breed, so with regular vet checks and proper care, they are perfect pets for the whole family since they are great and gentle with small children and kids.

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.

africanis puppies - health problemsThe great thing about Africanis is that this breed is very healthy. Thousands of years of evolution made this breed one of the toughest breeds in the world. They can survive very tough conditions. Africanis has a very healthy immune system too. It evolves so strong that there are no internal or external parasites that can harm the dog.

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 Africanis

africanis dogs - caringAfricanis has used to eat everything, so this breed does not require any special treatments. 2-2.5 cups of dry high-quality food would be more than enough to have healthy and well feed the dog. But have in mind that feeding the dog depends on daily activity and size. If the dog is more active, an extra cup wouldn’t be a problem for a dog to eat.

Feeding Africanis puppy

Africanis puppy should eat more times per day than an adult dog. 3-5 meals per day of quality dry food are good measure to feed your puppy Africanis.

Grooming Africanis

Since Africanis has short hair they are very easy to groom and care. Few brushes on a weekly basis with occasional bathing would be more than enough to have a clean and healthy dog.

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. Samoyed vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  27. Alaskan Malamute vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  28. Bullmastiff vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  29. Great Pyrenees vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  30. Boerboel vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  31. Presa Canario vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  32. Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  33. Labrador Husky vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  34. Argentine Dogo vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  35. Giant Schnauzer vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  36. Africanis vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  37. Africanis vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  38. Africanis vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  39. Africanis vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  40. Africanis vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  41. Belgian Shepherd vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  42. Goldador vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  43. Bandog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  44. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  45. Dogo Cubano vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  46. Dogo Sardesco vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  47. Beauceron vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  48. Central Asian Shepherd vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Mackenzie River Husky vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  50. Black Russian Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds