The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is a relatively new breed to the AKC although the breed itself goes back to the 16th century. This red and white spaniel-type dog was bred in the Netherlands to lure ducks into traps, although he makes an excellent ratter around the house as well. The breed is happy and attentive to his master and a great working/companion dog. Kooikerjondjes are gentle yet athletic, and are quite adaptable to many different living situations although they do best when not in a constantly chaotic environment.
The Kooikerhondje, when well exercised, is quiet and peaceful in the house but always ready for fun! Despite his small size he makes a great jogging companion as he has enough energy and endurance to keep up. Remember that this sporting dog was bred to work outdoors and has the grit, agility and stamina to enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities, including swimming. This said, he is not a super high energy breed and can adapt to live in an apartment. This breed can take a lot of exercise, or very little. He is very adaptable. Just don’t keep him crated all day, every day with little human contact. Such a situation simply wouldn’t be fair.
Many Kooikers are shy and reserved when meeting new people or other dogs but will warm up with time. Rude children or dogs may elicit a reactive response. Early socialization is highly recommended to keep them from becoming overly fearful. As the breed is often alert, they make good watchdogs. When it comes to their own family, Kooikers are friendly, loyal and overall easy-going. They tend to get along well with other animals whom they live with, cats and other dogs alike (although pocket pets should be kept safely in cages). They can also get along with polite, older children.
Nederlandse Kooikerjondjes do tend to shed quite a bit and benefit from being brushed weekly. An occasional bath when they get dirty will not only help to keep the coat clean but also to pull out the dead hair and allow new coat to grow in. The coat is actually waterproof and so it may take just a bit longer to ensure the water penetrates all the way to the skin! As with all dogs, nails must be trimmed regularly and teeth must be kept clean. The ears should be cleaned weekly. There is no special trimming that needs to be done and, all-in-all, these dogs are fairly easy to groom.
Kooikerhondjes are intelligent little dogs. When it comes to training, watch out that you don’t feed too many treats as they have a tendency to put on weight easily! They are also very sensitive to tone of voice so there’s no need to shout or scream at them. Just treat them fairly and don’t let them walk all over you. The breed is eager to please but has the potential to take on the leadership role if no rules or boundaries are put into place, making them a poor choice for a first-time dog owner. Although the breed is fairly well-behaved naturally, all dogs benefit from obedience training and the Kooiker is no exception. Trained Kooikers are great at dog sports such as obedience, flyball and agility!
Kooikers are affectionate yet they do have an independent side. They don’t need their owner to be by their side, helping them out all of the time. Many will find ways to entertain themselves! However these retrieving spaniels prefer to play games and enjoy fun activities with their owners, particularly fetch. Bonus points if it’s a good game of retrieve in the water! Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes are exceptionally healthy dogs that aren’t known for having too many health issues – which means they can romp and play well into their senior years.
