Kooikerhondje / Kooiker Dog, Small Dutch Waterfowl Dog, Dutch Decoy Dog, Kooiker Dog, Kooiker

Breed history:

 It is an old Dutch breed that was raised to hunt wild ducks. When their number dropped, this breed was on the brink of extinction, but fans managed to revitalize it, so today it is quite widespread in the Netherlands, but less in other countries.

Description:

 It is a small to medium-sized dog that is long rather than tall and slender. It has a wide skull, a not too long, conical muzzle with a black nose. The eyes are not too big, almond-shaped and hazel. The ears are short, wide and drooping close to the head. The tail is long, well-covered in fur and a bit curved at the tip. The fur is double-layered with a fluffy and short inner layer and an outer layer that has medium length, smooth and slightly wavy hair. The coat can be white with orange patches and with a white star on head. The fur is shorter on head and longer on the chest, belly, tail, legs, forming fringes and on the ears forming long and black "earings".

Personality:

This dog is smart, brave, lively, dynamic, sensitive and doesn't bark too much. It is affectionate, devoted to the family and it attaches to one particular person, it accepts children but if it is teased it can become irritable. It isn't friendly with everyone, being reserved and suspicious of strangers. If it is socialized from an early age with other dogs and other household animals it will accept them.

Grooming:

 The fur needs regular brushing to maintain its neat look. If it is necessary, excess hair grown between the footpads or from the ears can be removed, to keep them clean.

Living conditions:

 This dog is resistant to bad weather and feels best outdoors in a well-fenced yard where it can move freely. It is recommended for an active person because it likes exercise, running, playing, playing fetch, swimming and has skills for agility competitions, training and flyball.

Training:

 It is an intelligent dog that loves to make its master happy, it is sensitive to the tone of the voice and that's why the training is not difficult. However, the training must be pretty firm, well-balanced, consistent without being harsh or cruel but rather gentle and affectionate. It needs socialization and training.

Usefulness:

 It is specialized in hunting wild ducks, it is a good watchdog and an affectionate companion.