Nederlandse Kooikerhondje
| Size at withers | 35-42 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight range | 9-11 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12-14 years |
| Size class | Small–Medium (10–25 kg) |
| Normal resting vitals | Heart rate 70–120 bpm · Respiration 15–30/min · Temperature 38.3–39.2 °C |
| Temperament | Alert, cheerful, sensitive; a lively and affectionate small worker |
| Common health issues | Von Willebrand disease; hereditary necrotising myelopathy; patellar luxation; epilepsy (small gene pool) |
| Exercise needs | Moderate - 45-60 min/day |
| Climate & housing suitability | Good - a manageable size and coat; brush the feathering and provide shade. |
| Owner notes | A small red-and-white spaniel that lured ducks into traps; note the black-tipped 'earrings'. |
Origin and purpose
Sporting (AKC); Gun Dog / FCI Group 8 (decoy dog). Origin: Netherlands; duck-luring decoy spaniel.
A small red-and-white spaniel that lured ducks into traps; note the black-tipped 'earrings'.
What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the owner's job is to give it somewhere to go.
Temperament and training
Stated temperament: Alert, cheerful, sensitive; a lively and affectionate small worker
Reward-based training from the day the puppy arrives, with the socialisation window (roughly three to sixteen weeks) treated as the priority it is — what happens in those weeks shapes the adult dog more than anything you do later. Short, frequent, positive sessions. See Parts IV and IX.
Conditions this breed is predisposed to
Idiopathic epilepsy
Patellar luxation
von Willebrand disease
Health screening — what to test, and when
| Screen for | Test | When |
|---|---|---|
| Idiopathic epilepsy | No screening test. Diagnosis is by exclusion, after blood work and imaging | Investigate the first seizure; do not breed from affected dogs |
| Patellar luxation | Patellar palpation by a vet | At each annual examination from 12 months |
| von Willebrand disease | von Willebrand factor blood assay, or DNA test | ONCE, and BEFORE any elective surgery or neutering |
Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.
For breeders — test before you mate
- Idiopathic epilepsy — No screening test. Diagnosis is by exclusion, after blood work and imaging
- Patellar luxation — Patellar palpation by a vet
- von Willebrand disease — von Willebrand factor blood assay, or DNA test
Feeding
The most forgiving size to feed. A good-quality complete diet appropriate to the life stage, measured with a cup or scales rather than judged by eye, split into two meals a day. Weigh the food; guessing is how dogs get fat. Treats counted within the daily allowance, not added on top.
Exercise and enrichment
Stated requirement: Moderate - 45-60 min/day
Moderate daily exercise plus mental stimulation. Adaptable to apartment life provided the daily walk actually happens every day.
Climate and living conditions
Stated suitability: Good - a manageable size and coat; brush the feathering and provide shade.
Ageing and senior care
Life expectancy: 12-14 years. This dog is a senior from around 8–9 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Watch for the gradual onset of arthritis, dental disease, and the endocrine conditions of middle age. Senior care →
Before you take one home
- Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
- Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.
