The Kooikerhondje dog is original from Hungary and was developed to help hunting ducks. He is still a hunting dog but also excels at sports like flyball. He also makes a great companion due to his nice and easy-going nature.
Origins
The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje (Dutch Decoy dog) dog was developed in the 16th century as a spaniel type. These working dogs were then used to lure ducks into kooien (cages) where the hunter (called Kooiker) could easily catch them.
A story has it that one of these dogs warned William the Orange about the Spanish attack, saving his life. This beautiful dog breed became almost extinct by the 1930s but M.C.S. Baroness van Hardenbroek saved them with a breeding program in 1939.
Physical characteristics
The Kooikerhondje dog is a small sporting, spaniel-like, working-group dog. He has a heavily feathered tail used to lure ducks to follow him into the Eendenkooi (duck cages). His body has an off-square proportion. The coat color is mostly orange-red and with patches on his white coat, even on the legs is acceptable.
Koikers can be 14 to 16 inches tall for females and 15 to 17 inches for males. They can weigh 20 to 25 pounds.
Personality
This dog is the perfect companion. He is friendly, quiet, good-natured, alert, and well-behaved. Depending on the environment he is placed into, he is also active and lively. He is not well with strangers at first, but once trust is earned it will be there for the rest of his life.
Caring for a Kooikerhondje dog
If you provide the Kooikerhondje dog with regular exercise, he can live in an apartment. A yard with a fence is ideal for him. They do not react positively to strangers and are not suited for boisterous children.
Training
This is an intelligent dog who is willing to please his owner so training should not be difficult. His willingness to learn when he is young is something you should take advantage of.
Fun facts
- He probably is an ancestor to the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
- In the 1950s, the Kooikerhondje appeared in a dutch cigarette card.
- These dogs are used as search and rescue dogs.
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