The AKC has grouped all of the breeds that it registers into seven categories, or groups, roughly based on function and heritage. Breeds are grouped together because they share traits of form and function or a common heritage.
The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is a harmoniously built orange-red parti-colored small sporting dog of almost square body proportions. He moves with his head held high; in action, the well-feathered waving tail is carried level with, or above the topline. The ears may have black hair at the tips, the so-called earrings. The dog is presented with a natural, untrimmed coat. Visible scissoring or grooming, except for neatening the feet, is to be severely penalized.
The head is of moderate length, fitting in with the general appearance, clean- cut, with flowing lines. Eyes – Almond-shaped, dark brown with a friendly, alert expression. Ears – Medium size, set above eye level but always lower than the top of the skull. The ears are carried close to the cheeks without a fold. Ear leather should easily reach the inner corner of the eye. Well feathered. Black hair tips (“earrings”) are highly desirable. Skull – Sufficiently broad, moderately rounded. Stop – Seen in profile clearly visible but not too deep. Muzzle – Should be a blunt wedge seen from above or in profile, not too deep, nor tapering too much. Well filled under the eye, creating a smooth transition from muzzle to skull. Planes (Muzzle & Skull) – Straight muzzle, almost parallel planes. Nose – Black and well developed. Lips – Preferably well pigmented, close fitting and not pendulous. Bite – Scissors bite. Complete dentition preferable. Level bite acceptable, but less desirable.
Neck – Medium length to balance body, clean-cut and strongly muscled. Topline – Smooth level line from the withers to hipbones with a slightly rounded croup. Chest – Reaching to the elbows with moderate spring of ribs. Underline – Slight tuck-up towards the loin. Back – Strong and straight, rather short. Loin – Short and broad, strongly muscled.
Set on so as to follow the topline of the body. Well-feathered with a white plume. The last vertebra should reach the hock joint. When gaiting, carried level with the topline, with an upward curve or almost straight up. Not curling with a ring or circling over the back. When standing, the tail may be held downward.
Shoulders – Shoulder moderately angled in order to create a flowing line from neck to back. Upper Arm – Moderately angled to match layback of shoulder blade, which is of equal length. Forechest I Prosternum – Point of forechest should be slightly protruding beyond the point of the shoulder. Elbow – Close to the body. Legs – Straight and parallel, strong bone of sufficient density and length. Pastertics – Strong and slightly oblique. Forefeet – Small, slightly oval, compact, toes pointing forward.
Hair – Of medium length, close lying. May be slightly wavy or straight, but never curly or open. Soft, but with enough texture to be weather resistant. Functional undercoat. Front legs should have moderate feathering reaching to the pastern joints. Hind legs should have fairly long feathered breeches. No feathering below the hock joints. The coat on the head, the front part of the legs and the feet should be short. Sufficiently feathered on the underside of the tail. Longer hair on throat and forechest. Earrings (long feathered black hair tips) are highly desirable.
Angulation – Moderately angulated, to match forequarters. Seen from the rear, straight and parallel. Legs – Strong bone. Upper Thigh – well muscled. Second Thigh – length equal to upper thigh. Hock Joint – well let down. Hind Feet – Small, oval, compact, toes pointing forward.
The Kooikerhondje (Koi-ker-hond-yuh)—the “little white and orange dog with a big heart”—is a sporty, eye-catching fellow with a silky all-weather coat of white with red patches. They are instantly recognizable thanks to their large, black-tipped ears and the richly feathered tail they wag proudly. The breed has the sturdy bone structure expected of a serious hunter, but the overall picture is that of a harmoniously built dog of smooth, flowing contours and springy gait.
The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje Club of the United States has served as the AKC Parent Club to represent the Kooikerhondje since April 2014.
The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.
Beyond regular weekly grooming, the occasional bath will keep the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje clean and looking his best. Grooming can be a wonderful bonding experience for you and your dog. The strong, fast-growing nails should be trimmed regularly with a nail clipper or grinder to avoid overgrowth, splitting, and cracking. Ears should be checked regularly to avoid a buildup of wax and debris, which can result in infection. Teeth should be brushed regularly.
A clever, lively, cheerful, devoted, sweet companion in the home and an athletic, driven, eager, busy explorer outdoors.
The Kooikerhondje is a cheerful, intelligent and lively but not hyper companion. The nature of the historic work for this small sporting breed means that they have prey drive and energy along with the sensitive character of a spaniel. They can be very determined, and are best trained with a firm attitude and gentle methods. The cheerful personality, athletic build, intelligence, and eager-to-please attitude makes the Kooikerhondje a highly trainable dog. However, their drive and determination means that they do need that gentle training to fulfill their promise as charming household pets and sporting companions.
The Kooikerhondje is a relatively healthy breed living a long life. Originating from a very limited founding population, the Kooikerhondje is susceptible to various hereditary conditions. Utilization of proper breeding practices to reduce the coefficients of inbreeding is recommended to promote genetic diversity within the limited gene pool. Knowledge of genetic lines of disease within the breed combined with good breeding practices reduces serious illnesses within the Kooikerhondje.
Even with applicant of good breeding practices, the Kooikerhondje can suffer from a variety of canine diseases.
Current health concerns in regards to the breed include the following: 1. Polymyositis (PMN) 2. Renal disorders 3. Epilepsy
Recommended Health Test From Parent Club
The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is a harmoniously built orange-red parti-colored small sporting dog of almost square body proportions. He moves with his head held high; in action, the well-feathered waving tail is carried level with, or above the topline. The ears may have black hair at the tips, the so-called earrings. The dog is presented with a natural, untrimmed coat. Visible scissoring or grooming, except for neatening the feet, is to be severely penalized.
The head is of moderate length, fitting in with the general appearance, clean- cut, with flowing lines. Eyes – Almond-shaped, dark brown with a friendly, alert expression. Ears – Medium size, set above eye level but always lower than the top of the skull. The ears are carried close to the cheeks without a fold. Ear leather should easily reach the inner corner of the eye. Well feathered. Black hair tips (“earrings”) are highly desirable. Skull – Sufficiently broad, moderately rounded. Stop – Seen in profile clearly visible but not too deep. Muzzle – Should be a blunt wedge seen from above or in profile, not too deep, nor tapering too much. Well filled under the eye, creating a smooth transition from muzzle to skull. Planes (Muzzle & Skull) – Straight muzzle, almost parallel planes. Nose – Black and well developed. Lips – Preferably well pigmented, close fitting and not pendulous. Bite – Scissors bite. Complete dentition preferable. Level bite acceptable, but less desirable.
Neck – Medium length to balance body, clean-cut and strongly muscled. Topline – Smooth level line from the withers to hipbones with a slightly rounded croup. Chest – Reaching to the elbows with moderate spring of ribs. Underline – Slight tuck-up towards the loin. Back – Strong and straight, rather short. Loin – Short and broad, strongly muscled.
Set on so as to follow the topline of the body. Well-feathered with a white plume. The last vertebra should reach the hock joint. When gaiting, carried level with the topline, with an upward curve or almost straight up. Not curling with a ring or circling over the back. When standing, the tail may be held downward.
Shoulders – Shoulder moderately angled in order to create a flowing line from neck to back. Upper Arm – Moderately angled to match layback of shoulder blade, which is of equal length. Forechest I Prosternum – Point of forechest should be slightly protruding beyond the point of the shoulder. Elbow – Close to the body. Legs – Straight and parallel, strong bone of sufficient density and length. Pastertics – Strong and slightly oblique. Forefeet – Small, slightly oval, compact, toes pointing forward.
Hair – Of medium length, close lying. May be slightly wavy or straight, but never curly or open. Soft, but with enough texture to be weather resistant. Functional undercoat. Front legs should have moderate feathering reaching to the pastern joints. Hind legs should have fairly long feathered breeches. No feathering below the hock joints. The coat on the head, the front part of the legs and the feet should be short. Sufficiently feathered on the underside of the tail. Longer hair on throat and forechest. Earrings (long feathered black hair tips) are highly desirable.
Angulation – Moderately angulated, to match forequarters. Seen from the rear, straight and parallel. Legs – Strong bone. Upper Thigh – well muscled. Second Thigh – length equal to upper thigh. Hock Joint – well let down. Hind Feet – Small, oval, compact, toes pointing forward.
| Description | Standard Colors | Registration Code |
| White & Red | Check Mark For Standard Color | 214 |
| Description | Standard Markings | Registration Code |
| Black Tips | Check Mark For Standard Mark | 053 |
