Cover photo

Photo by RiaJente

It’s pronounced “NAY-der-lahn-suh KOY-ker-hond-yuh” and its literal translation is the Dutch Little Decoy Dog. The name comes from the dog’s original purpose – to lure ducks out of ‌hiding. The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is a lively medium-sized dog, very cuddly looking, but not very cuddly, especially with strangers. However, they bond strongly with owners and are very people-oriented. The Kooikerhondje is also a very old breed, appearing in Middle Ages paintings of Dutch painters.

Origins: Old breed; modern breed officially recognized in 1971; The Netherlands

AKC: Sporting group

RKC: Utility

FCI: Group 8 (Section 2 – flushing dogs)

UCI: Gun Dog group

Physical Traits

The Kooikerhondje is a well-balanced, proportioned, medium-sized dog. They are slightly longer than tall, and males are larger than females. Overall, they appear as real sporting dogs, with almost square body proportions.

Height: 

• Male: 16 inches (40 cm)
• Female: 15 inches (38 cm)

Weight: 20 to 30 pounds (9 to 13 kg)

Coat: Double, wavy, and medium length

Color: White and red (with black tips)

Eyes: Dark-brown; almond shape

Ears: Large, carried close to the cheeks, with feathering

Tail: Well-feathered, long

Nose: black

Skull: Mesocephalic, scissor bite.

Social Traits

The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is a dog that loves to spend time with its family. They are affectionate, loyal, and playful with their owners. But, there’s a limit! These dogs do not like to be petted by strangers, whether they are children or adults – it doesn’t matter. 

They are not aggressive, but will walk away or nip if they get too annoyed. This is important to know if you’ve got small children at home. You cannot leave them alone with dogs and dogs need a safe and calm spot where they can relax without being bothered.

On the other hand, this dog gets along very well with older children who already know how to play with dogs and how to give them space when needed. Of course, just like other dogs, they need socialization from an early age to grow into confident adult dogs.

The Kooikerhondje also acts reservedly with other dogs, especially males toward other males.

They can get along with other animals they grow up with or if we socialize and habituate them from an early age, but they are sporting dogs, which means they have a higher prey drive. This means that a lot of them will love to chase small animals.

• Reserved with strangers
• Very affectionate with owners
• Gets along well with older children
• Can show male-on-male aggression
• Suitable for the country or the city
• Not too vocal

Activity Needs and Trainability

The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is an active dog, but not too active like some other sporting dogs. An adult Kooikerhondje needs around 1 hour of daily activity combined with potty walks. They thrive when given a variety of activities. Equally important is mental stimulation – give them puzzle-toys, hide treats and let them find them using their sense of smell.

The Kooikerhondje is a medium-energy dog, not too hyper. However, daily physical and mental stimulation is crucial to keep them happy and well-behaved. When they have enough daily exercise, they don’t mind being alone at home for a few hours.

They are highly trainable. But there are some things you have to take into consideration to make sure they learn quickly. Use positive reinforcement, a gentle approach, keep it fun, and stay consistent. 

Trainability: highly trainable; 

Activity needs: around 1 hour a day

Health and Nutrition

The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is a healthy dog breed. Certain genetic illnesses may arise, however, the breed club mandates all breeders screen their dogs to avoid these possible hereditary conditions. 

The recommended tests:

• Hereditary Necrotizing Myelopathy (ENM)
• Eye tests
• Orthopedic evaluation (aimed at preventing ‌patellar luxation)
• Hip scoring or OFA hip evaluations (aimed at preventing hip dysplasia)

As for the feeding amount, it all depends on some external and internal factors. For example, how active or old a dog is. Generally speaking, an adult Nederlandse Kooikerhondje needs around 2 cups of kibble a day. It is best that you divide the amount into two meals – one in the morning and the other ‌in the evening.

• Healthy dog breed
• Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years
• Needs about 2 cups of kibble a day

Grooming

This dog sheds in moderate amounts. You will need to brush them once or twice a week, using a pin brush and a comb (for the final touch). They do need more frequent brushing during the shedding seasons (in spring and fall).

Apart from weekly brushing, the Kooikerhondje doesn’t need other special grooming techniques. This dog’s fur is medium-long and has feathered areas on the ears, legs, and tail. Because they naturally repel dirt, they have a rustic appearance and don’t require much upkeep.

• Moderate shedding
• Use a pin brush and a slicker brush or a comb for the final touch
• They need an occasional bath (when they get dirty)
• They do not need special grooming techniques

Final Thoughts

The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is a popular dog in its country of origin, the Netherlands, and surrounding European countries. They are still being used as duck decoy dogs, but these amazing dogs make great family pets, too. If you give them proper daily mental and physical stimulation and make sure they are well-socialized, you will have a wonderful, loyal, and affectionate family dog. Just remember that no matter how affectionate they are toward you, they are not very affectionate toward strangers.

Photo by RiaJente