Kooikerhondje
A Dutch decoy dog: it waves its white tail to lure ducks along a channel into a trap. Nearly extinct after the Second World War and rebuilt from a handful.
Overview
The Kooikerhondje worked a specific and ingenious Dutch hunting method. A duck decoy, or eendenkooi, is a curved channel off a pond, and the dog's white plumed tail flicking in and out of screens draws ducks curiously up the channel into a trap. The dog never touches the birds.
It nearly went extinct in the Second World War and was rebuilt from about twenty five dogs, which leaves a narrow gene pool.
Temperament
Alert, sensitive and affectionate. Kooikers are devoted to their families and reserved with strangers, and they are notably sensitive to atmosphere and to noise.
They can be timid without careful early socialisation, and they do not cope well with a chaotic household. They are intelligent, biddable and enthusiastic when confident, and they bond very closely to one or two people.
Care and grooming
A medium coat with feathering that needs brushing twice a week. Moderate shedding and easy maintenance.
Von Willebrand's disease type III, hereditary necrotising myelopathy and polymyositis all occur and all have DNA tests. The narrow founding population makes health testing genuinely essential here. Twelve to fifteen years.
Living and exercise
An hour a day plus training. They enjoy agility and scent work.
They want to be with their people and they do badly left alone. A calm household suits them and a loud one does not.
Something here wrong or out of date?