Why Choose A Kooikerhondje As A Pet
Loyalty Says It All
If there's one word to describe the average Kooikerhondje, it's "friendly"--provided that the Kooiker knows you well. Kooikerhondjes tend to be reserved with people or animals that they don't have experience with, which can sometimes lead to problems with barking. Once the Kooikerhondje has had the opportunity to make your acquaintance, however, the dog will enthusiastically greet you, be entirely willing to learn from you, and will soak up any attention that you're willing to give. There's a flip side to this general friendliness, of course: the problem of the Kooiker who isn't taught from birth to enjoy the company of humans -- as it is with any dog.
Kooikerhondjes in general, although enthusiastic, are also quite sensitive to the tone of people's voice and to being touched--qualities that make them good watchdogs, but that can sometimes be problematic when the Kooiker is primarily being used as a family pet. Excessive shouting and brutal behavior can ruin the kooikerhondje.
With time and training, the kooikerhondje and its human can participate in agility, search and rescue, and other outdoor activities like hunting. The size and loyalty of the kooikerhondje allow for more freedom of travel than with other larger breeds.
Once a Kooikerhondje knows his trainer and masters, he becomes loyal to the point of legend. Prince William of Orange owned a Kooikerhondje named Kuntze who, in addition to his many other valuable services, literally saved the Prince's life by deliberately waking him up during an assassination attempt. While of course not everyone expects this level of usefulness from their Kooiker companion, the dogs still show this same basic quality of loyalty to those who train them and will aggressively bark at anyone who's actively threatening you or your family--while remaining reserved yet fairly quiet to anyone who seems harmless, but who is as yet unknown to the dog
Kooikerhondjes in general, although enthusiastic, are also quite sensitive to the tone of people's voice and to being touched--qualities that make them good watchdogs, but that can sometimes be problematic when the Kooiker is primarily being used as a family pet. Excessive shouting and brutal behavior can ruin the kooikerhondje.
With time and training, the kooikerhondje and its human can participate in agility, search and rescue, and other outdoor activities like hunting. The size and loyalty of the kooikerhondje allow for more freedom of travel than with other larger breeds.
Once a Kooikerhondje knows his trainer and masters, he becomes loyal to the point of legend. Prince William of Orange owned a Kooikerhondje named Kuntze who, in addition to his many other valuable services, literally saved the Prince's life by deliberately waking him up during an assassination attempt. While of course not everyone expects this level of usefulness from their Kooiker companion, the dogs still show this same basic quality of loyalty to those who train them and will aggressively bark at anyone who's actively threatening you or your family--while remaining reserved yet fairly quiet to anyone who seems harmless, but who is as yet unknown to the dog
