Moscow Guard dog vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Keeshond is originated from Netherlands but Moscow Guard dog is originated from Russia. Keeshond may grow 20 cm / 7 inches shorter than Moscow Guard dog. Keeshond may weigh 50 kg / 110 pounds lesser than Moscow Guard dog. Keeshond may live 3 years more than Moscow Guard dog. Both Keeshond and Moscow Guard dog has almost same litter size. Both Keeshond and Moscow Guard dog requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Non sporting dog
Working dog
undefined
Netherlands
Russia
Height Male:
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
64 - 68 cm
25 - 27 inches
Height Female:
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
64 - 68 cm
25 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
45 - 68 kg
99 - 150 pounds
Weight Female:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
45 - 68 kg
99 - 150 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
9 - 11 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 8
5 - 10
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
German Spitz , Dutch Barge Dog, Smiling Dutchman
Moscow Watchdog
Colors Available:
silver, Grey, black and cream
Red and white - bit of black and tan
Coat:
Long, straight, coarse
Thick coats of medium length
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

keeshondKeeshond is the term used for German Spitzes and although many American references have it that the Keeshond originated in the Netherlands, some say the dog originated in Germany and is a member of the German Spitz family.

The Club for German Spitzes was founded in 1899. The Nederlandse Keeshond Club was formed in 1924. The Keeshond is also referred to as ‘The Smiling Dutchman’.

It was in the 17th and 18th centuries that the Keeshond was used greatly as a watchdog, appearing in England in the late 1800s, but after the turn of the 20th century, Mrs. Wingfield Digby of Dorset, England and Mrs. Alice Gatacre, a Dutch breed authority, living in England, stirred interest in the breed with their kennels.

An English breed Club was formed in 1926, and the first Keeshond was registered with The American Kennel Club in 1930.

Looking much like the Saint Bernard, the Moscow Guard Dog or Moscow Watchdog is large, descending from quite a few giant breeds such as the Saint Bernard, different Russian Hounds and the Caucasian Ovtcharka.

The dog has a gentle temperament. Known also as a gentle giant, the Moscow Guard Dog was developed in the Soviet Union and is fairly common in its native country.

The first US-born litter of Moscow Guard Dogs was born in 2015. The Moscow Watchdog hasn’t yet been recognized by the AKC.

Description

keeshond puppy - descriptionThe Keeshond is a medium-sized dog and a member of the Spitz group of dogs. He stands at 43 – 48cm in height and weighs 14 – 18kg.

He has a 2-layered, dense coat which is fairly long, straight and coarse and colors are grey, silver, black and cream. His undercoat is a very light cream color. He has erect ears, a fairly shop muzzle and a feathery, plumed tail which curves over his back.

The hair on his legs is fairly short accompanied with some feathering. A typical marking-feature of the Keeshond is the dark line which runs from the outer corner of each eye to the lower corner of each ear. It's what gives the dog his well known keeshond expression. The eyes of the dog are dark brown.

Temperament:

The Keeshond, just like other Spitz dogs, are playful, affectionate, friendly and eager to please. He is intelligent too and will respond well to training and socialization.

He makes a wonderful family pet as he is friendly and playful with children, loving all their games. He gets on well with other pets too. He is a social dog, thriving on being with his human family, wanting to participate in all family activities.

They are sensitive, loving pets and become very attached to their owners. They have even been used as comfort dogs in rescue situations, as they bond so well with people.

He makes a good watchdog too with his loud bark which he uses to deter intruders. He may well be a good watch- and guard dog but he isn't an aggressive dog.

The Moscow Watchdog is a large mastiff-type dog. He stands at between 64 and 69cm in height ad weighs in the region of 45 – 68kg. He has a thick coat which is medium length, he has floppy ears and a long, plumed tail. The most common colors for the Moscow Watchdog are red and white with a little bit of black and tan around the head.

He is quite a heavy shedder so regular brushing and grooming is recommended.

He takes his role seriously as guardian and protector of his human family.

Large dogs don’t usually live as long as smaller breeds, and with good care your Moscow Watchdog can reach between 9 and 11 years of age. If you want your dog to be a parent, the litter size you can expect is anything from 5 to 10 puppies.

Temperament:

The dogs were used for guarding purposes and they are strong-willed, dominant and independent. They are also gentle dogs but will still require training and socialization to make them obedient and an all-round pleasant dog.

While the Moscow Watchdog is described as a pleasant dog, he isn’t a friendly teddy-bear kind of dog, tending to be fairly aloof. He would do well with an owner who is firm, fair, consistent and strong, as he is strong-willed.

Characteristics

keeshond dog - characteristicsThe Keeshond, with his thick double coat, loves to be outdoors in cool weather. He won't be there too long however, because he will be missing his human family. He is such a social dog, craving human company and therefore isn't a dog to be put out in the backyard and left day after day.

He loves games and being totally involved with his human family. Look after your Keeshond well – he is a companion dog - and you will find him to be a most exceptional friend of yours.

The Moscow Watchdog is a large dog and beautiful to look at. Even though he is large and strong, he is gentle and calm and makes a splendid pet.

Because of his large size he is better suited to life in the countryside or the suburbs as compared to smaller properties in the city. Their exercise needs will also need to be met such as a walk every day.

Think carefully before you take such a large dog into your home as he will require a lot of good food. Before investing in any dog, make sure that you have the means to provide him with an excellent home where he gets the best care, because he is willing to give you the very best of himself.

Health Problems

keeshond puppies - health problemsWith good food, fresh water, exercise and lots of interaction with your Keeshond, he can reach 12 to 14 years of age.

No matter how healthy your dog is, he can still get ill, but the chances are less likely when he is feed nutritionally. Nonetheless look out for hip dysplasia, bloat, ear infections, skin rashes and eye diseases.

Cataract:

This is a problem in the lens of the eye. Your dog has a cloudy look to the eye. A cataract can occur when the cells are damaged. A disease such as diabetes can also cause a cataract and high blood sugar levels can change the metabolism of the cells in the lens.

The lens should be crystal clear, but with a cataract, the vision of the dog is obscured. It can cause blindness. Thankfully, cataracts aren't painful and most times dogs with cataracts can still see. There is the option of surgery to remove them too.

The Moscow Watchdog is a healthy dog breed, and with few inheritable health problems, you’re not likely to spend much at the vet with him.

Of course, any dog needs a good diet, adequate exercise, vaccinations, and parasite treatments to stay in top condition. Some of the common diseases to look out for -

Hip Dysplasia:

We always have to mention hip dysplasia as it is so common with all dogs. Its an hereditary condition where lack of hip joint stability causes pain inflammation and lameness in the dog. Your dog, even though he is young, can develop hip dysplasia and then it can lead to early arthritis too. Your dog will need to get to the vet.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

keeshond dogs - caringWith his double coat, your Keeshond will need regular brushing to get rid of all those loose hairs. He is a dog which doesn't have that typical dog odor about him so bathing him is discouraged. Too much bathing irritates a dog's skin and dries it out.

Check the inside of his mouth and make sure that his teeth are in a healthy state. If you are unsure, speak to your vet about dental hygiene as bad teeth won't only cause pain and discomfort for your pet, the teeth can affect his immune system and other body parts.

Check his claws too and have them cut when they become too long. When they are long they can hook on things and injure the sensitive area of the paws.

Exercise:

The Keeshond is a sturdy dog, loving all the activities and games that his family are involved in. He will love to be your walking companion and looks forward to his walk every day.

He is such a playful, adventurous dog and is always willing to join you in new games. Never put him in your back garden and forget about him, as this will make him ill and depressed. He must be part of the family to be healthy and happy and relies on you to include him in all your activities. He can live in the city or the countryside but will require being exercised wherever he is.

Diet:

Top quality dry kibble will work for your Keeshond. If you want to keep him bright eyed and bushy tailed, mix in some quality home-made food too such as cooked chicken, rice and vegetables. You can also try to sometimes include a little bit of raw meat as well.

He is an active dog and will need a diet high in protein. Also, his thick coat needs to be maintained, and apart from regular brushing, look for quality dog foods that have Omega-3 fatty acids in them so as to maintain the skin and coat of the dog. Make sure he always has access to fresh, cool water.

Diet:

This is a large breed dog so you want to make sure that if you feed him from the many commercially manufactured foods there are, it is the high quality one packed with vitamins and minerals and which cater specifically for large breeds to ensure the right amount of minerals and vitamins for his size.

You don’t want to just go on and on giving him dry kibble every day, so occasionally it will be a good idea to give him some boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables which can be added into his kibble. This is all the variety your dog needs, as dogs like consistency and simplicity because then they don’t suffer with digestive issues.

Never leave him without a constant source of cool, fresh water.

Exercise:

Contrary to what this dog looks like – large and clumsy, he is actually quite agile and will require a good amount of exercise. He may not look particularly active but he will certainly want a daily walk and he will also require running off the leash in the park or some ball and rope games in the garden.

Grooming:

he Moscow Watchdog has a thick, medium length coat. He doesn’t require professional grooming, but a good brush through once a week will help to condition the coat. Also, the breed is a moderate shedder so removing loose hair keeps the coat shiny and healthy.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Moscow Guard dog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Moscow Guard dog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Moscow Guard dog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Moscow Guard dog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Moscow Guard dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Moscow Guard dog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Moscow Guard dog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Moscow Guard dog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Moscow Guard dog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Moscow Guard dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Moscow Guard dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Moscow Guard dog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Moscow Guard dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Moscow Guard dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Moscow Guard dog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Moscow Guard dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Moscow Guard dog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Moscow Guard dog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Moscow Guard dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Moscow Guard dog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Moscow Guard dog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Moscow Guard dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Moscow Guard dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Moscow Guard dog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Moscow Guard dog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Keeshond vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Keeshond vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Keeshond vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Keeshond vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Keeshond vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Keeshond vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Keeshond vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Keeshond vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Keeshond vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Keeshond vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Keeshond vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Keeshond vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Keeshond vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Keeshond vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Keeshond vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Keeshond vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Keeshond vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Keeshond vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Keeshond vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Keeshond vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Keeshond vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Keeshond vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Keeshond vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Keeshond vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Keeshond vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison