The Keeshond pronounced Kays Hond is an ancient breed, well known in many parts of the world,yet still unheard of in others. The gray coloured Spitz breed dog originated in Holland (Netherlands) where it has been known for centuries

In Holland the Keeshond can be traced back to the early 1700's where it was depicted in many art forms and paintings. It wasn't until around 1781 that the breed really started making and impact. During this period in history, Holland was being divided into two political factions, the Orangists and the Patriots.

The leader of the Patriots was Cornelius de Gyzelaar who had as his constant companion one of these Spitz dogs. He felt that this breed's strong spirit embodied his party's character, and hence made it his mascot. It is suggested that this connection formed the basis for the naming of the Keeshond as the shortened version of Cornelius is "Kees" and dog is Hond in Dutch. (plural for dogs is "honden")

An uprising occurred and the Patriots lost. The opposing party exerted dominance and as a gesture to disavow any links to the Patriot party 's mascot, many Keeshonden were destroyed. The peasants remained loyal however and fortunately Keeshonden could still be found in many of the homesteads and traveling around Holland as watchdogs and guards on the many small boats and barges which transported coal and timber from the Rhineland's in Germany to the Dutch provinces of Gelderland and Limberg.

More than a 100 years later, the breed was discovered outside of Europe and brought to public attention by Miss Hamilton-Fletcher (later Mrs Wingfield-Digby of VanZaandam prefix) who introduced the first Keeshond to England in 1905.

It was after the First World War that the breed was first registered under the name of "Dutch Barge Dog". It was then that first dog show entries appeared from Mrs Wingfield-Digby. The Dutch Barge Dog Club was later founded in October of 1925 and in 1926 the name was changed to the Keeshond Club and the official name of the breed was changed to "Keeshond". Its popularity gradually grew over the years with dogs being transported around the world