Nederlandse Kooikerhondje

A healthy Kooikerhondje from tested lines typically lives 12-15 years. The single biggest determinant of outcome in this breed is not age but genetics: a dog affected by hereditary necrotizing myelopathy rarely reaches two years, so lifespan is largely decided before you bring the puppy home. Buying only from a breeder who DNA-tests both parents for ENM and von Willebrand disease, and keeping the dog lean and well-socialized, is what protects both length and quality of life.

Yes with gentle children in a calm home — they are affectionate and devoted to their family. The important qualifier is the breed's sensitivity: Kooikers can be overwhelmed by loud, rough, or chaotic handling and may withdraw or become anxious rather than tolerate it. They suit considerate, school-age children better than unpredictable toddlers. Supervise interactions, teach children to approach the dog calmly, and treat early socialization as essential rather than optional for this thoughtful breed.

They are intelligent and capable but require the right method, not a heavy hand. The breed was developed to work off quiet, subtle cues, so it responds well to patient reward-based training and poorly to harsh correction, which causes it to shut down or grow anxious. Short, positive, consistent sessions started in puppyhood produce a reliable, willing adult. An owner who trains with pressure or punishment will get a worse result with this breed than with almost any sturdier working dog.

ENM is a recessive, progressive degenerative spinal-cord disease nearly specific to this breed. Affected puppies usually show hindlimb weakness and incoordination between roughly 3 and 12 months of age, the disease worsens, and it is fatal — typically before age two. It is also entirely preventable: a DNA test exists, and breeding tested carriers only to clear dogs prevents affected puppies. This is why you should only consider a puppy whose parents are DNA-tested for ENM, and should ask to see the certificates.

The Kooikerhondje historically carried type III von Willebrand disease — a severe inherited deficiency of a clotting protein that can cause dangerous, even life-threatening bleeding during routine procedures like spaying, neutering, or any surgery. A DNA test has existed since around 1990 and has largely eliminated it from responsibly bred lines, but you should know your individual dog's status. If status is unknown, tell your veterinarian before any elective surgery so they can plan for the bleeding risk rather than discover it mid-procedure.

Plan on about an hour of daily exercise — walks plus retrieving, swimming, or dog sports — plus mental work, because this is a working breed that becomes anxious and destructive when under-stimulated. Grooming is moderate: brush the medium-length coat 2-3 times a week (more during seasonal shedding), pay attention to the feathered ears, legs, and tail to prevent mats, and check and dry the ears weekly, especially after swimming, to prevent the ear infections the breed's ear shape predisposes it to.