1920-1940; WWII

After the turn of the 20th century, interest in the breed was stirred by Mrs. Wingfield Digby from Sherborne Castle in Dorset and Mrs. Alice Gatacre, a Dutch breed expert living in Devon. Their European imports and their "Van Zaandam" and "Guelder" kennels in England played a major role in this surge of interest. At that time, Mrs. Wingfield Digby had not yet registered "Van Zaandam" as her kennel name because she was still trying to convince the Kennel Club to lift its ban on foreign affixes.

The breed was first officially shown in 1923, and a specialist club was established in 1925. In 1926, the club was renamed The Keeshond Club, with "Keeshonds" becoming the official breed name, although the correct plural is "Keeshonden."

Dochfour Hendrik became the breed's first champion, earning his third ticket under Mrs. Wingfield Digby at the LKA in 1929. Mrs. Wingfield Digby praised him as an exceptional dog with perfect carriage and movement, a beautiful coat, well-set ears, dark eyes, and lovely coloring. However, she noted that he was slightly large, tall on his legs, and had a somewhat long snout, with less distinct spectacles.

By the late 1920s, the number of Keeshond breeders in England was increasing. Prominent names such as Baroness Burton, Miss Hastings, Mrs. Gatacre, Mrs. Norton, and Mrs. Morton were actively involved in importing and breeding Keeshonds, along with other less well-known breeders. In 1926, only 33 Keeshonds were registered with the Kennel Club, but this number had risen to 131 by 1928.

With assistance from Miss Van der Blom of Holland, Bartel van Zaandam and Tilly van Zaandam were imported and spent six months in quarantine at Southampton kennels. Bartel, bred by Mr. E. Schmidt of Sindelfingen near Stuttgart, became the second champion in the breed in 1930, following Dochfour Hendrik. Bartel and Tilly's offspring included notable dogs such as Karel van Zaandam and Gilda de Witt. Bartel, born in 1923, was initially known as Billo von der Maiblume before being imported by Mrs. Wingfield Digby.

Doreen Anderson of Kultz meticulously documented events from 1923 to 1943 in annual summaries, even though the original diaries no longer exist. Her records include details on imports, key dogs, notable breeders, litters, show results, and judge critiques. In 1923, she highlighted Amalia as a foundational dog for the breed due to her influential progeny, including the renowned Breda. Amalia had her first litter at eight years old, and Breda was noted as the outstanding dog of the year.

In 1931, Lt. Col. Wingfield Digby, judging at Birmingham, advised that as Keeshonds gained popularity in England, care should be taken to prevent them from becoming too large, maintaining their status as house dogs without showing excessive Pomeranian traits. Alice Gatacre, in the Christmas edition of Our Dogs, noted that the breed was becoming well-established in England, with several exports to the USA and Europe that year. Following Mrs. Morton’s death in 1931 and the dispersal of the de Witt kennels, Mrs. Wingfield Digby’s sister, Mrs. Fisher Rowe, joined the breeding community. By 1935, registrations had increased to 242, more than twice the number registered annually in the 21st century.

In the mid-1930s, Peaklands dogs, including Miss Kay's Buck and his sire Speedy of the Peaklands, were prominent in show wins. Foxlydiate Max was also frequently recognized. At the 1935 WELKS show, Foxlydiate Max was praised for being a sound, active dog of true type, while Hagedorn and Halunke of Evenlode received high praise, with Halunke being noted as a promising puppy and Hagedorn described as practically faultless.

As the decade drew to a close and war approached, concerns arose about the future of the breed. Food shortages and the cancellation of most shows, along with restrictions on travel, led to many dogs being rehomed, with only a few kept in hopes of resuming breeding after the war.

With the establishment of the Keeshond Club, the breed quickly gained popularity. Breeders collaborated to import dogs from Germany, which became the foundation of British Keeshonds. In 1928, Challenge Certificates were awarded to the breed for the first time, with Bartel van Zaandam winning the first ticket. The following year, Ado von Thierlstein, another imported German dog, won the ticket.

Carl Hinderer brought his Schloss Adelburg Kennel from Germany to America in 1923 and worked persistently to gain AKC recognition. In 1930, he persuaded AKC President Dr. DeMond to meet with him, presenting German Champion Wachter. Impressed, Dr. DeMond facilitated the Keeshond's admission to AKC registration that year.

Geron am Ziel, sire of the first registered Keeshond in America, Bella von Trennfeld, and Guelder Ger, born in 1928, played a significant role. Bella von Trennfeld was registered with the AKC in 1930 under the name "Keeshonden" in the Non-Sporting Group.

In 1935 in Chestnut Hill, Penna., The Keeshond Club which became The Keeshond Club of America, was organized with Mi’s. Irving Florsheim, President; Mrs. L. W. Bonney and Mi’s. Kenneth Fitzpatrick, Vice-Presidents, and Mrs. Henry Jarrett, Secretary-Treasurer. At that time the official American Standard for show points for the Keeshond was adopted, and wolf-gray became the only recognized color. The breed made gradual progress in the U.S., with most American Keeshonden tracing their lineage back to British breeding. Ch Herzog of Evenlode (Miss Hastings was behind the Evenlode Kennel) was the first BOB winner at the Keeshond Club of America National Specialty in 1937. Mr. and Mrs. Porter Washington of California purchased their first Keeshond in 1932, providing foundation stock for many successful Western US kennels.

Pacific Coast Dog Shows saw their first Keeshond, when Vera Fitzpatrick exhibited GUELDER FITZPATRICK (JANE), sent to her by Irving Florsheim from his Kennels in Chicago. She was so cap tivated by the breed that she imported two from England, DYNASTY OF CANFORD and TILLY VAN FITZ OF CAN FORD, and started her van Fitz Kennels in Encino, Cali fornia. DYNASTY OF CANFORD was the first Keeshond to go Best in Show in the United States, at the Reno, Nevada Show in 1939.

By 1940 there seemed to be sufficient interest in the breed to start a Club, so permission was given to organize the Pacific Coast Keeshond Club, with ten members participating. Our first Specialty was held at the Harbor Cities Kennel Club Show in June, 1940, with twenty-one entries causing quite a sensation by getting along beautifully on one long, undivided bench. The talk of the Show was the bench full of beautiful dogs, and all day people crowded around to see them.

Sources:

‘My Life with Keeshonden’ by Gwendolen Wingfield Digby
‘The Keeshond’ by Alice Gateacre

Keeshond Review 1965

http://www.keeshondarchives.co.uk/

https://www.keeshond.org/

https://keeshondclub.co.uk/

The Keeshond Club of America's Letter of Organization

May 26, 1935

Vera Fitzpatrick, 1935

Vera Fitzpatrick, 1935, with five of her beloved Keeshonden. Fitzpatrick first fell in love with the breed three years prior, and within two years had imported British stock to establish Van Fitz Kennels as the first west coast breeder of Keeshonden. Foundation sire Dynasty of Canford became the first Keeshond to win Best in Show and helped bring more attention to the breed, showing for 11 years. He remained undefeated in the breed and many contemporary dogs can be traced back to his bloodline. Her Ch. Tom Tit of Evenlode sired 17 champions. Fitzgerald was an active exhibitor, whom also became a judge and founding president of the Pacific Coast Keeshond Club (now the Keeshond Club of Northern California).

The Dutch Barge Dog Club 1925

Gesina and Hendrik

Gesina and Hendrik, sire and dam of Dochfour Hendrik

Gesina, Ali von der Sternwarte and Saartje van Zaandam

Gesina van Zaandam in 1927, shown on the steps of Sherborne Castle. She had won more 1st prizes than any other bitch at that time. Also shown is Ali von der Sternwarte and Saartje van Zaandam, Gesina's daughter

Geron am Ziel,

Geron am Ziel, the sire of the first Keeshond to be registered in America, Carl Hinderer’s Bella von Trennfeld

Bartel van Zaandam

Bartel was born in 1923. His sire was Wachter von Zuffenhausen (born 1916) and his dam was Agnes von der Maiblume (born in 1921) Bartel was imported by Mrs. Wingfield Digby in 1925, and formerly known as Billo von der Maiblume.

Den Helder 1925

Cely von Jura de Witt

Cely von Jura de Witt was owned by Mrs. Morton and was born in 1926

Van Eyck 1923

A keeshond puppy was raffled for half a crown and the winner, a judge and breeder of griffons, gave the puppy to Mrs. Norton. She almost inevitably became an enthusiast for the breed, breeding under the Van Eyck affix

Oldebury Zaap

Oldebury Zaap in 1926. He won Any Variety Foreign Dog in that year, and his 8-week old litter of puppies were shown at Alexandra Palace and won second in Any Variety Litter

Black Bock born in 1925 of German stock

Gesina van Zaandam

Gesina van Zaandam in 1927. She had won more 1st prizes than any other bitch at that time.

Gilda 1925

Gilda, one of Bartel and Tilly’s progeny

Breda and Saanie

Saanie (left) and Breda (right) at Birmingham Championship Show in 1923. They were shown as Dutch Barge Dogs. They are littermates, with Theunis and Jan also in the litter, born 26th March 1923. The sire was Terschelling van Zaandam (Texel x Schie) and the dam was Amalia van Zaandam (Dirk x Edam, two more early imports of Mrs Digby's).

Tilly van Zaandam

With the help of Miss Van der Blom of Holland Bartel van Zaandam and Tilly van Zaandam were imported, and they had to spend six months in quarantine at kennels in Southampton. Bartel had been bred by Mr. E. Schmidt of Sindelfingen near Stuttgart, and in 1930 became the second champion in the breed, his grandson Dochfour Hendrik being the first.

Roe Burke born 1923

Karel van Zaandam

Karel van Zaandam, one of Bartel and Tilly’s progeny

Dochfour Hendrik

Dochfour Hendrik was the first Keeshond to become a champion. He was born in 1926, the son of Hendrik van Zaandam (imported in 1925 by Mrs. Wingfield Digby and formerly registered as Horst am Ziel, son of Fips Sauter and Christel am Ziel) and Gesina van Zaandam. He went on to sire many well-known winners and champions.

Ado von Thierlstein

Ado von Thierlstein, another dog imported from Germany sired by Ger. Ch. Geron am Ziel, won the second ever UK CC

Mrs. Wingfield Digby

Mrs. Wingfield Digby, who first saw the breed on the canals of Holland when she was a young girl, is on the left with Breda and Saanie.

Mrs. Wingfield Digby

Mrs. Wingfield Digby in the early 1930's with Kendrik and Ch. Konstanz van Zaandam. Konstanz was one of the big winners of his time, winning 11 Championship Certificates in all.

Evenlode Dogs

These dogs are from the Evenlode kennel. The photo dates from 1935 and shows their breeder, Miss Osmonda Hastings holding the reins.
L to R; front, Ch. Halunke and Gijsbrecht; rear, Ch. Hagedorn, puppy, Jemima, Busta of Hyver, Ch. Furstin, Dorcas and Prestbury Greta

Mrs Morton and the de Witt Keeshonds

Mrs Morton owned the de Witt Keeshonds. Her husband was the first secretary of the newly inaugurated Dutch Barge Dog Club in 1925. She died in 1931 having been a major breeder until that time. Her dogs were dispersed among other fanciers.

Holland Park Dog Show, 1923

This was Holland Park Dog Show in 1923. Keeshonds were at that time known as Dutch Barge Dogs. They were in a class for Foreign (Any Variety) as they weren't yet recognised by the Kennel Club.