Sporting · Small (20-30 lbs) · 12-15 years
Nederlandse Kooikerhondje
Cheerful, alert, good-natured; historic Dutch duck-luring dog.
20–30 lb
At a glance
Kid-friendly
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First-time owners
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Energy
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Shedding
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Good with cats
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Alone time
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Apartment OK
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Trainability
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What this is
What they’re great at
✓ Quick study - learns in a handful of reps
✓ Forgiving of first-timer mistakes
✓ Adapts beautifully to smaller spaces
✓ Wants to work WITH you - biddable to the bone
Why it matters
Honest challenges
Alone time is genuinely hard
Bred to work or live beside a human all day - solitude was never in the job description.
What helps: ['Train it like a skill: the Alone-Time guide builds tolerance in micro-doses from day one', 'The frozen-KONG-only-when-you-leave ritual turns departures into jackpots', "Cover long days honestly: a midday walker, daycare 2-3x a week, and a camera to know (not guess) how they're doing"]
Bred to work or live beside a human all day - solitude was never in the job description.
What helps: ['Train it like a skill: the Alone-Time guide builds tolerance in micro-doses from day one', 'The frozen-KONG-only-when-you-leave ritual turns departures into jackpots', "Cover long days honestly: a midday walker, daycare 2-3x a week, and a camera to know (not guess) how they're doing"]
Needs a real outlet, rain or shine
Moderate-high drive doesn't take days off.
What helps: ['Build the outlet into the routine: Agility', 'Brain work counts double on bad-weather days - see Training School', 'A flirt pole in the yard delivers a workout in ten minutes']
Moderate-high drive doesn't take days off.
What helps: ['Build the outlet into the routine: Agility', 'Brain work counts double on bad-weather days - see Training School', 'A flirt pole in the yard delivers a workout in ten minutes']
What you can do
Exercise & training
Exercise: Moderate-high - 1 hr/day
Training profile — Gundog / retrieving-pointing-flushing type: Biddable and handler-focused: these breeds genuinely want to work WITH you. Under-exercised gundogs invent jobs - usually involving your furniture.
Sports and outlets that suit them: Agility · Trick titles · Scent work
What you can do
Grooming & coat
Grooming: Low-moderate - weekly brushing.
Shedding: Moderate.
Good to know
Health to know about
Von Willebrand's (tested), ENM (tested), patellar luxation, eye conditions
Breed-typical tendencies, not a diagnosis. Individual dogs vary enormously — your veterinarian screens for what matters for your dog.
Why it matters
Emergency red flags
Poisoning (chocolate, xylitol, grapes, medications, rodenticide)
Vomiting, drooling, tremors, collapse, or known ingestion
→ Call ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 immediately; do NOT induce vomiting unless instructed
Vomiting, drooling, tremors, collapse, or known ingestion
→ Call ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 immediately; do NOT induce vomiting unless instructed
Know your ER
→ Save your nearest 24-hour emergency vet's address and phone in your phone TODAY, not during a crisis
→ Save your nearest 24-hour emergency vet's address and phone in your phone TODAY, not during a crisis
Bleeding that will not stop (clotting-disorder breed)
Prolonged bleeding from minor cuts or nail trims, gum bleeding, unexplained bruising
→ Apply firm pressure and go to the vet; make sure a clotting disorder note is on the medical file BEFORE any surgery
Prolonged bleeding from minor cuts or nail trims, gum bleeding, unexplained bruising
→ Apply firm pressure and go to the vet; make sure a clotting disorder note is on the medical file BEFORE any surgery
This page never carries product links in the emergency section. ASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661.
Good to know
The numbers
Typical ranges for planning, not promises — costs vary by region, breeder and individual dog.
| Group | Sporting |
| Size | Small (20-30 lbs) |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
| Healthy adult weight | 20–30 lb |
| Original purpose | Luring ducks into decoy traps; vermin control. |
| Monthly care | $60-$110 |
| Typical puppy price | $1,500-$3,000 |
Similar breeds
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