Nederlandse kooikerhondje << NEY dur lahnds KOY kuhr hond say >> is a small, spaniel-like dog originally used for hunting ducks. Spaniels are a large family of dogs bred to flush out and retrieve game. Often called the kooiker, the dog was first bred in the Netherlands in ancient times. The dog’s white, fluffy tail works like a decoy to lure ducks into a hunter’s trap.
The Nederlandse kooikerhondje stands 14 to 17 inches (36 to 43 centimeters) tall at the shoulder. It weighs from 20 to 30 pounds (9 to 14 kilograms). This dog has a red and white water-resistant coat, with a blaze (white stripe) down the front of its face. Some kooikerhondjes have dark-tipped fur, called earrings, on their floppy ears.
Nederlandse kooikerhondjes are alert, energetic, and friendly. They are great family dogs. They also make good search and rescue dogs, or service dogs.
