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The Kooikerhondje

The Kooikerhondje is one of the oldest dog breeds in the Netherlands. Spanish nobles are believed to have brought the colorful "bird dogs" with them during their rule in the Netherlands.

During the Second World War, the Kooikerhondje was almost extinct. The breed was reestablished from the remaining twenty-five dogs by Mrs. M.C.S Baronesse van Hardenbroek van Ammerstol under the kennel name "Van Walhalla" in 1942. The FCI recognition was granted in 1971.

The Kooikerhondje, similar to Spaniels, belongs to the group of bird dogs and was used in specialized trapping facilities for duck hunting. These trapping facilities are called "Kooi" in Dutch, which translates to "Koje" in German. The operator of such a facility was known as the "Kooiker," which is where the breed's name comes from.

For their work in the so-called "Eendenkooi" (duck traps), Kooikerhondjes needed to be vigilant and territorial. After completing their hunting tasks, they would patrol the area and alert their handlers to any intruding people, dogs, or predatory birds. Simultaneously, they would hunt rats and other pests, as they posed a threat to nesting ducks or the food supply of their owners. All these tasks required loyalty, quick intelligence, independence, fearlessness, and a predatory instinct.