11-13 lbs
12-14"
Netherlands
The Markiesje breed dog is a small black dog that many believe dates back as far as the 1600s. The recent contributions from other breeds lead other individuals to see the modern Markiesje as a breed that began its development in the late 1970s when the breed club was first established. This dog is very friendly and gets along well with other animals of all sorts as well as people of all ages, but it is also an active breed that requires quite a bit of exercise each day and may have difficulty in an apartment like setting, preferring a larger house and fenced in yard.
The history of the Markisesje, also known as the Dutch Tulip Hound or the Hollandse Tulphond, a small black companion animal from the Netherlands, is somewhat contested. There are those fanciers that maintain that this is a very old breed, as evidenced by images that look very much like this little black dog that can be found in paintings that were created in the 1600s, although some people contest this idea, stating that this dog has a very similar appearance to many different kinds of spaniel, many of whom may have shared a common ancestor. There are several fanciers of the breed who believe that this breed was a likely contributor to several other Dutch breeds, such as the Wetterhoun, the Stabyhoun, and the Kooikerhondje, a claim made by the official breed club as well. There were very few records kept in regards to the breeding of these companionable little dogs, so an accurate record of their ancestry became difficult to trace. Many people believe that the Markisesje as it stands today is a recreation of the original breed that was begun when the first breed club was founded by Mrs van Ederen and Mrs. Westenbrink-Koning in 1979, due to the recent inclusion to the breed of dogs such as Chinese Crested dogs that have been utilized in order to widen the gene pool. While these elegant little companion animals have not yet been recognized by any of the major kennel clubs, they were officially recognized by the Dutch Kennel Club in the Netherlands on May 1st, 1999.
This is a small, finely built dog with a body that is slightly longer than it is tall and a feathered tail that forms a smooth line with their back. Their head is very slightly elongated with a nearly flat skull and a well-developed muzzle that tapers slightly as it reaches the dog’s nose. The Markiesje has large almond-shaped eyes with a soft expression which can come in virtually any shade of brown and medium-sized triangular ears that have a great deal of feathering are set high along the sides of the head, and fall forward, framing the dog’s face. The coat of the Dutch Tulip Hound is a medium-length, single-layer coat of smooth black fur that can either be straight or have a slight wave to it, and white markings are fairly common. Feathering is often seen, not just on the ears and tails of this breed, but also on the hind legs.
This breed has an easy to care for single-layer coat that only needs bathing on an occasional basis. They do require brushing regularly, either daily or every other day, both to remove excess loose hair from the coat and to prevent any tangles or mats from forming. A firm bristle brush is often the best tool for this dog's smooth coat. It is also important to check this dog’s ears often to ensure that they are both clean and dry and in some cases to remove excess hair from the inner ear; this will help prevent any ear infections from developing.
These are generally very friendly little animals who love everyone, and thrive on attention but don’t tend to be particularly demanding about it. The Markiseje is gentle and playful with other dogs as well as with children of all ages, and although all interactions between small children and canines should be monitored, this breed is generally very trustworthy with the younger set. They are not prone to separation anxiety when left home alone, and they are generally well behaved when taken out in public as well. While this dog’s smaller size and cuteness make it popular as a family pet, they are also willing to do the work of a gun dog, easily taking to retrieving small game or game birds. These small dogs are typically too friendly to make an appropriate guard dog, but due to their alert natures, they often excel in the role of watchdog, alerting their family to any perceived threats and dangers.
The Markiseje is a moderately active breed that needs to get around an hour of vigorous activity each day in order to keep them happy and healthy. These dogs can keep up on most walks and jogs, but they may also enjoy or possibly excel at several other canine activities as well, such as swimming, agility training, or canine freestyle dance. While these dogs are on the smaller side, they are often inappropriate as pets in smaller living environments such as apartments due to their higher activity and noise levels than some other dogs and are more likely to thrive in a larger home with a fenced yard.
Written by a Irish Setter lover Penny Sebring
Published: 07/05/2018, edited: 02/24/2021
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What type of meats are good for a Dutch tulip dog? I've been making my dogs food and been doing turkey but I want to do other options. Is beef ok for these dogs?
