Keeshonds of the 1930's
In 1931 Lt.Col. Wingfield Digby, judging at Birmingham, said “Now that keeshonden are becoming more popular in England we should be careful not to let them get too large, bearing in mind they are essentially house dogs; at the same time we do not want to see too much of the Pom in them.” Alice Gatacre, in her notes for the Christmas edition of Our Dogs, notes that “the breed has become quite established in England now, and several exportations to the USA and the Continent (i.e. Europe) took place this year.” In 1931 Mrs Morton of the de Witt keeshonds sadly died and the de Witt kennels were dispersed, but Mrs Wingfield Digby’s sister, Mrs Fisher Rowe, had joined the ranks of the breeders. By 1935 registrations had increased to 242 – more than twice the number registered annually in the 21st century.
1930 Dog World
1930 Viva van Eyck
1931
1931 van Zaandam
1932 Sterndale Silvia
1933 Guelder
1933 Karel van Zaandam
1934 Guelder
1934 Dochfour
1934 Kendrik van Zaandam
1934 Ord
1935 Hugo of Rood Ashton
1935 Okebrook Kangaroo
1935 Canford
1935 Foxlydiate Max
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1930 Taunton Show
Baroness Burton (Dochfour)
1931 Guelder
1931 Karelina van Zaandam
1932 Pompey of Coollattin
1933 Gijsbrecht of Evenlode
1933 Gurth van Zaandam
1933 Konstanz van Zaandam
1934 Okebrook
1934 Lutine van Zaandam
1934 Hagedorn of Evenlode
1935 Keeshond Club
1935 Kraft of Canford
1935 Gijsbrecht of Evenlode
1935 Speedy of the Peaklands
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1930 Guelder (Alice Gatacre)
1930 Guelder
1931 Guelder
1931 Berkel (Gourlay)
1932 Jasrel van Zaandam
1932 Kendrik van Zaandam
1933 Gurth van Zaandam
1933 Ch. Lutine van Zaandam
1934 Canford
1934 Guelder
1935 Buck of the Peaklands
1935 Keeshond Club
1935 Lutine van Zaandam
1935 Okebrook
Halunke of Evenlode
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Peaklands dogs were well to the fore in the mid-1930’s. Names that cropped up regularly in the lists of winners were Miss Kay’s Buck and and his sire Speedy of the Peaklands (above centre). Foxlydiate Max was also a regular winner, and a very good-looking dog (above left) The judge at WELKS in 1935 describes him as a sound, active dog of true type with the correct expression. At the same show the well-known littermates Hagedorn (centre page) and Halunke of Evenlode (above right) received glowing reports. The judge said of Halunke “a beautiful puppy; this puppy should go far, he only wants time.” And of Hagedorn “She is practically faultless, and shows and is put down in that wonderful way one always associates with this kennel; there is no doubt as to her future.”
As the end of the decade approached and war loomed there was concern about the future of the dogs. Food was hard to obtain, most shows were cancelled, with only smaller local shows going ahead as people were unable to travel due to fuel rationing and night-time restrictions. Dogs were found new homes, with only a few being kept in the hope that once the war was ended breeding could continue with the dogs that remained.
As the end of the decade approached and war loomed there was concern about the future of the dogs. Food was hard to obtain, most shows were cancelled, with only smaller local shows going ahead as people were unable to travel due to fuel rationing and night-time restrictions. Dogs were found new homes, with only a few being kept in the hope that once the war was ended breeding could continue with the dogs that remained.