The Dutch Kooikerhondje was originally used to lure ducks into decoys.
Developed in the Netherlands around the 16th century, the Kooikerhondje worked in specially designed duck decoys, or eendenkooien. These were trap-like waterways with screens, channels, and hiding places. The dog’s job was not simply to retrieve birds; it attracted curious ducks farther into the enclosure, where hunters could catch them.
Its white, plumed tail was especially useful because movement near the water caught the ducks’ attention. The method was reportedly inspired by observations of foxes: ducks were drawn toward a fox playing near water as long as it did not stare directly at them.
The breed is also called the Dutch Decoy Spaniel, a clue to its original occupation. It appears in paintings by Dutch masters including Jan Steen, Rembrandt, and Johannes Vermeer. The Kooikerhondje nearly vanished during World War II, but Baroness van Hardenbroek van Ammerstol helped rescue it. The Dutch Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1971, and the American Kennel Club followed in 2018.