German Spitz Dog Breed

The German Spitz is categorized differently by the many kennel clubs that recognize the breed. Even the manner by which this dog is recognized ranges widely among the clubs. The AKC has the breed in its FSS as a Non-Sporting Dog, the FCI has it as a Primitive Type, and the United Kennel Club (UKC) has it in the Northern Breed Group. They are good companion dogs and can make great show dogs. While this breed is also a good watchdog, the larger the variety, the better the guarding capability. They may not be best for first-time families or those with very young kids.

PROS

1. Very popular
2. Active indoors
3. Low shedding
4. Few exercise needs
5. Loves companionship
6. Strikingly beautiful
7. Great for apartment living
8. Adapts to most living environments

CONS

• Easily bored
• May bark a lot
• Highly dominant
• Very independent
• Not hypoallergenic
• High grooming needs
• Highly suspicious of strangers

The German Spitz is said to have come from Nordic herding dogs but this Spitz is better suited as a watch/guard dog and companion. When you are researching about German Spitz information, be sure it is the breed and not the type you are looking into.

This breed is intelligent enough. They can be a bit stubborn, but once you establish yourself as the leader of the pack, they'll seek to please you — most of the time. Barking may be a problem as they have inherited a very strong historical tendency to guard from afar. (Centuries ago, they were trained to literally sit on mounds not too near homesteads to alert people of approaching strangers.)

Spritzes do love to play, but they prefer adults or at least mature children. They tend to have little patience for small kids. They are loyal, to be sure, but these dogs tend to be independent as well. When they have had enough, they expect to be understood. This breed is ever alert, and they may always seem like they are up for fun, but that is not always the case.

One thing about German Spitzes is that they may appear a bit stronger than they are. This breed has significant strength, but their coat lends a lion-like demeanor that may be bigger than the dog. Still, these are highly energetic dogs that need to be socialized. Daily walks and dog-park visits are mandatory unless you like lots of barking, chewed furniture, and irritable dogs.

The German Spitz is a breed, but it is grouped within the Spitz-type dogs, of which there are many. Some say the Spitz-type is the oldest basic breed in the world at about 6,000 years old, whereas others claim that Spitzes have only been around since either the 16th or 18th century. What is not disputed is that the both the type and the breed were developed in the region that came to be called Germany, that the name (of the breed) was changed due to people shunning and killing dogs with the name "German" during the world wars, and that the German Spitz is making a comeback.

One thing that has apparently remained constant for a very long time is the desire for pure-white Spitz-type dogs. The white coat made it easy to not mistake (and shoot) the dogs as other animals. These days, the snow-white coats are only needed for dog shows.

When in the 18th century George I became King of England, his wife, a German, helped to introduce to England (and the history books) the forebears of the German Spitz. After that, in the 1790's, George III owned many such dogs. A century later, Queen Victoria had a number of the smaller version in her care. While they were what we now called Pomeranians, they were much larger dogs than the little cotton balls we know today. Over time, these dogs were crossbred outward and the German Spitz and the Pomeranian were developed as separate breeds. (It should be noted that German Spitzes are not big Poms, but that Poms are toy-sized German Spitzes.)

When WWI started up, the German Spitz became highly undesirable in the UK and United States. Even with the name changed to Victorian Poms (in the UK) and the American Eskimo Dog (in the U.S.), there remained a social stigma. This continued until well after WWII, and it was not until the 1970's that the breed began to bounce back. This revival was quickly marred by a new controversy, however: a conflict between the Pomeranian and German Spitz breeders. By the early 1980's, fences had been mended, the German Spitz Club had been formed, and the breed was once again known as the German Spitz. It took another two decades before the breed was formally recognized by the United Kennel Club and the FCI. The AKC put the breed in its Foundation Stock Service (FSS) in 2010.

Over the last two centuries, various clubs have quarreled regarding what constitutes a Spitz, a German Spitz, and a Pomeranian. Unraveling the history of what was and what is a German Spitz — or even variations therein and similar breeds such as the Pomeranian — can be extremely difficult. Even current varieties may or may not be acknowledged by some kennel clubs and breeders. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) formally recognizes five size varieties: Wolfspitz, Giant Spitz, Medium size Spitz, Miniature Spitz, and the Toy Spitz (which is recognized by the AKC as a separate breed, the Pomeranian).

While the Standard and Toy German Spitzes tend to have a wide variety of coat colors, the giant typically comes in just three colors: black, brown, or white.

Most everyone familiar with the German Spitz breed, however, will agree that there are three basic types: giant, standard, and toy (or miniature). The giant weighs about 38 to 40 pounds, the standard weighs from 23 up to 41 pounds, and the toy is 18 to 22 pounds. Weight, however, is rarely considered in determining German Spitz variations. Height is the metric universally used. Giants are 16 to 17 inches, the Standard Spitzes are 12 to 15 tall, and the toys are 9 to 11 inches. The wolf types are those that are 18 to 20 inches or higher.

Until the end of the 19th century, the Pomeranian was a Toy German Spitz. The standard variety has always been around and was used as a basic working dog on farms. The Giant German Spitz is essentially the largest of the types, although there are some who identify an even larger variation: the Wolf German Spitz. There are also those breeders who claim there is the Dwarf German Spitz, which is smaller than the toy type.

Just as you may imagine, the types of German Spitz have German names. The toy is also called the Klein; the standard is known as the Mittel (medium German Spitz); and the Giant, in German, is named the Deutscher Grossspitz. The wolf variety is the same as the Keeshond, and the Dwarf Spitz is sometimes identified as the Zwergspitz.

When it comes to the German Spitz temperament, there are many aspects that seem at odds. They will love to please you, but they often enough resort to doing what they want. They aren't given to separation anxiety, but if they become bored, they are rather destructive. They make wonderful companion dogs but are not always keen on children. They are relatively easy to train, but they require a very confident pack leader.

Because they are very big dogs, obedience training is mandatory. They are suspicious of strangers, they tend to bark a moderate amount, and they have a lot of energy that must be burned off daily. They are also curious and playful but are serious when they need to be. Socialization is a must as well, for they like jumping — either for attention or to scale things.

If you are an active adult couple (or family, or otherwise) with a large house and high-fenced yard, the German Spitz personality may be well-suited for your home. These are loyal, loving dogs who enjoy guarding, exercise, and a purpose.

The German Spitz is a breed blessed with very few general health problems. Even those listed below tend to be relatively rare. For the sake of your dog's health and happiness, you should always make sure you know as much as possible about the parents' hereditary standing as well as get the suggested health certifications for your dog.

For this breed, you should particularly look out for:

• Dental problems
• Eye ailments
• Kneecap concerns

The typical German Spitz has an average lifespan of 13 to 15 years.