German Spitz - (Klein) (Mittel)

Size
Small (under 11kg)
Exercise
20 min/day
Training
Puppy school only
Size of home
Some outdoor space
Time at home
Alone with support
Grooming
As needed
Barking preference
Low
Personality
Very affectionate

Breeder List

Breeder - Mrs Kathleen McGuinness (Vonleenard)

vonleenard@gmail.com
See Details

GROUP 7 - NON SPORTING

History

Once a popular member of the European Circus, the German Spitz loves to be active and is always on the lookout for its next adventure.

German Spitz, in both Mittel and Klein sizes, are descended from the Nordic dogs of Europe that originally developed a thick double coat to protect against harsh winters. It is that coat, the lush tail feathering and their typical Spitz characteristics, principally pricked ears, curled tail and wedge-shaped head, which give them so much appeal today.

Appearance

A German Spitz is compact with an almost square outline and is a dog of substance under the profuse double coat. Contrary to fears, it is not a difficult dog to groom as the coat repels both water and dirt and usually a simple brushing is all that is required to freshen the appearance. An alert dog, the German Spitz is always on the lookout for its next adventure.

Maintenance

Coat care is easy provided brushing is carried out weekly to remove dead coat. As an untrimmed breed in the show ring they are easy to care for and look their best with a minimum of effort. After a run in the park, mud and dirt will fall off and does not stick to or stain the coat. Tidying of the feet is permitted but is a relatively simple task, even for the novice. Twice a year the dog moults its coat and will require more systematic brushing, but for the rest of the year it leaves little hair around the house.

Health

They are a remarkably healthy and usually live to 14 or 15 years without major issues, possibly longer provided they are exercised regularly to keep both body and mind healthy and alert. Long walks and runs are the norm for this active and agile breed and they do well in performance sports where they exhibit an enormous appetite for fun.

A varied diet will ensure a healthy dog and as they are not over-eaters they stay trim.

Suitability

Being a highly social dog, a German Spitz is an ideal companion and bonds well with either a family or an individual. As they can bond very strongly with a person, it is not appropriate to isolate the dog by leaving it in the back yard or alone for extended periods, as this may result in excess vocalisation.

German Spitz are extremely successful in agility and obedience where they have the runs on the board and are starting to make a name for themselves in tracking and canine freestyle – reminding us of the background many Spitz had in European circuses.

Words: Brian Crump

Image: Shutterstock.com

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the German Spitz, you may think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the German Spitz and its needs, and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 22 Feb 2017)

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Breed Standard - German Spitz - (Klein) (Mittel)

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

Compact, short coupled and well knit with an almost square outline. Firm condition, the profuse coat not disguising any lack of substance.

Characteristics

The German Spitz is intelligent, active and alert. Its buoyancy, independence and devotion to the family are the breed characteristics.

Temperament

Happy, equable disposition, showing confidence, with no sign of nervousness or aggression.

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	Medium large, broad and nearly flat skull when viewed from above and narrowing in a wedge shape to the nose. Stop moderately defined; muzzle approximately half length of head. Cheeks clean. Flews tight, no trace of lippiness.Nose: Black in black, white, black/white parti-colours, black/tan bi-colours. Self colour as compatible with coat colour in other colour varieties. Never parti-colour or pink.
Eyes	Medium size, oval shaped and obliquely set. Not too wide apart. Always dark with black rims in blacks, whites black/white parti-colours, black/tan bi-colours. As dark as compatible with coat colour in other colour varieties.
Ears	Small, triangular and set rather high. Perfectly erect.
Mouth	A perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Black lips in black, white, black/white in parti-colours, black/tan bi-colours. Colour as compatible with coat colour in other colour varieties.
Neck	Clean, moderately short and well set into the shoulders.
Forequarters	Moderately sloping shoulder; upper arm of sufficient length to ensure elbow is vertically below point of withers. Moderate forechest. Elbows equidistant between ground and withers, turning neither in nor out. Well-boned, straight legs. Pasterns strong and flexible.
Body	Length from point of shoulder to point of buttock equal to height at withers; short, well-developed loin. Moderate tuck-up. Well ribbed-up and rounded. Distance from brisket to ground not less than half the height from ground to withers. Top-line level.
Hindquarters	Moderate angulation with hocks moderately well let down. Neither cow hocked nor wide behind.
Feet	Small, rounded, cat like, with well arched toes.
Tail	High set, curled right up from root, lying curled over back.
Gait/Movement	Moving without exaggeration from any angle. Straight coming and going. Viewed from side, effortless, brisk action, retaining topline.
Coat	Double coat consisting of a soft woolly undercoat and a long harsh textured perfectly straight top coat covering the whole of the body. Abundant around neck and forequarters with a frill of profuse, but not excessive, off standing straight hair extending over the shoulders. Forelimbs well feathered tapering from elbows to pasterns. Hind limbs feathered to hocks. Ears covered with soft short hair, Hair on the face smooth and short. Tail profusely covered with long spreading hair. This is not a trimmed breed and evidence of trimming and shaping, other than tidying of the feet, anal area and the legs below the hocks, unacceptable.
Colour	All colour varieties and markings acceptable, with the exception of merle. Butterfly pigment not permitted with any colour.
Size	Height: Klein 23-29cms (9-11.5 ins)Mittel 30-38cms (12-15 ins)Dogs masculine, bitches feminine.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.