Skip to content 
German Spitz Dog Breed Introduction
German Spitz is small to medium sized Spitz-dog breed from Germany. It has a distinctive ruff ( mane-like collar around the neck ), a bushy tail, foxy head, and a long-haired double coat. In its native country, German Spitz is considered a single breed that comes in five varieties based on size and color including Keeshond ( Wolfspitz), Giant Spitz, Medium Spitz, Miniature Spitz, and Pomeranian.
However, these varieties are considered separate breeds in other countries. Keeshonds and Pomeranians are recognized by AKC as separate breeds. The German Spitz is yet to be recognized by AKC as a breed. However, it has been part of AKC’s Foundation Stock Service (FSS) since 1996. The German Spitz are reserved with strangers. They are also devoid of hunting instinct which makes them excellent watchdogs. This is a lively and intelligent breed that is easily trainable. However, it may possess an independent streak.
German Spitz Origin | History
It is believed the German Spitz was descended from Nordic Spitz-type herding dogs that were the common ancestor to other breeds such as Swedish Lapphund, Finnish, and the Samoyed. During the middle ages, The Nordic dogs spread throughout Northern Europe and as far as Britain. The German Spitz is considered one of the oldest dog breed originating from central Europe.
In German literature, the earliest mentions of Spitz dogs dates back from AD 1450. Most of the ancient dogs of this breed lived in the province of Pomerania in the present day Germany and Poland. Though small in size, these dogs were vocal and alert. The Fishermen could take them on their boats as watchdogs for their trades and goods. They were also used by farmers to alert them of any nearby intruders.
Although the German Spitz was originally a peasant dog, it later gained popularity with the royalty and upper class of England. Queen Charlotte, Queen Victoria, and King George I together with his German wife were devoted fans of the breed in their time. The German Spitz was also affected by World War I. Therefore, there was a rapid decline of the breed. However, the it was revived after larger Pomeranians were bred to several Keeshonds that were imported from Holland.
German Spitz Lifespan
The German Spitz has a lifespan of 13 to 15 years.
German Spitz Grooming
The German Spitz has a long-haired and profuse double coat that sheds all-year round at minimal levels and heavily when blowing off the coat twice a year. During the heavy shedding season, daily brushing is a necessity to remove the old coat and keep the shed hair to a minimum on the floor, furniture, and your clothes. For the rest of the year, a quick brushing twice a week and a thorough weekly brushing will suffice to keep the coat mat and knot free.
Brush against the lie of the coat to get a coat that stands away from the dog’s body. Avoid line brushing since the brush does not get underneath the coat. Eventually, the undercoat forms mats and knots. The profuse double coat insulates the dog against extreme heat or cold. Therefore, the coat should never be clipped off entirely since you will remove the insulating properties of the coat.
The Spitz requires an occasional bath unless it rolls off in something stinky. Although, the mud may be brushed out of the coat if it is allowed to dry first. Use a canine shampoo and conditioner to bath and moisturize the coat. After a bath, make a habit of thoroughly rinsing off the grooming products from the coat to prevent skin irritation. Use unscented canine wipes or a clean damp washcloth to wipe the eye corners.
Trim the nails of a German Spitz fortnightly using nail clippers or grinders to prevent cracking, overgrowth, and splitting. Brush the teeth of this Spitz at least twice a week if not daily to remove tartar buildup using a tasty canine toothpaste and toothbrush. Clean the ears on a weekly basis to remove debris or wax build up using cotton balls soaked in an ear cleanser solution. While cleaning the ears, look out for signs of dog’s ear infection such as redness, dark discharge, or odor.
German Spitz Haircut
The profuse double coat of a Spitz insulates it against extreme weather. Therefore, most people believe the coat should neither be stripped or clipped. Although, AKC cautions against clipping the coat entirely to prevent removing the insulating properties of the coat. Some of the suitable haircuts for owners who wish to clip the coat include:
Puppy cut – For this hairstyle, the hair on the body is trimmed to a length of 1 to 2 inches. Although, the fur on the feet, head, and tail is left a little bit longer.
Teddy bear cut – The hair on the body is clipped to a length of 2 inches. Although, the hair on the face, tail, and leg is carefully trimmed in a circular manner to get the teddy bear appearance.
Lion Cut – Naturally, this Spitz has a ruff around the neck like a lion. For this cut, the hind legs, body, and tail are clipped short. Round ‘poms’ are also trimmed on the end of the feet and tail.
German Spitz Shedding
The German Spitz sheds at low levels throughout the year and heavily twice a year while blowing off the coat in Spring and Fall.
German Spitz Coat | Coat Type
The German Spitz has a double coat; the top coat is long, straight, and off-standing while the undercoat is thick, soft, and short.
German Spitz Hypoallergenic
The German Spitz is not a hypoallergenic breed. It sheds all-year round at minimal levels and heavily twice a year while blowing off the coat. A shedding coat releases dander and fur into the environment aggravating allergies. Apart from (dander and Fur), dog’s saliva, urine, and mucus also contain a protein allergen that triggers inflammation.
German Spitz Training | How To Train A German Spitz
The German Spitz is a lively and intelligent dog that is highly trainable. This breed also learns quickly and it is eager to please especially with positive reinforcement methods. Although, a German Spitz may have an independent streak which may make training difficult. Parents should assume pack leadership to prevent the dog from dominating the home. Pack leadership enables the dog to reach its full potential since it understands it is under the leadership of an alpha leader who will make decisions for the entire well-being of the pack.
Naturally, German Spitz distrust strangers. Therefore, they require socialization training to help the dog to happily mingle with other people and dogs. Socialization training starts from the age of 3 weeks while the dog is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after it has already settled in its new home. To socialize German Spitz, expose them to a wide variety of people, animals, places, surfaces, situations, smell, experiences, sights, and sounds such as doorbells, sirens, baby crying sounds, washing machines, lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners, and whistles.
Enrolling this breed in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes enables the dog to interact with other canines in a controlled environment. A puppy class is also beneficial to the pet parent. It enables them not only identify and correct bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance. Keep the training sessions short fun, upbeat, and challenging for a period of 5 minutes distributed throughout the day to avoid boredom and distraction.
Use positive reinforcements methods to encourage desirable behaviors through the use of treats, playtime, verbal praise, toys, and petting. Harsh corrections methods such as yelling are counterproductive. Teach basic command words like come, sit, stay, lie down, heel, and drop time one at a time to avoid overwhelming the pet. Naturally, a German Spitz is a vocal breed. However, this should not be allowed to get out of hand. Teach the quiet command to avoid nuisance barking. Effectively housebreak the Spitz by creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training.
German Spitz Temperament | Personality
- Intelligent.
- Vocal.
- Lively.
- Alert.
- Independent.
- Watchful.
- Wary of strangers.
- Highly trainable.
- Attentive.
- Energetic.
- Active.
German Spitz Exercise
This is an energetic and active dog that needs moderate amount of exercise. The exercise can be inform of indoor activities such as chasing a ball rolled along the floor, playing hide-and-seek, or teaching the dog new tricks. For apartment dwellers, short walks in the hallways will be ideal to give the dog some exercise especially during inclement weather. These are naturally curious dogs that will wiggle through the smallest gaps in search of adventures. Therefore, they should exercise in a safely secured yard. The ponds are safety hazards and should be fenced off. Lack of proper stimulation will lead to excessive barking and destructive behavior.
German Spitz Barking
The German Spitz are naturally vocal breeds that will bark to notify the owner of the people who are approaching. However, his may easily develop into a habit of excessive barking if the breed is not taught the quiet command. Lack of enough exercise can also result to excessive barking.
German Spitz Size | Weight | Height
The German Spitz are categorized into five varieties in their native German based on the size as follows:
The largest dog of German Spitz is Keeshond with a height of 17 to 22 inches ( approx. 43 to 55 cm ) and a weight of 55 to 66 pounds ( approx. 25 to 30 kg ).
The Giant Spitz is a medium-sized dog with a height of 17 to 22 inches ( approx. 43 to 55 cm ) with a weight of 37 to 40 pounds ( approx. 17 to 18 kg).
The Medium Spitz has a height of 12 to 16 inches ( approx. 30 to 40 cm ) with a weight of 23 to 25 pounds ( approx. 10.5 to 11.5 kg ).
The Miniature Spitz possess a height of 9 to 12 inches ( approx. 24 to 30 cm ) with a weight of 7 to 11 pounds ( approx. 3 to 5 kg ).
The Pomeranian has a height of 7.1 to 9.4 inches ( approx. 18 to 24 cm ) and a weight of 3.1 to 6.6 pounds ( approx. 1.4 to 3 kg ).
German Spitz Klein | Miniature
A Miniature Spitz also known as Klein has a weight of 7 to 11 pounds ( approx. 3 to 5 kg ) and a height of 9 to 12 inches ( approx. 24 to 30 cm ).
German Spitz Health Issues | Health Problems
The German Spitz is a healthy breed that has a lifespan of 13 to 15 years. However, it may suffer from certain health issues such as luxating patella, retinal dysplasia, and eye problems like progressive retinal atrophy.
Apart from German Spitz, other dog breeds include:
German Spitz Names
The German Spitz parent may get a name for the breed before it joins them home from the breeder or days after it has settled home to understand better the personality of a particular dog. Owners may get name inspirations from the profuse double coat and color, size variety, the German heritage, celebrity dogs of this breed, books, movies, food, songs, nature, or historical figures. Regardless of where you source the name, ensure it freely rolls off your tongue and will not be a source of embarrassment once uttered out loud in the public.
The German Spitz and other dog breeds better understand names that have vowels. Avoid giving your pet a name that rhymes with the command word to avoid confusion. If the owner settles with a long name, he or she should find a cute nickname for the dog. If a Spitz shares a name with any household member or guest who frequent your home, it may cause chaos. Some of the names that owners give to this breed include:
- Birdie.
- Ramon.
- Doug.
- James.
- Calvin.
- Rocco.
- Avalanche.
- Amory.
- Skip.
- Toby.
- Sabin, etc.
German Spitz Types
The are five varieties of German Spitz based on size and color as follows:
- Keeshond.
- Giant Spitz.
- Medium Spitz.
- Miniature Spitz.
- Pomeranian.
German Spitz Food | Dog Food
The amount of food that the German Spitz feeds on depend on their age, activity level, metabolism, size, and body build. The Spitz puppies tend to have a high metabolism rate as compared to adults and seniors. Therefore, a pup eats small portions of food 3 or 4 times a day from when they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, the Spitz feed on a total of two meals in a day for the rest of their lives.
A Spitz may feed on a raw diet, home made, dry food, or wet food depending on the budget of the owner and the time of preparation needed. Regardless of the food that the dog feeds on, parents should ensure that a Spitz feeds on the right amount of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, fats, amino acids, and fatty acids to maintain a healthy bone structure and weight. Fresh water should be available for your fur baby at all times.
If the dog is feeding on dry or wet commercial food, owners should ensure that the first three listed ingredients are proteins from a known source. Commercial food should never have meat by-products, fillers, preservatives, chemicals, additives, and generic meat products. Feed a Spitz with formulated dry or wet food for small to medium-sized puppies, adults, and seniors depending on its age and size variety. Check the physique of your pet to tell whether it is underweight or overweight.
The dog is underweight if the ribs are visible. However, if the ribs are not visible but you can feel them without pressing hard, a Spitz has an ideal weight. Although, if you cannot feel the ribs after pressing, the dog is overweight and should be exercised. Owners who want to switch to another food brand should do this over a period of 4 weeks by mixing old food with new food. As the week progresses, the amount of old food decreases as the amount of new food increases until the Spitz is only feeding on the new food.
German Spitz White | Colors
The Giant Spitz may have a brown, black, or white coat. In the black and brown coats, white markings on the paws, chest, and tip of the tail are permissible. The Medium and Miniature Spitz may have a brown, white, orange, black, cream, grey-shaded, orange-sable, cream-sable, parti-colored, and black & tan coat colors. The Keeshond has a silver and black coat color. The Pomeranian may have a variety of colors including the colors of medium and Miniature Spitz as well as blue, red, spotted, brindle, brown and tan, and parti color.
Are German Spitz Aggressive
No. The German Spitz is neither aggressive nor timid. However, they are reserved with strangers.
Do German Spitz Shed | Shed A Lot
A German Spitz sheds at low levels throughout the year and heavily while blowing off the undercoat twice a year.
Do German Spitz Bark A Lot
Naturally, German Spitz are vocal dogs. However, they may easily form a habit of barking a lot if they are not taught the quiet command or due to irregular exercise.
German Spitz Quick Facts
- There are five varieties of this breed based on size and color: Keeshond, Giant, Medium and Miniature Spitz respectively as well as Pomeranian. However, Keeshond and Pomeranian are separate breeds in the United States.
- They are excellent watchdogs due to there lack of prey drive. This is also an alert and watchful breed.
- This is a lively, intelligent, and a highly trainable dog.
