German Spitz: breed description, care, feeding and more

general information

• Breed name: German spitz.
• Country of origin: Germany.
• Weight: depends on the subgroup.
• Height at withers: depends on the subgroup.
• Average life expectancy: 15-16 years old.
• Price: from 10,000 to 200,000 rubles and more.

What German Spitz look like

This breed has a long history, and among its ancestors is the peat dog, which lived during the Stone Age. At first the German Spitz were "working" animals. It was easier to keep such ringing guards than large dogs, and their barking barking always warned in time about the approach of strangers. Over time, the aristocrats also paid attention to cute animals. Well, now the representatives of this breed are real companion dogs, having their admirers all over the world.

The body of the German SpitzGERMAN SPITZ proportional. The head is medium in size. Wide at the back, it tapers in a wedge shape towards the nose. The muzzle is not too long. The eyes are medium in size, almond-shaped. The ears are small, erect and pointed, set high and fairly close to each other.

The neck is of medium length. The back is strong, short and straight, the loin and croup are short and wide. The chest is well developed. The tail set high is of medium length.

Size and height at the withers depend on the subgroup:

• Wolfspitz (keeshond) - 49 cm ± 6 cm;
• large (grossspitz) - 45 cm ± 5 cm, medium (middle spitz) - 35 cm ± 5 cm, small (kleinspitz) - 27 cm ± 3 cm;
• dwarf (miniature spitz / pomeranian) - 21 cm ± 3 cm.

Weight also varies and should be appropriate for the type of subgroup.

The coat of all German Spitz is fluffy, with a soft short dense undercoat and a long, straight, coarse guard hair. On the head and ears, on the front of the limbs - velvety, short and dense. Around the neck and on the shoulders of these dogs there is a plentiful "collar" resembling a mane, on the back of the hind legs there are lush "trousers", the tail is also fluffy.

The typical color for a wolfspitz is zoned gray, the rest of the Spitz are black, white, brown and more.

What is the character of the German Spitz

Dogs of this breedGERMAN SPITZ calm, level-headed and very smart. They easy to train and they easily learn commands and rules of conduct in the house. Aggression is not peculiar to them, although you cannot call spitz shy.

How German Spitz get along with adults

These small dogs are great companions. They are very devoted and loving, sincerely attached to a person and completely trust him. Despite their modest size, German Spitz is always ready to protect the owner and engage in battle even with opponents that are many times superior to them.

Dogs left alone for a long time do not feel very comfortable and may get bored. But when the owner returns, they will do their best to demonstrate their joy from the meeting.

How German Spitz get along with children

Affectionate and playful, these dogs get along well with children and are ready to support any of their fun and frolic all day long. However, you should think carefully before taking a pet to a family with a small child. Children can hurt a fragile dog, especially in puppies, or hurt her, albeit without malice.

If you decide to buy a German Spitz, be sure to explain to young family members that a pet is not just a fur toy, but a living creature. Also, try not to leave a child with a puppy unattended at least for the first time, until you are sure that their games bring joy to both.

How German Spitz get along with other animals

Peace-loving representatives of this breed get along well with different pets, including cats and dogs. But in the first time after the appearance of the puppy in the house, try to observe their communication in order to protect the pet if necessary.

What conditions of detention are required for German Spitz

From the first day of the pet's appearance, set aside for him his own place in the house where he can sleep and just rest. It is best to use a special bed or mattress for this, which are sold in pet stores. It is advisable to place the dog's bedroom away from drafts and batteries. Also set up a feeding area with appropriately sized bowls for food and water.

A diaper is also useful, on which the dog can go to the toilet. It is especially relevant in the first months of a puppy's life in your home. Of course, over time, the dog will learn to wait to go out and it will be possible to refuse it. Although there are many Spitz owners who prefer to equip adult animals tray with low sides.

German Spitz are perky and playful dogs, so do not forget to take your pet for daily walks.

This will help the animal to release stored energy and stay in good physical shape.

You can go with your dog to the promenade even during a typical winter in the middle zone without special warming clothes. The animal's wool does an excellent job with the protective function. But shoes in some cases can be used. It will protect the dog's feet from reagents that are sprayed on the roads. Although this is not necessary, because through the dangerous areas of the pet, you can transfer it on your hands, or you can simply treat the paws with a special protective wax.

In rainy seasons, you can wear special overalls so that the wool is less wet and dirty, although you yourself animals do not experience discomfort from this. So it’s at the discretion of the person, as well as the decision on whether to dress up dogs in dresses and other decorative wardrobe items.

How to feed German Spitz

The easiest way is to feed the dog with ready-made complete food from well-known and proven brands that monitor the quality of their products. You can choose a special option for puppies and adult animals, as well as for dogs that suffer from food allergies and other diseases.

Natural food is another diet option for the Spitz. In such a diet, lean meat, offal, vegetables must be present. This diet is more varied, albeit time consuming, because you will have to cook for your pet yourself.

When compiling a natural menu, it is worth excluding from it all products dangerous for the dog. For example, you do not need to give Pomeranian sweets and pastries, sausages and smoked meats, tubular bones, as well as everything salty, pickled, spicy, fatty and spicy.

When choosing what to feed the dog, it is advisable to consult with the breeder and clarify what diet the pet is accustomed to. Of course, over time, you can change the diet and transfer the dog from natural food to ready-made food, or vice versa. But it is better to do this gradually, so that the animal's body has time to adapt.

Regardless of the type of feeding, the German Spitz definitely needs clean drinking water.

Dogs of this breed are prone to obesity. Therefore, it is undesirable to overfeed them, and it is also important to provide the dog with physical activity - to walk and play with him. If the Spitz begins to have problems with weight, you need to change his diet, in consultation with veterinarian.

How to care for German Spitz

The coat, which gives this breed a special charm, needs careGerman spitz. It is enough to scratch the pet a little every couple of days and comb thoroughly using conditioner about once a week. During molting, which happens twice a year, it is worth doing it more often.

It is worth bathing the dogs every few months. After you need to dry and comb the Spitz and especially protect it from drafts at this moment. You can arrange bath days more often only if pet very dirty. You can also use dry shampoos sold in specialized stores to clean the coat.

With regard to haircuts, in most cases it is sufficient to shorten the hair on the paws, under the tail and on the ears to shape them. Short "hairstyles" are undesirable for Spitz, especially when it comes to males. When shortened as much as possible, the new coat can grow back slowly, fall off and look very untidy. In most cases, it takes a lot of time and effort to restore its previous appearance. It is not too comfortable with such a haircut for the dogs themselves, because it is the hair that protects in the winter cold and saves from overheating in the summer.

The ears of the German Spitz must be cleaned with a special lotion. Usually, several such procedures per month or even less often are enough, it all depends on the degree of pollution.

Another mandatory procedure is claw cutting. You need to shorten them as they grow, and you can do it yourself or with specialists - in a veterinary clinic or a grooming salon.

To care for the German Spitz does not cause problems for you and the dog, teach your pet to all procedures from a young age.

What German Spitz are ill with

Dogs of this breed are strong and active, they are distinguished by good health.These Stone ‑ Age Dogs Are Still Popular in Europe, but a Rarity in the US. However, they also have a tendency to certain diseases.

Among the ailments that German Spitz are prone to:

• Alopecia X (BSD) - lossAlopecia X is a Pattern of Baldness wool in certain areas of the body and the subsequent darkening of the skin in the affected areas.
• Dislocation of the patella (medial) - characteristic of small dog breeds a problem that manifests itself in the form of periodic or persistent (in chronic form) lameness.
• Cough, the occurrence of which is associated with an open circular shape of the cartilage of the larynx. It can appear during meals, active games and stressful situations.
• Progressive retinal atrophy and dysplasia.
• EpilepsyGerman spitz (manifests itself in the form of seizures, different in duration and intensity).

Pay attention to your pet's health and monitor its condition. If your dog becomes lethargic, refuses to eat, changes his usual behavior, or has other suspicious symptoms, seek advice from a veterinarian. Specialists will help diagnose the disease in time and prescribe a suitable course of treatment.

What to look for when buying a German Spitz

The cost of puppies depends on many parameters, including the prospects of the dog. So, puppies of the "show" class are distinguished by their high cost. Such dogs are potential champions who fully comply with breed standards. The next class is the "breed", whose representatives are optimal for breeding work, but they are unlikely to collect all the titles at exhibitions. And finally, "pet" - purebred pets with good health, but with minor flaws that block their way to participate in breeding and deprive experts of high marks.

Before making your final decision, take a close look at your future pet. Choose a vigorous and well-fed puppy that is active. Pay attention to the conditions of its maintenance, because they can say a lot about the breeder's approach to work. Feel free to ask questions about your future dog, this will help avoid mistakes and disappointments in the future.

When purchasing a puppy make sure you get the documents for the dog. So, together with the animal, you must be given its metric (puppy card) - in fact, this is a birth certificate, on the basis of which you can then get a pedigree. Another important document is the veterinary passport, which lists all the vaccinations received.

Of course, you can buy a German Spitz for the soul without any documents at all. But there is a certain risk in this. First of all, you cannot be sure of your pet's pedigree. And also you will not find out whether his parents were healthy and what, accordingly, the probability of problems.