German Spitz

Grooming Tips

The German Spitz has a profuse double coat, which sheds twice per year. During those times, the entire undercoat is shed in a span of about 2 to 3 weeks. Daily brushing will be required to remove his old coat and his hair will inevitably be all over your clothes, furniture, and floor. The good news is his shedding is quite minimal during the rest of the year. A quick brush every couple days and thorough grooming once per week will suffice to keep mats and knots from forming. His hair should never be clipped off entirely, as you will remove the insulating properties of his coat. He also does not need to be bathed very often. Mud can be brushed out of his coat if allowed to dry first.

Exercise Tips

A moderate amount of regular exercise will suffice for the German Spitz. Though longer activity is unnecessary, he will happily keep up on an extended walk. Providing a secure area for exercise is highly recommended as he is a very curious dog and can wiggle through the smallest of gaps in search of other adventures. Ponds are also a hazard to this breed and should be fenced off.Exercise can also come in the form of indoor activities, like hide-and-seek, chasing a ball rolled along the floor, or teaching him new tricks.If you live in an apartment, even short walks in the hallways can give your dog some exercise, especially during inclement weather.Equally important is not to let your German Spitz become too bored. He is a lively and intelligent breed and, if left with nothing to do all day, he may become destructive or excessively bark.

Feeding Tips

The German Spitz has a profuse double coat, which sheds twice per year. During those times, the entire undercoat is shed in a span of about 2 to 3 weeks. Daily brushing will be required to remove his old coat and his hair will inevitably be all over your clothes, furniture, and floor. The good news is his shedding is quite minimal during the rest of the year. A quick brush every couple days and thorough grooming once per week will suffice to keep mats and knots from forming. His hair should never be clipped off entirely, as you will remove the insulating properties of his coat. He also does not need to be bathed very often. Mud can be brushed out of his coat if allowed to dry first.

Health Tips

Some cases of PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), RD (Retinal Dysplasia), and Patella Luxation have been seen in the German Spitz, but a majority of this breed are generally healthy. Puppies should be bought only from responsible breeders who eye test their breeding stock.Working with a reputable breeder, prospective owners can gain the education they need to learn about specific health concerns within the breed.

Trainability

Highly intelligent, the German Spitz learns quickly and is eager to please with motivational methods. He does not respond well to being made to do things however. One behavioral characteristic you may want to curb with training is his natural reaction to bark at anything new or unusual. Bred to be an alert watchdog, he is naturally very vocal, but this should not be allowed to become a problem. Your neighbors will not thank you for it either. With good training, this breed can excel at mini agility heelwork to music and obedience.

It should be first noted that the FCI views the German Spitz to be in the same family as the Pomeranian/Toy Spitz (the smallest) and the Keeshond/Wolfspitz (the largest), with three sizes of German Spitz in the middle (giant, medium, and miniature.) Therefore, the history of the German Spitz is intertwined with these two other breeds.First references of the spitz can be found in 1450 when Count Eberhard Zu Sayn of Germanyremarked that the dog was a valiant defender of the home and fields. The province of Pomerania, a historical region on the south shores of the Baltic between modern-day Germany and Poland, was the home of many of the early members of this breed, hence the early name of Pomeranian.What the small spitz lacks in bulk, they make up for in alertness and voice. Traders and fishermen took these dogs on their boats as alert watchdogs for their goods. On farms, the spitz’s acute hearing was used for early warnings of intruders. They would sit up on anything high and use their high-pitched alarm bark at the first sign of anything strange. In Germany, they are sometimes calledmistbeller,meaning dung-hill barkers.Originally a peasant’s dog, the spitz gained popularity with the royalty and upper class of England. In the 18th century when George I took the throne, he and his German wife, naturally, had many German visitors to the court and they had brought their spitz dogs with them. Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, and Queen Victoria have also devoted fans of the breed in their time.The beginning of World War I saw a rapid decline in the breed and it wasn’t until 1975 after several Keeshonds were imported from Holland and bred to larger Pomeranians, that the breed made a comeback.