German Spitz

German Giant Spitz
German Giant Spitz
Other names	German: Großspitz
Height
Traits
Height	40–50 cm (16–20 in)
Weight	17–18 kg (37–40 lb)
Coat	Double coat, long straight outer and thick cotton-wool like undercoat
Colour	White, black and brown, sometimes with white spots on the chest, paws and tip of tail
	Dog (domestic dog)

Wolfsspitz
Wolfsspitz
Other names	Keeshond
Height
Traits
Height	43–55 cm (17–22 in)
Weight	15–20 kg (33–44 lb)
Coat	Double coat, long straight outer and thick cotton-wool like undercoat
Colour	Grey-shaded
	Dog (domestic dog)

German Spitz
German Spitz
	A cream-coloured German Standard Spitz (Mittelspitz)
Other names	German: Deutscher Spitz
Origin	Germany
VDH
Kennel club standards
VDH	standard
Fédération Cynologique Internationale	standard
	Dog (domestic dog)

The German Spitz (German: Deutscher Spitz) is a breed of spitz-type dogs from Germany. It is considered a single breed, with five distinct varieties based on size and colour: the Wolfsspitz/Keeshond, the Giant Spitz or Großspitz, the Medium Spitz or Mittelspitz, the Miniature Spitz or Kleinspitz and the Pomeranian or Zwergspitz ("Dwarf Spitz").

German Medium Spitz

Other names

German: Mittelspitz

Traits
Height	30–40 cm (12–16 in)^[2]^: 13
Weight	11–12 kg (24–26 lb)^[1]^: 119
Coat	Double coat, long straight outer and thick cotton-wool like undercoat
Colour	White, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours

Dog (domestic dog)

German Miniature Spitz

Other names

German: Kleinspitz

Traits
Height	24–30 cm (9.4–11.8 in)^[2]^: 13
Weight	8–10 kg (18–22 lb)^[1]^: 119
Coat	Double coat, long straight outer and thick cotton-wool like undercoat
Colour	White, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours

Dog (domestic dog)

Pomeranian

Other names

German: Zwergspitz
German Toy Spitz

Traits
Height	18–24 cm (7.1–9.4 in)^[2]^: 20
Weight	2–3 kg (4.4–6.6 lb)^[1]^: 123
Coat	Double coat, long straight outer and thick cotton-wool like undercoat
Colour	White, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours

Dog (domestic dog)

History

The earliest mentions of these spitz dogs in German literature date from AD 1450.^[1]^[3]^[4]^[5] In 1750, Count Eberhand zu Sayre Buffon wrote in his National history of quadrupeds that spitz dogs were the ancestor of all German breeds.^[4]

German Spitz dogs were originally kept on farms for a number of roles including herding and guarding. As the centuries progressed some lines were bred to be smaller for other duties and eventually as small companion dogs.^[3]^[4]

Description

The German Spitz is a long-haired, double-coated breed of spitz-type dog; the five varieties vary significantly in size. The breed standard states all variants have a double coat with a long, straight outer coat and a short, thick, cotton-wool like undercoat.^[1]^[2]

Wolfsspitz/Keeshond

The Wolfsspitz/Keeshond is the largest variety of Deutscher Spitz, standing some 43 to 55 cm (17 to 22 in) at the withers according to the breed standard. The coat is silver-grey with black shading.^[2] In some English-speaking countries – including Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States – the Keeshond and the German Wolfspitz are classed as two separate breeds; weights may be in the range 27 to 32 kg (60 to 70 lb) for the German Wolfspitz and 25 to 30 kg (55 to 65 lb) for the Keeshond.^[1]^: 134

Giant Spitz

The Giant Spitz is a medium-sized dog. It usually weighs 17 to 18 kg (37 to 40 lb) and according to the breed standard stands 43 to 55 cm (17 to 22 in); the coat can be white, black or brown. Black and brown animals can have white spots on the chest, paws and tip of tail.^[2]^[3]

Medium Spitz

The Medium Spitz is a medium-sized dog. It usually weighs 10.5 to 11.5 kg (23 to 25 lb) and according to the breed standard stands 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in); the coat can be white, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours - as well as mixes thereof.^[1]^[2]

Miniature Spitz

The Miniature Spitz is a small dog. It usually weighs 3 to 5 kg (7 to 11 lb) and according to the breed standard stands 24 to 30 cm (9 to 12 in); the coat can be white, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours.^[1]^[2]

Pomeranian

The Pomeranian (or Zwergspitz, "Dwarf Spitz") is a small dog. It usually weighs 1.4 to 3 kg (3 to 7 lb) and according to the breed standard stands 18 to 24 cm (7 to 9 in); the coat can be white, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours.^[1]^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Fogle, Bruce (2009). The encyclopedia of the dog. New York: DK Publishing. pp. 124 & 134–135. ISBN 978-0-7566-6004-8.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "FCI-Standard No 97: Deutsche Spitze" (PDF). Fédération Cynologique Internationale. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c Morris, Desmond (2001). Dogs: the ultimate dictionary of over 1,000 dog breeds. North Pomfret, VT: Trafalgar Square Publishing. pp. 428–439, 521-523 & 525-526. ISBN 1-57076-219-8.
^ ^a ^b ^c Wilcox, Bonnie; Walkowicz, Chris (1995). Atlas of dog breeds of the world. Neptune City, N.J.: TFH Publications. pp. 436–438.
^ Alderton, David (2008). The encyclopedia of dogs. Bath: Parragon Books Ltd. pp. 116, 130 & 345. ISBN 978-1-4454-0853-8.

External links

[Fogle-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Fogle, Bruce (2009). The encyclopedia of the dog. New York: DK Publishing. pp. 124 & 134–135. ISBN 978-0-7566-6004-8.

[FCI-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "FCI-Standard No 97: Deutsche Spitze" (PDF). Fédération Cynologique Internationale. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2020.

[Morris-3] Morris, Desmond (2001). Dogs: the ultimate dictionary of over 1,000 dog breeds. North Pomfret, VT: Trafalgar Square Publishing. pp. 428–439, 521-523 & 525-526. ISBN 1-57076-219-8.

[Wilcox-4] Wilcox, Bonnie; Walkowicz, Chris (1995). Atlas of dog breeds of the world. Neptune City, N.J.: TFH Publications. pp. 436–438.

[Alderton-5] Alderton, David (2008). The encyclopedia of dogs. Bath: Parragon Books Ltd. pp. 116, 130 & 345. ISBN 978-1-4454-0853-8.

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