German Spitz (Klein)
Encyclopedia
The German Spitz Klein is a breed
of dog
of the German Spitz
type
. They are usually classed as a toy
or utility breed
.
A Spitz
-type dog is compact of body, with a dense stand-off coat, tail curled over the back and a fox-like appearance to the head. Archaeological findings date the German Spitz to dogs that were of similar build and size during the Stone Age.
y face that is less fluffy than the rest of the body, although the fur is still very thick. The fur around the neck is even thicker, giving the dog a lion
-like appearance. The body has a fuzzy, woolly base underneath the straight, smooth upper coat, although it has a tendency to become crimped when wet. The tail will usually curl up over the back and sit flat. The dogs can be a wide variety of colours, including wolf sable, blue, cream, brown, orange, black, white, and a mixture of black/brown and white, and black and tan: gold and black dogs tend to predominate. The Spitz Klein ranges in height from 9 inches (22.9 cm) to 11 inches (27.9 cm), and in weight from 11 pounds (5 kg) to 40 pounds (18.1 kg).
and Lapphund which were most likely brought over to Germany with the Vikings during the Middle Ages
, making spitzers an ancient breed. They were then spread all over Europe
, where they were bred with other shepherding breeds. They were originally used as herding and guard dogs, but have been used mostly as companions for the last few centuries.
, due to its small size, especially if overweight.
Dog breed
Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock....
of dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
of the German Spitz
German Spitz
German Spitz is used to refer to both a breed of dog and category or type of dog. Several modern breeds have been developed from the German Spitz, and are either registered as separate breeds or as varieties of German Spitz. All the German Spitz type dogs are dogs of the Spitz type of German origin...
type
Dog type
Dog types are broad categories of dogs based on function, with dogs identified primarily by specific function or style of work rather than by lineage or appearance....
. They are usually classed as a toy
Toy dog
Toy dog traditionally refers to a very small dog or a grouping of small and very small breeds of dog. A toy dog may be of any of various dog types. Types of dogs referred to as toy dogs may include Spaniels, Pinschers and Terriers that have been bred down in size. Not all toy dogs are lapdogs,...
or utility breed
Breed
A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals or plants of the same species. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry, there is no scientifically accepted...
.
A Spitz
Spitz
Spitz-type dogs are a type of dog, characterized by long, thick, and often white fur, and pointed ears and muzzles...
-type dog is compact of body, with a dense stand-off coat, tail curled over the back and a fox-like appearance to the head. Archaeological findings date the German Spitz to dogs that were of similar build and size during the Stone Age.
Appearance
The Spitz Klein has triangular ears and a small, foxFox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
y face that is less fluffy than the rest of the body, although the fur is still very thick. The fur around the neck is even thicker, giving the dog a lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
-like appearance. The body has a fuzzy, woolly base underneath the straight, smooth upper coat, although it has a tendency to become crimped when wet. The tail will usually curl up over the back and sit flat. The dogs can be a wide variety of colours, including wolf sable, blue, cream, brown, orange, black, white, and a mixture of black/brown and white, and black and tan: gold and black dogs tend to predominate. The Spitz Klein ranges in height from 9 inches (22.9 cm) to 11 inches (27.9 cm), and in weight from 11 pounds (5 kg) to 40 pounds (18.1 kg).
History
The German Spitz is thought to have descended from the Nordic SamoyedSamoyed (dog)
The Samoyed dog takes its name from the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia. An alternate name for the breed, especially in Europe, is Bjelkier...
and Lapphund which were most likely brought over to Germany with the Vikings during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, making spitzers an ancient breed. They were then spread all over Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, where they were bred with other shepherding breeds. They were originally used as herding and guard dogs, but have been used mostly as companions for the last few centuries.
Health
The breed has few inherent health problems: it can be prone to patellar luxationLuxating patella
Luxating patella is a condition in which the patella, or kneecap, dislocates or moves out of its normal location....
, due to its small size, especially if overweight.
See also
- German SpitzGerman SpitzGerman Spitz is used to refer to both a breed of dog and category or type of dog. Several modern breeds have been developed from the German Spitz, and are either registered as separate breeds or as varieties of German Spitz. All the German Spitz type dogs are dogs of the Spitz type of German origin...
- American Eskimo DogAmerican Eskimo DogThe American Eskimo Dog is a breed of companion dog originating in Germany. The American Eskimo is a member of the Spitz family. Despite its name and appearance, the American Eskimo dog is not from Alaska; the dog's heritage is traced back to Northern Europe...
- KeeshondKeeshondThe Keeshond is a medium-sized dog with a plush two-layer coat of silver and black fur with a 'ruff' and a curled tail. It originated in Germany, and its closest relatives are the other German spitzes such as the Pomeranian...
- PomeranianPomeranian (dog)The Pomeranian is a breed of dog of the Spitz type, named for the Pomerania region in Central Europe . Classed as a toy dog breed because of its small size, the Pomeranian is descended from the larger Spitz type dogs, specifically the German Spitz...
- Japanese SpitzJapanese SpitzThe is a small to medium breed of dog of the Spitz type. The Japanese Spitz is a companion dog and pet. There are varying standards around the world as to the ideal size of the breed, but they are always larger than their smaller cousins, the Pomeranian. They were developed in Japan in the 1920s...
External links
- German Spitz World, , a UK-based website for owners
- Dog Breed Info, an American website's page about the breed