I'm thinking about buying a German Spitz. Do they make good pets?
On the whole, yes. They are bright, intelligent and lively. They are also independent and have a tendency to be noisy if not taught otherwise. They should be very bold, which combined with their lively and adventurous temperaments, means a dog that cannot be ignored.
As they are small, they need comparatively little physical exercise when compared to something like a Husky or German Shepherd, although they will happily keep up with those breeds if that is your daily exercise equivalent as they're certainly no couch potatoes. As well as physical exercise, they should be kept mentally occupied as their keen intelligence shouldn't go to waste (if left to their own devices, they will make their own entertainment which may result in barking/howling/chewing, etc).
They have profuse coats which means regular grooming is essential but a coat of correct harsh texture is a lot easier to maintain than might be expected with this much hair.
Do they have good temperaments?
As described above, they can be very lively. Raised properly, and given the appropriate socialising they mix well with people, other pets and dogs.
What do they look like?
A compact, square-bodied dog with the characteristic spitz features of the tail carried over the back, well arched neck, wedge shaped head and prick ears set well on the head. They should have a profuse, offstanding coat. They can (and do) come in any colour except merle and you can see more info on this here.
What size are they?
They come in two sizes - 'Mittel' and 'Klein'.
Klein: 23-29 cms (9-11.5ins) and Mittel: 30-38 cms (12-15 ins).
Note that as the sizes have only been treated as two separate varieties for relatively few years, sizes have not completely stabilised yet, so you can occasionally find a Klein German spitz growing as big as a Mittel and a Mittel as small as a Klein. So if the size is important to you, make sure the breeder is aware of this and look carefully into the parentage for dogs that they are the correct size. If you wish to breed or show, correct size is essential to achieve success.
Are they easy to train?
That's a difficult one! There is no doubting their intelligence and ability to learn quickly. But traditional methods of trying to make them do things, rather than teaching them to want to do things for rewards, will give an owner very limited success. A few have achieved success in obedience and they're now making their mark in agility competitions, and inevitably attract attention with their lively and energetic attitude to the job in hand. Using the right methods, they can be taught to do any number of things (within their physical capabilities) and will tackle tasks with enthusiasm. But you will be doomed to disappointment if you want a dog that gives 100% unquestioning obedience and maybe you should consider a different breed.
How much exercise do they need?
They can take a surprising amount for their size, but on the whole they don't need miles of exercise every day. But they should, like any dog, get out and about to have a change of scenery and the opportunity to socialise and meet other dogs.
Are they destructive?
They shouldn't be if they are given enough to do. But even the bored German Spitz isn't particularly inclined to destroy the house (though other everyday items may suffer). They may, however, steal food and can be very resourceful in attempting to reach any left around. Finding their way onto tables or worktops is not unheard of.
I've been told they're noisy-is that right?
A number of the varieties of spitz have a reputation for noisiness - not without foundation. Often a German spitz's first reaction to many new or alarming situations is to bark and they are very alert guard dogs. It is certainly possible to keep them quiet, but you will need to be aware of the potential for noise if you have neighbours to worry about and therefore ensure it isn't allowed to develop.
Do they need a lot of grooming?
Yes and no. It is easy to assume as they are a heavily coated breed that they need a good brush every day. In fact, this isn't always best for the coat and a quick brush every other day with a thorough, deep grooming every week is normally fine. Their coats should never be clipped in any way and even in the Summer, clipping the coat is not recommended as it then loses its insulating qualities and the dog may in fact be hotter. An occasional bath won't hurt, but they don't need them if the grooming is kept up. A dog blaster is a very useful addition to your grooming kit for not only drying, but also removing dirt and dead coat and cutting down on grooming time required.
Are they good with children?
The question should really be would your children be good with the German Spitz? They are a small breed and therefore more liable to injury in the sort of rough housing children often expect of the family pet. A wrongly placed football or falling toddler can do a lot of damage to a small dog. But they are game to join in most activities with enthusiasm and unlike a bigger dog, they are unlikely to pull or knock over the older children.
Do they have health problems?
Compared to some other breeds, they are pretty healthy. The breed standard is such that exaggeration of any feature which may lead to ill health is discouraged.
However, there have been incidences of eye disease and epilepsy, and as with many smaller breeds, slipping patella can occur.
Buyers would be wise to ensure both parents of any potential purchase hold a current clear eye certificate (BVA/ISDS) and that puppies have been litter screened by a a qualified eye panellist, and while there is no official scheme for Epilepsy or Patella Luxation in the UK, the Putnam '68 scheme is used by many breeds for patella scoring. It goes without saying that epileptic animals or their close relatives should not be bred from.
Poor mouths are also in evidence which although not a serious health problem, can mean premature dental care will be needed and like many small breeds, adult teeth can be lost at a much earlier age than expected.
What were they bred for originally? What's their history?
They weren't developed with any particular purpose in mind, except as general companions and watch dogs and many still take the watch dog part of their job very seriously! They would often go to market with their owners to help guard their belongings so had to also be able to maintain an efficient trot behind the cart if needed. Many today still demonstrate how agile they are at jumping on and off things so another useful skill that would have helped them to get on and off those carts as they pleased.
Developed from the larger European spitz, they are, in effect, miniature versions of the Keeshond and the Wolfspitz. Known as Pomeranians originally, they became popular in this country during the 18th century and can be seen in paintings by Gainsborough and Stubbs. Miniaturised by the Victorians, eventually only the very small Pomeranians were to be found which became the highly popular breed they are today. It wasn't until the late 1970s that a few individuals began the move to reintroduce the original, slightly bigger spitz from the continent back into the UK, and they were recognised by the Kennel Club in 1985.
Do they hunt?
Many of the breed are known to hunt birds and vermin so if you have other small pets, they will need careful introduction and supervision from a young age. They usually get get along fine with family cats when introduced properly but never take anything for granted with youngsters or unfamiliar animals.
What if I want a bitch so I can breed from her?
If you opt to buy a puppy you have to ensure you have bought her from typical, healthy lines and it helps to be as familiar as possible with her antecedents. But you cannot possibly consider breeding from her until she is adult and all her faults and virtues have become evident. However well bred she is, if she develops unacceptable faults such as a nervous or aggressive temperament or a physical problem such as patella luxation, then she mustn't be bred from. So you may wish to buy an adult. In which case be sure you know why the dog is being sold as breeders don't often part with good, sound breeding stock. However, this isn't unknown and some breeders have found themselves needing to part with perfectly good dogs simply because they have too many. Naturally, if you do want to breed, then you must be prepared to do any relevant health testing on your bitch and her puppies, and be sure you can find good, permanent homes for all the puppies and be prepared to take responsibility for their well being.
Where can I meet some and find out more about them?
The German Spitz Club of GB runs two shows a year, the German Spitz Breeders and Owners Club holds one, and the Kennel Club holds their show Crufts (usually in March) which are certainly the largest gatherings of German spitz in any one place. See details below. An increasing number of general championship shows have classes for German spitz and you can find a list of them on this site. Some breeders will be happy to let you visit and have a chat if its clear you are serious in your interest in the breed, but don't just drop in. They are generally very busy people and you will need to make an appointment to see them. Speak to either of the German Spitz Club secretaries, who will be happy to help and give you advice.
Where can I get details of puppies and breeders?
Both the German Spitz Club of GB and the German Spitz Breeders and Owners Club keep lists of people with puppies available and we also have a breeder list on this site.
Do be careful to avoid the general dog or puppy sales sites that are found online as many dogs listed for sale as German Spitz are not purebred or health tested and often have a price tag much higher than those from responsibly bred health tested litters.
