German Spitz
Temperament:
The German Spitz is a popular guard and companion dog. The dog breed is well suited for families with children as well as for singles and seniors. Thanks to its distrust of strangers, the Spitz also scores well as a guard dog.
Characteristics
The German Spitz was long considered a descendant of the Stone Age peat dog. It is one of the oldest dog breeds in Central Europe. Recognized by the FCI, the breed is assigned to FCI Group 5 (Spitz and primitive type dogs).
Long, straight top coat and a wadded undercoat characterize the coat of the German Spitz. In terms of color, the Spitz comes in black, brown, white, orange, and gray. Other shades are quite common and not uncommon.
The attentive and lively pedigree dogs are very affectionate towards their owners. Due to its lack of hunting instinct and its distrust of strangers, the German Spitz is good to keep as a house and farm dog.
The German Spitz is popular mainly because of its docile behavior. With eagerness to learn and intelligence, the Spitz fits effortlessly into the family. For singles and seniors, the German Spitz is a perfect everyday companion. Since the animals are neither fearful nor aggressive, they can be easily kept in both rural and urban environments.
The German Spitz immediately inspires with its perky appearance. The quick eyes and the fox-like head already indicate that animals of the breed are quite curious and lively. Accordingly, the animals learn quickly. They like to adapt to the circumstances on their own initiative. Their goal is to please "their human". What makes dealing with a German Spitz very pleasant.
Very important in the education of the German Spitz is to always offer the animal new input. Basic things the animals learn so quickly. The German Spitz learns very quickly. Due to this fact, he is easily taught small tricks.
As a house and yard dog, the Spitz naturally shines because of its alert nature and its distrust of strangers. As a guardian he is also well suited because he is considered very robust and insensitive to weather. The Spitz does not know fear and yet he is quite peaceful and aggressive behavior is alien to him.
Sufficient exercise and specific occupation are important components of the attitude. If a Spitz is mentally challenged, he flourishes and is very balanced. The breed can be kept in an apartment without any problems. However, varied walks should be the order of the day. It is also recommended to do agility with the Spitz.
For the Spitz it is ideal if he is allowed to accompany "his" human. If this is not always possible, this is not a problem. Shorter time windows alone at home the Spitz copes stress-free. Singles and seniors should get the Spitz used to some other caregivers early on. This can be very important in case of illness or traveling.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
The German Spitz also proves to be easy to care for when it comes to nutrition. He does not have any special requirements. It is important to pay attention to what the animal likes. When choosing food, you should of course pay attention to the nutrient content. You should also make sure to choose food without unnecessary additives.
High quality food adapted to the age is of course a must. The problem with the German Spitz is rather that he is extremely crafty. Therefore, care should be taken that no food is freely accessible.
Likewise, it is a challenge for all Spitz owners not to give the German Spitz anything from the table. If you as the owner are not consistent, the dog will quickly learn to beg. It is also not uncommon for the Spitz to try to get food by performing tricks. For the sake of your dog's health, make sure that he does not get any leftover food.
Of course, even with the Spitz the one or other food reward is quite possible, although not absolutely necessary. It is better to have special dog treats ready and not to share your food with the Spitz. Also, always keep an eye on your pet's weight. This allows you to counteract overweight at an early stage.
German Spitz care
The German Spitz is also in the care without great demands. Of course, regular brushing of the coat is important. During the coat change it is useful to use a Fulminator. With this, the undercoat can be thinned out effortlessly. This is pleasant for the animal and also ensures that less hair is distributed in the apartment and on your clothes.
The fluffy fur of the breed is dirt repellent and the Spitz itself is very clean and cleans itself a lot. Therefore, brushing is usually enough. Of course, you should also regularly check eyes and ears. You can gently remove any accumulated dirt. In the summer there is also the search for ticks. The danger of tick bites is quite high when the lively Spitz roams through high grass. Since these are not so quickly noticed by the fluffy fur, you should actively check for ticks. The Spitz usually likes to be patted down.
Due to his robust health, the further care effort is kept within limits. The usual worming and vaccinations are often sufficient to keep the Spitz fit into old age. If you are interested in a Spitz, you should be aware that the animals usually reach an age of 15 and more years. In old age, of course, it can come to the fact that the necessary care increases somewhat.
Suitable accessories
As a playful companion, the German Spitz naturally needs a good harness and a suitable leash. It is important to make sure that the harness fits perfectly.
Toys for small dogs are ideal to offer stimulation to the Spitz. Basically, small balls, branches and co can be well incorporated into the training.
You don't have to worry about the cold with the Spitz. His fluffy coat and cotton-like undercoat keep him warm in winter. For the hot summer, however, a cooling mat can be quite welcome refreshment.
Origin & History
The origin of the German Spitz is not entirely clear to this day. There is the assumption that the Spitz descended from the prehistoric peat dog. So far, however, this could not be proven. Thus, the ancestry of the German Spitz is still unclear.
However, it can be clearly proved that the Spitz was widespread in the Middle Ages. Animals of the breed were bred throughout Europe and spread as far as Asia. Until well into the 19th century, the Spitz was one of the most popular dog breeds, due in no small part to its loyalty. Most often, the Spitz was used as a house and yard dog to watch over the estate.
The agile small dog was bred very early as a family and guard dog. During breeding, care was taken to reinforce the positive character traits of the. This is how the Spitz character came into being, as it is considered typical today.
With increasing industrialization, the spread of the Spitz became much less in the 19th century. More and more people moved to the city and no longer needed a house and yard dog. The Spitz regained popularity during the Second World War, as it was considered very robust and frugal.
The German Spitz was very popular with the English kings, among others. Among other things, the animals were kept at the court of George III and George IV. Other historically significant personalities were also fond of the Spitz. Among the lovers of the breed were: Pastor Sebastian Kneipp, Martin Luther or Amadeus Mozart.
Thanks to Wilhelm Busch, the Spitz even entered literature, playing an important role in the stories of Max and Moritz.
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