German Spitz - Juliette Cunliffe - E-Book

German Spitz E-Book

Juliette Cunliffe

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Beschreibung

A rare breed in America, the German Spitz is one of Europe's most beloved companion breeds whose popularity in the States has been eclipsed by three spinoffs—the Pomeranian, Keeshond, and American Eskimo Dog. Like those three smiling descendants, the German Spitz is a happy-go-lucky, lighthearted companion, ranging in size from Toy (7 inches) to Giant (18 inches), and occurring in all colors and patterns. Owners prize the breed for its fun personality, keen intelligence, and hardy constitution. The opening chapter of this Comprehensive Owner's Guide is dedicated to the history of this breed, tracing its origins from the Peat Dogs of the Stone Age to its rise to favor in Victorian England to its spread throughout Europe and modern-day England. The chapter on the breed's characteristics paints a portrait of this affable, attractive dog, ideal for a family with children, that requires very little of its owners other than grooming, exercise, and lots of love. This full-color edition, written by British dog expert Juliette Cunliffe, is the only book currently available on this terrific companion breed. New owners will welcome the well-prepared chapter on finding a reputable breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy. Chapters on puppy-proofing the home and yard, purchasing the right supplies for the puppy as well as house-training, feeding, and grooming are illustrated with photographs of handsome adults and puppies. In all, there are over 135 full-color photographs in this useful and reliable volume. The author's advice on obedience training will help the reader better mold and train into the most well-mannered dog in the neighborhood. The extensive and lavishly illustrated chapter on healthcare provides up-to-date detailed information on selecting a qualified veterinarian, vaccinations, preventing and dealing with parasites, infectious diseases, and more. Sidebars throughout the text offer helpful hints, covering topics as diverse as historical dogs, breeders, or kennels, toxic plants, first aid, crate training, carsickness, fussy eaters, and parasite control. Fully indexed.

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Physical Characteristics of the German Spitz

(from the Fédération Cynologique Internationale breed standard)

Head: Tapers in wedge shape to the tip of the nose.

Stop: Moderate to marked.

Eyes: Of medium size, longish shape, slightly slanting and dark.

Nose: Round, small and pure black.

Muzzle: In pleasing proportion to the skull.

Lips: Close fitting to the jaws.

Chest: Deep…well sprung, the forechest well developed.

Forequarters: Straight, rather broad front. The shoulder blade is long and well laid back. The elbow joint is strong, close fitting to the brisket. The forearm is of medium length in relation to the body, sturdy and completely straight. The front feet are as small as possible, round and closed, so-called cat feet, with well arched toes.

Ears: Set high and relatively close to each other, triangular and pointed.

Neck: Medium length…set broadly into the shoulders, slightly arched.

Withers/Back: High withers drop imperceptibly into the shortest possible, straight, firm back.

Tail: Set on high and of medium length. It lies firmly over the back and is covered with very bushy hair.

Hindquarters: The hind legs stand straight and parallel. The stifle joint is strong with only moderate angulation. The hock is of medium length, very strong and vertical to the ground. The hind feet are as small as possible, tightly closed with well arched toes, so-called cat feet.

Coat: Double coat. Head, ears, front side of front and hind legs and the feet are covered by short, thick (velvety) hair. The rest of the body has a long rich coat.

Contents

History of the German Spitz

A member of the ancient European spitz group of dogs, the German Spitz, a rare breed in the US, descended from hunting dogs. Follow the German Spitz’s ancestors’ introduction into England, where the dogs became popular and fashionable companions for royalty, and see how the breed’s different-sized varieties emerged.

Characteristics of the German Spitz

Intelligent, lively and personable, the German Spitz is a happy little dog, well suited to most any living situation and clad in a magnificent coat seen in a veritable rainbow of colors. Learn about the breed’s personality and physical characteristics; also discover what German Spitz ownership requires and discuss potential breed health problems.

Breed Standard for the German Spitz

Learn the requirements of a well-bred German Spitz by studying the description of the breed as set forth in the Fédération Cynologique Internationale’s breed standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Your Puppy German Spitz

Find out about how to locate a well-bred German Spitz puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy-accessory shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and acclimating pup to his new home.

Proper Care of Your German Spitz

Cover the specifics of taking care of your German Spitz every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes, nails and bathing; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are the essentials of dog identification.

Training Your German Spitz

Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of house-training the German Spitz, including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Get started by introducing the pup to his collar and leash and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and other activities.

Healthcare of Your German Spitz

By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD

Become your dog’s healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss pet insurance, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and a sensible, effective plan for parasite control, including fleas, ticks and worms.

Your Senior German Spitz

Know when to consider your German Spitz a senior and what special needs he will have. Learn to recognize the signs of aging in terms of physical and behavioral traits and what your vet can do to optimize your dog’s golden years.

Showing Your German Spitz

Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Acquaint yourself with the basic principles and organization of conformation shows. Also meet the FCI, the “world kennel club.”

Behavior of Your German Spitz

Analyze the canine mind to understand what makes your German Spitz tick. Among the issues addressed are separation anxiety, various types of aggression, chewing, barking and food-related problems.

KENNEL CLUB BOOKS®GERMAN SPITZ

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-325-9

eISBN 13: 978-1-62187-070-8

Copyright © 2005 • Kennel Club Books® • A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC™

3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA

Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 • Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Photography by Carol Ann Johnson and Michael Traffordwith additional photographs by:

Paulette Braun, T.J. Calhoun, Alan and Sandy Carey, Isabelle Français, Bill Jonas and Alice van Kempen.

Illustrations by Patricia Peters.

The publisher wishes to thank all of the owners of the dogs featured in this book, including Pat Hawker, Audrey Metcalfe and Carol Westwood.

The Mittel, or Medium, Spitz is right in the middle of the German Spitz sizes.

ORIGIN AND ESTABLISHMENT

The German Spitz has a long history, because, as a member of the European spitz group of dogs, its ancestors can be traced back to the hunter-gatherers of the Stone Age some 6000 years ago. However, without delving too far back into the mists of time but rather bringing us closer to the present day, we need to go back to the Turf Spitz. This was a dog that was buried by accident and preserved in the peat bogs ranging from the northern plain of Germany through most of Denmark. Because this was an area of swampland, houses were built on stilts and, over time, well-preserved humans and dogs have been recovered from the resultant peat bogs.

It is generally believed that the dogs found were the ancestors of the German Spitz. It is also thought that the hunting instinct had been deliberately bred out of these dogs because house dogs and herders were of more use than hunting dogs to these non-nomadic peoples. Of greater importance was that the dogs would stay near the homestead and give voice when intruders approached.

Another theory is that white coats were favored, for this would allow the dogs to be distinguished easily from marauding wolves and thus prevent the dogs from being killed accidentally. It should be stressed, however, that the hunting instinct’s being bred out and the preference for the color white remain only as theories and are by no means proven.

What we do know for sure is that they were good watchdogs of the old-fashioned kind, protecting not only farms but also vineyards, warehouses, barges, wagons and peddlers’ packs. The spitz family is a group of breeds that has always been ready to give voice, even having been given the name mistbeller, which can be translated as “dung-hill barker.”

The dog known as the German Wolf Spitz is akin to the Keeshond of Holland.

SPITZ DOGS

The word “spitz” is a general word used to describe dogs with pointed ears and sharp muzzles. They all have curled tails and dense, double coats. The FCI recognizes five sizes of German Spitz. The largest and smallest are more familiarly known as the Keeshond and Pomeranian, respectively. Comprising what we know as the German Spitz breed are the Gross Spitz (large), Mittel Spitz (medium) and Klein Spitz (small). In addition, many other countries have spitz breeds of their own.

Thomas Gainsborough’s Pomeranian and Puppy. The Dwarf or Toy Spitz is today’s Pomeranian.

The spitz dogs developed rather differently in various countries, doing such things as running alongside coaches or riding on the backs of horses. They varied both in size and in color, for selective breeding has always taken place, as indeed it has with all domestic animals.

During the 18th century, the breed started to gain popularity in England, for George I came to the throne in 1714. His wife was German, and the couple’s descendants also married German aristocrats, giving rise to many German visitors to the English court. With them, they brought their dogs, and it was these that were effectively the forerunners of today’s German Spitzen. The dogs were known then as Pomeranians and were believed to have originated in a place called Pomerania (Pommern), a former duchy on the Baltic Sea, between eastern Germany and western Poland. These dogs were considerably larger than the breed we know as the Pomeranian today.

It is quite remarkable how a dog that had been essentially a peasant’s dog became so highly favored by royalty and the upper classes. Queen Charlotte, the German wife of King George III, brought two Pomeranians, Phoebe (also spelt Phebe) and Mercury, to Britain in 1767. Here they lived in Kew, West London, as did the artist Gainsborough, who came regularly into contact with the breed through his work. These dogs were featured prominently in the works of famous artists, notably Gainsborough and Stubbs. It was the fashion of the day to have one’s portrait painted to include a favorite pet. Today, by seeing paintings of that time in which a dog was portrayed alongside its owner, we can obtain a rough idea of the early Pomeranian’s size. Several paintings include white dogs, but one of special note was that of “Fino,” a black and white parti-color.

CANIS LUPUS

“Grandma, what big teeth you have!” The gray wolf, a familiar figure in fairy tales and legends, has had its reputation tarnished and its population pummeled over the centuries. Yet it is the descendants of this much-feared creature to which we open our homes and hearts. Our beloved dog, Canis domesticus, derives directly from the gray wolf, a highly social canine that lives in elaborately structured packs. In the wild, the gray wolf can range from 60 to 175 pounds, standing between 25 and 40 inches in height.

Pomeranian and girl depicted on an ancient Athenian wine jug from the fourth century BC.

ANCIENT DEPICTIONS

The British Museum houses an ancient Greek bronze jar from the second century BC. On it is engraved a group of winged horses, and at their feet is a small dog of Pomeranian type. In Athens, in the street of Tombs, was a representation of a small spitz dog leaping up to the daughter of the family as she was taking their leave. The date of this is 56 BC.

Queen Victoria, a granddaughter of Queen Charlotte, was a lady who did much to bring the public’s attention to pure-bred dogs. She became deeply involved with this breed and imported dogs varying in weight between 3 and 7 pounds. Indeed one of Queen Victoria’s Pomeranians, Gona, was among the first of the breed to win a prize at a British dog show. Her Majesty had first come into contact with the breed when she traveled to Italy in 1888 and obtained several dogs in Florence. Among these was Marco, who weighed 12 pounds and with whom she achieved notable success at shows, including Crufts, England’s largest show.

Queen Victoria’s Marco, from a photograph by Russell and Sons.

A great lover of many different kinds of dogs, Queen Victoria owned a kennel of Pomeranians, bred under the prefix “Windsor.” There is a rather amusing story of an instance when Her Majesty wished to exhibit three Pomeranians of a color not usually shown in England. A special class was provided for her exhibits, and two of them were lucky enough to be awarded joint first prize! So much did Queen Victoria love the breed that, even when she was dying, her Pomeranian, Turi, was always on her bed.

Although dogs descended from wolves, the German Spitz’s Pomeranian relative is required to have a “fox” head. Shown here is the adult kit fox.

WORK OF ART

The famous artist Gainsborough is one of several who often portrayed Pomeranians in his paintings. In London’s Wallace Collection, there is a particularly famous painting of the actress, Mrs. Robinson, who has a large white Pomeranian sitting by her side.

A drawing entitled “A Black Pomeranian” from Vero Shaw’s Book of the Dog.

A prominent figure in the world of dogs, Charles Henry Lane was invited to inspect Her Majesty’s kennels. He spoke highly of the dogs’ circumstances, as every care and consideration were being shown for their happiness. He described the spitz dogs primarily as what he termed “off-colors,” although some were exceedingly pretty. Although some were somewhat larger, most were what he called “small-medium.”

Mr. Gladstone was another prominent person who was very taken by the breed and is said to have owned a black Pomeranian. As the 20th century turned, there was a saying, “there’s money in Poms,” for they were selling for up to £250 (that translates into around $460 today, quite a price for the early 1900s). Ounce for ounce, Pomeranians were probably the most expensive breed of dog that one could purchase at that time. This said, supply soon overtook demand and the breed dropped rapidly in value.

A great deal of inbreeding was going on at that time and some signs of degeneration were evident, such as a tendency toward “apple” heads (extremely domed skulls) in smaller-sized specimens, something quite out of keeping with the fox-headed requirement of the breed.

Aided in part by Queen Victoria’s prominence and people’s consequent interest in the breed, the English Kennel Club officially recognized the Pomeranian in 1870 and the Pomeranian Club drew up the first English breed standard in 1891.

The range of sizes among the various spitz dogs was very considerable and, as in so many breeds, miniaturization was favored, both in Britain and the rest of Europe. In Europe, the dogs of this kind were divided into five separate breeds: the Wolf Spitz, which was the color of a Keeshond but larger in size; the Large Spitz, of Keeshond size but of various colors; the Medium Spitz, akin to our German Mittel Spitz; the Small Spitz, like our German Klein Spitz; and, finally, the Dwarf Spitz, which was equivalent to Britain’s Pomeranian. Today Europe’s Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) retains the five size classifications, but the designations have changed a bit. The Wolf Spitz is now the breed we know as the Keeshond and the Dwarf (or Toy) Spitz, Zwergspitz in Germany, is the Pomeranian. The three intermediate sizes are classified as German Spitzen, further designated by the sizes Gross (giant or large), Mittel (medium) and Klein (small or miniature).

The Large Spitz (German Gross Spitz), shown here, has never been as numerous as the smaller sizes.

In Britain, the name Pomeranian was retained. Although there were no height restrictions, there were divisions according to weight, which changed as the years went by. In 1889, a division was made at 10 pounds, but by 1896 it had become 8 pounds. Then, early in the 20th century, a new standard was drawn up with the dividing line at 7 pounds, with the larger dogs being called Pomeranians and the smaller dogs being called Pomeranian Miniatures. As time moved on, interest in the larger dogs waned, and by 1909 dogs were required to weigh 3–4 pounds, with bitches larger than the males at 5–6 pounds. It was important that the bitches be a bit larger, as this was of assistance in breeding.

A pair of German Klein Spitz. Klein in German means “small.”

However, larger dogs had been bred and they did not die out overnight; thus, bigger specimens certainly appeared from time to time. Although they were kept as pets rather than as show dogs, the larger bitches were useful to breed from, for they did not encounter such complications at whelping time.

In 1904, it was written, “There is no species of ladies’ pet-dog that has achieved such universal popularity in so short a time as the Pomeranian.” Early in the 20th century, several prominent people in dogs expressed their views on the breed. According to Mrs. Hamilton, who regularly took top honors in the breed, her ideal Pomeranian was “a bright little creature, sparkling all over with life and fun, devoted to his master or mistress, and sharing all their joys and sorrows as much as lies in a doggy’s power.” Mrs. Hamilton said that she had come across many of the breed that had been almost human in their keenness of perception and had expressed the utmost sympathy during times when their owners were distressed. She thought them as clever at tricks as Poodles, and, though excitable by nature, they never allow their anger to get the better of their discretion.

The white German Spitz, similar to the American Eskimo Dog and the lesser-known Volpino of Italy, is a popular and attractive coloration.

DEVELOPMENT IN MORE RECENT DECADES

In the early 1970s, British Pomeranian enthusiast Averil Cawthera decided that she wished to establish the white Pomeranian, so in 1975 she imported Tum Tum van het Vlinderhof of Lireva (“Tum-Tum”), a white dog from Holland, with a black bitch, Venestein’s Mauricia of Lireva (“Velvet”), following in 1976. Shortly after Averil Cawthera had imported the dogs from Holland, Rosemary Bridgeman bought a fairly oversized Pomeranian, April Folly at Tordown, and she, along with Janet Al-Haddad, made serious endeavors to get the larger spitz recognized. In effect, the larger-sized Pomeranian and the Klein Spitz were the same, so these two ladies tried to get them recognized as “Victorian Pomeranians,” a charming name and thoroughly evocative in view of Her Majesty’s love of the breed.

Later, Averil Cawthera’s Dutch dogs, Tum-Tum and Velvet, were purchased by Rosemary Bridgeman in 1977 and 1978, respectively. Then, in 1979, Ms. Al-Haddad and Ms. Bridgeman, along with Julie Smith, imported a Dutch bitch, Tefanra-Leona’s Lady Xabrina, fondly known as “Minty.”

It was at this time that confusion arose over registered breed names. Minty had been registered in Holland under the name of “Kleiner Keeshond,” but her English Kennel Club registration just referred to her as a Keeshond, which she was certainly not! It was believed that Tum-Tum and Minty had been registered as Kleiner Keeshonden, but, as it later transpired, this had not been the case. The Kennel Club then changed Minty’s breed registration to “Pomeranian,” but by this time she had already been entered at a show as a Kleiner Keeshond. This was all very confusing indeed!

On the other end of the color spectrum, the breed’s coat can be seen in striking solid black.

FIRST CC

The first set of Challenge Certificates was awarded to a German Spitz at the Crufts show in 1995. The judge was Chris Trendle, of the Lusam affix, at whose pub the German Spitz Club’s inaugural meeting was held in 1982.

In 1981, Janet Al-Haddad imported a white Klein Spitz from Frau Pinner in Vienna. This was Prinz Schneeflocke von Cottas, who was also included here on the Pomeranian register. It perhaps comes as no great surprise that there was enormous opposition from Pomeranian breeders, and it was considered that the larger spitz would stand a greater chance of succeeding as a breed if all reference to the Pomeranian was dropped. It was therefore decided that a breed club should be formed, with the aim of establishing the German Spitz as a separate breed in the UK. The intention was to have it included in The Kennel Club’s Utility Group rather than in the Toy Group with the Pomeranian.

On, February 3, 1982, the inaugural meeting of England’s German Spitz Club took place at the Bantam Pub at Burghfield Common, the home of Bob and Chris Trendle, who were much involved in the breed in its early years. Rosemary Bridgeman was president and Janet Al-Haddad (then Edmonds) was chairman, with Pat Mais in the post of secretary.

Confusion over breed registration names began to raise its ugly head, for there were only two dogs that had “correct” registrations. However, England’s Kennel Club could see that devotees of the larger spitz were not going to give up and, with help from Mike Stockman, it was agreed that Tum-Tum and Velvet should also be included in the genetic pool, and their progeny as well, if their owners so wished.

For transference onto the German Spitz register, offspring had to have one of the original four imports in the pedigree, but this decision was to be made by the owner, not by the breeder, and application for registration had to be made within six months. Obviously, pure offspring from the dogs that had become known as the “First Four” went straight onto the full register, but there was a development register for others.

It was also necessary to decide upon the sizes of German Spitz. The English Kennel Club said that they should be known as “Mittel” and “Klein,” their reason being that these names would supposedly cause less confusion than the English words “Standard” and “Miniature.” It is interesting to note here that, in the UK, only the Mittel and Klein size varieties are registered; the Gross Spitz is not.

Owners were to decide upon the size registered, but, once registered, there was to be no interbreeding between the two sizes. To decide which dogs were to be registered as Klein and which as Mittel, the dogs were measured. This understandably resulted in siblings, especially of different sexes, being registered as two different sizes.

The early breeders of German Spitzen were willing to allow any color and markings within the breed, and this was looked upon positively by England’s Kennel Club. A wide range of color makes for spectacular variety, but can present a slight problem in defining color when registering puppies, for the colors of German Spitzen often change with maturity. This means that a youngster may be registered as one particular color, but can all too easily turn out to be a rather different color!

The Keeshond (Wolf Spitz) is strikingly colored in gray, black and cream, with distinct “spectacle” markings around the eyes, a breed trademark.

In 1995, Challenge Certificate status was awarded to the breed, making it eligible to win champion titles, this only ten years after its recognition by England’s Kennel Club. The breed club was sensible enough to clarify and alter certain details in the breed standard before the permanent standard was put into place. Today’s UK and FCI standards specify the same size requirements for the Klein Spitz and Mittel Spitz.

IN THE USA

Sadly, the German Spitz is not particularly popular in the United States, but the Pomeranian, Keeshond and American Eskimo Dog, which are related breeds, find greater favor here. The American Eskimo’s ancestry can be traced to German Spitzen who arrived in the US, possibly in the 1600s, with European immigrants. The American Eskimo is a compactly built white dog that was popular with circus performers in the 20th century. Although the German Spitz is not registered by the AKC, the breed’s records are maintained by the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service®. This service is geared to assist new breeds to develop by providing a secure avenue for maintaining a stud book and other records.

A close spitz relative, the American Eskimo Dog, is quite popular in the US.

THE STAMP OF RECOGNITION

Over the years, the German Spitz has often been depicted on postage stamps, cigarette cards and trading cards from several parts of the world. Russia, Austria, Germany, Britain, the US and even the State of Oman have all thought the breed worthy of representation in this way. George Stubbs’ painting of Fino and Tiny has been depicted on stamps in the US and in Britain.

A dwarf pony and its rider, a German Spitz. While not well-known worldwide, this spirited spitz charmer has won the hearts and devotion of a dedicated following.

The German Spitz Club of America was founded to promote the breed in the US.

Bold, confident and intelligent, the German Spitz possesses a happy nature and zest for life that show in his delightful expression.

MEET THE GERMAN SPITZ

The German Spitz is bright, confident and lively, with a certain boldness and adventurous spirit. Busy by definition, this is an intelligent breed, and thus needs plenty to keep its mind well occupied. This attractive breed is well suited to most home environments, but it should be borne in mind that it is a heavily coated dog that will need regular grooming.

The German Spitz has a fairly independent nature and, like many members of the spitz family, does have a tendency to be noisy, though this can usually be controlled with sensible training. The reason that they can be rather noisy is that they are highly alert dogs, and their natural instinct is to bark when they find themselves in new or alarming situations.

PERSONALITY

A happy, light-hearted dog, the German Spitz is devoted to its family; indeed, this is stated as a characteristic of the breed in its standard of perfection. It has an even, confident disposition—such an intelligent, adventurous personality inside a canine frame can simply never be ignored—but should show no sign of either nervousness or aggression.

The German Spitz usually enjoys the company of other people, and of dogs and other household pets, but, as with most breeds, should be socialized while developing its personality as a youngster.

THE COMPANY OF CHILDREN

Whether or not any dog will get along well with children depends very much on the child’s upbringing and sensible parental control. This is a breed that enjoys the company of humans, and children are of course included, and German Spitzen will readily join in with family games.

However, young children and dogs should always be supervised when together, for although the breed is not large enough to pull or knock over a child, it is small enough that the child might harm the dog, albeit inadvertently. The coat can be pulled, and toddlers often can be quite rough in their games, so they must be taught to treat dogs kindly, gently and respectfully.

The German Klein Spitz loves the company of respectful children who know how to treat a small dog with care.

TRAINABILITY

The German Spitz is an intelligent breed and, as such, it undoubtedly has the ability to learn, and to learn quickly. They will tackle tasks with enthusiasm, but traditional methods of training are unlikely to work well for this breed. Instead, they have to want to do things, and for this they will expect a reward. The German Spitz is not renowned as an especially obedient breed, but of course there are always exceptions!

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Other than in size, the different German Spitz varieties are the same in physical appearance. This is a compact breed, almost square in outline, and although the breed carries a profuse coat, this should not disguise any lack of substance. The body is well ribbed up and rounded, and the small, rounded, cat-like feet have well-arched toes.

HEAD

The FCI breed standard requires the head of the German Spitz to be medium sized. The skull should be broadest at the back and narrowing to the nose, forming a wedge shape. The muzzle is about half the length of the head in Klein and Mittel varieties, but the Gross Spitz’s muzzle-to-skull-length ratio is 2:3. The stop is noticeable not abrupt.

Ears are small, triangular and pricked, sitting high on the head, while the eyes are oval (“longish”) and obliquely set. This breed has a scissors bite, with the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower ones.

Neither pink nor butterfly pigment (broken pigment) of eye rims, nose and lips is permissible, no matter the color of coat; whereas depth and hue of pigment color can vary according to coat color.

TAIL

An important characteristic of the spitz breeds is that the tail is carried over the back. Indeed, the German Spitz’s tail is high-set and curled right up from the root, furnished in bushy hair and lying over the back, putting a lovely finishing touch to this very attractive breed.

SIZE



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