Dog breed

German Spitz

The German Spitz is one of the oldest breeds in Central Europe: an alert, fluffy watchdog with a foxy face and a tail carried over its back. The FCI standard covers several varieties, from the Miniature Spitz (about 27 cm) through the Medium (about 35 cm) to the Giant (about 45 cm). All of them are devoted to their homes, easy to train and quick to bark.

FCI Group V · Spitz and primitive · standard no. 97

Weight: 5–20 kg
Height: 24–50 cm
Lifespan: 12–15 years
Origin: Germany

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Photo: The original uploader was Teuteul at French Wikipedia. Later versions were uploaded by Tornad at fr.wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The FCI standard describes the German Spitz as always attentive, lively and exceptionally devoted to its owner, and that's spot on. The Spitz is bright and eager to learn, which makes it a good first dog. It is naturally wary of strangers and has a strong guarding instinct: it watches over the house, yard and car and announces every visitor with loud barking. At the same time it has almost no hunting instinct, so it usually doesn't run off after game and lives well with cats and other pets. It can be haughty with unfamiliar dogs. It is fearless but not aggressive. It copes poorly with long periods alone: a bored Spitz can bark for hours. The Giant variety is calmer and the Miniature livelier, but the character is similar in all sizes.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the German Spitz for?

The German Spitz suits a person or family who wants an alert, devoted dog for a house with a yard or an apartment, doesn't mind barking and has time for regular brushing. It's a good choice as a first dog and for families with children. Skip it if you live in an apartment building with thin walls and don't want to work on barking, are out all day, or dislike dog hair in the house.

Pros

alert watchdog
easy to train
low hunting instinct
long-lived
cold-hardy

Challenges

barks a lot
demanding coat that sheds heavily
wary of strangers
copes poorly with heat and being alone

Size and looks

Size and looks: German Spitz
Height at the withers	males 24–50 cm, females 24–50 cm
Weight	males 5–20 kg, females 5–20 kg
Lifespan	12–15 years
Coat	long
Colors	white, black, brown, orange, gray shaded, cream, black and tan, parti-color
Country of origin	Germany
Classification	Group V: Spitz and primitive types
Also known as	Deutscher Spitz, Kleinspitz, Mittelspitz, Großspitz

Care and exercise

60–90minof exercise a day

4/5grooming needs

4/5shedding

A Medium Spitz needs about an hour and a half of exercise a day, a Miniature a bit less and a Giant happily more, ideally in two or three walks with time to sniff and play. In summer, go out in the cooler hours, since the thick coat makes overheating more likely. The double coat needs thorough brushing several times a week, paying attention to the areas around the ears and elbows, where mats form fastest. Males usually shed once a year and females twice, but in warm homes shedding can be almost constant. Don't clip a Spitz short. From the first weeks, work on barking: reward calm after the first alert and give the dog mental work. Reward-based training comes easily to it, and it shines at tricks and obedience.

How much should the German Spitz eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The German Spitz is considered a long-lived and relatively healthy breed; a Medium Spitz usually reaches 13–15 years. The Royal Kennel Club recommends eye exams for breeding dogs and places the Klein (Miniature) variety in Category 2 of Breed Watch. Multifocal retinal dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy are described in the breed, and in the smaller varieties, patellar luxation. Cases of idiopathic epilepsy also occur. In Giant Spitzes, keep an eye out for hip dysplasia. The thick coat means the breed handles heat poorly. Ask the breeder for the parents' eye exam results and patella assessments.

patellar luxationMore common in the smaller varieties; causes intermittent skipping on one leg.
multifocal retinal dysplasiaAn inherited retinal defect that can seriously impair vision.
progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)Inherited retinal degeneration leading to blindness.
idiopathic epilepsySeizures with no identifiable cause, reported in the breed.
hip dysplasiaMainly affects the larger varieties.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

eye exam (ECVO)
patella assessment
hip X-rays (HD, larger varieties)

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

According to the FCI standard, German Spitzes descend from the Stone Age peat dog and later spitzes of the lake-dwelling settlements, making them the oldest breed in Central Europe; many other breeds were developed from them. For centuries they guarded homes and farms, and their alertness, weather resistance and lack of hunting instinct made them ideal watchdogs. Over time, different regions of Germany developed varieties of different sizes and colors. Today the FCI describes them all in shared standard No. 97: the Wolfspitz (Keeshond), Giant, Medium, Miniature and Toy, the last better known as the Pomeranian. The varieties differ not only in size but also in permitted colors: the Giant Spitz can be white, black or brown.

Fun facts

The FCI standard gives these heights: Giant Spitz 45 cm ± 5 cm, Medium 35 cm ± 5 cm, Miniature 27 cm ± 3 cm.
The FCI sets no weight for the Spitz varieties: weight should match each variety's height.
The standard considers the German Spitz the oldest dog breed in Central Europe.
The Keeshond, or Wolfspitz, is described in the same FCI standard as the other German Spitzes.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a Miniature German Spitz and a Pomeranian?

They are different varieties under one FCI standard. The Miniature Spitz (Kleinspitz) stands about 27 cm ± 3 cm, while the Toy Spitz, or Pomeranian (Zwergspitz), stands about 21 cm ± 3 cm. The smaller variety also has a shorter muzzle and a rounder head.

Do German Spitz bark a lot?

Yes, it's in their nature: they were bred to guard home and farm. They readily announce every visitor and every sound outside the window. Consistently rewarding calm and giving the dog mental work help keep barking within reasonable limits.

How much does a German Spitz weigh?

It depends on the variety. A Miniature Spitz usually weighs up to about 5–8 kg, a Medium 7–11 kg and a Giant up to about 20 kg. The FCI standard gives no weight; it only requires weight to be in proportion to height.

Do German Spitz shed?

Yes, heavily. They have a dense undercoat that males usually shed once a year and females twice. During that time they need daily brushing. This is not a breed for allergy sufferers.

How long does a German Spitz live?

The typical lifespan of the German Spitz is 12–15 years. Genetics, weight, exercise and regular preventive vet care all make a difference.