Dog breed
Japanese Spitz
The Japanese Spitz is a small, snow-white spitz with a foxy face, triangular upright ears and a fluffy tail curled over its back. It's sunny-natured, bright and very sociable, and easy to train as well. It adapts well to city life and to families with children, and its white coat is surprisingly easy to keep clean.
- FCI Group V · Spitz and primitive · standard no. 262
- Weight
- 4.5–11.3 kg
- Height
- 30–38 cm
- Lifespan
- 12–14 years
- Origin
- Japan
Temperament
The FCI standard describes the Japanese Spitz as intelligent, cheerful and keenly alert, and it explicitly calls noisiness unacceptable. That's an important difference from many other small spitzes: a well-raised Japanese Spitz barks when something is going on but doesn't yap nonstop. The AKC gives it top marks for getting along with children and other dogs, openness to strangers and trainability. At home it loves keeping its family company, playing ball and learning tricks, and on walks it's curious about the world but doesn't take off after every scent. It usually lives with cats without any trouble. It doesn't cope well with being completely alone for many hours and needs close contact with its family.
- 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 Japanese Spitz for?
The Japanese Spitz is a good choice for first-time owners, families with children, seniors and apartment dwellers who want a small, cheerful, easy-to-train dog. It's also a good fit for someone who wants to get started in dog sports. It's not a dog for people bothered by dog hair in the house, those who want a guard dog, or anyone who leaves the dog alone all day.
Pros
- gentle with children, dogs and strangers
- easy to train
- does well in an apartment
- less barky than many small spitzes
Challenges
- heavy seasonal shedding
- tear stains on the white coat
- risk of patellar luxation
- struggles with heat and being alone
Size and looks
| Height at the withers | males 30–38 cm, females 30–38 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight | males 4.5–11.3 kg, females 4.5–11.3 kg |
| Lifespan | 12–14 years |
| Coat | medium |
| Colors | pure white |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Classification | Group V: Spitz and primitive types |
| Also known as | Nihon Supittsu |
Care and exercise
The Royal Kennel Club recommends up to an hour of exercise a day, which for this spitz means two or three walks with play and short training sessions. The dense white coat with its abundant undercoat needs regular attention but not frequent baths; dirt usually brushes out once it dries. The Royal Kennel Club lists daily grooming, and in practice it's worth brushing the dog several times a week, and daily while it's shedding. Don't shave a spitz, because the coat protects it from both cold and overheating. Wipe around the eyes to reduce tear stains. Training goes easily with praise and rewards. In summer, plan walks for the cooler parts of the day, and from puppyhood teach the dog to stay home calmly on its own.
How much should the Japanese Spitz eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.Health and breed-related conditions
The AKC describes the Japanese Spitz as a healthy, active breed that usually lives 12–14 years. The main problem is patellar luxation, which a vet can check for. The Royal Kennel Club has no DNA testing package for this breed, but it recommends looking after genetic diversity. Still, an inherited, late-onset form of progressive retinal atrophy (rcd4) has been described in the breed, and a DNA test makes it avoidable. A common but usually harmless issue is tear staining caused by narrow tear ducts. A 2024 British study found the breed's average lifespan to be 13 years.
- patellar luxationThe breed's main health problem according to the AKC; a vet can evaluate the kneecaps even in a young dog.
- progressive retinal atrophy (PRA-rcd4)A late-onset inherited eye disease, also described in this breed; a DNA test is available.
- tear stainingUsually caused by overly narrow tear ducts, it leaves rusty stains on the white coat.
Health tests to ask the breeder about
- patella evaluation
- PRA-rcd4 DNA test
- eye exam (ECVO)
This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.
Breed history
According to the FCI standard, the Japanese Spitz descends from large white German Spitzes that reached Japan around 1920 by way of Siberia and northeastern China. They were first shown at a dog show in Tokyo around 1921. In 1925 two pairs of white spitzes were imported from Canada, and through the mid-1930s more dogs arrived from Canada, the US, Australia and China. The AKC adds that white Wolfspitzes were among the imports too. By crossing their offspring, breeders achieved a uniform type. Because the war destroyed the records, the breed's full history isn't known. The Japan Kennel Club set the current standard in 1948.
Fun facts
- The FCI standard treats noisiness in a Japanese Spitz as a fault.
- The only color allowed by the standard is pure white.
- The Japan Kennel Club set the current breed standard in 1948.
- According to a 2024 British study, the breed's average lifespan is 13 years, slightly above the average for purebred dogs.
Frequently asked questions
Do Japanese Spitz shed?
Yes. Moderately for most of the year, but twice a year they shed their undercoat heavily. Daily brushing is a must then. The white coat should never be shaved.
Do Japanese Spitz bark a lot?
Usually less than other small spitzes. The FCI standard explicitly treats noisiness as a fault, and the AKC rates the breed's barking as average. The dog will alert you to visitors but rarely yaps for no reason.
What's the difference between a Japanese Spitz and a Pomeranian?
The Japanese Spitz is bigger (30–38 cm), always white and has a longer, foxlike muzzle. The Pomeranian is smaller, comes in many colors and has a shorter muzzle.
How long do Japanese Spitz live?
The AKC gives 12–14 years, and a 2024 British study found an average of 13 years. A lean build and healthy kneecaps help the dog enjoy a long, active life.
How much does a Japanese Spitz weigh?
Adult dogs of this breed usually weigh: males 4.5–11.3 kg, females 4.5–11.3 kg. Height at the withers: 30–38 cm. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.
This breed also appears in
Sources
- 1FCI standard nr 262 – Japanese Spitzfci.be
- 2AKC – Japanese Spitzakc.org
- 3Royal Kennel Club – Japanese Spitzroyalkennelclub.com
- 4Wikipedia – Japanese Spitz (zdrowie, badanie długości życia 2024)en.wikipedia.org
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
