German Spitz

 

Summary

• The breed is a variant of the German Spitz and is a very old breed.
• It is recommended to contact the breed club before buying a puppy, as they have the expertise, an overview of breeders and knowledge of the breed’s health.
• It is important to check the patellar status of the parents to avoid knee joint defects within the breed.
• The breed is teachable, sociable and tends to live a long time.
• The Mittelspitz has a certain guarding instinct.

History

The Mittelspitz is a variant of the German Spitz that can trace its origins to the Stone Age and is among the oldest breeds in Europe. Other varieties of German Spitz include Keeshond (Wolfspitz), Grosspitz, Kleinspitz, and Pomeranian (Zwergspitz). Originally, the Mittelspitz was used as a warning dog, but today it is most popular as a companion dog. The first registered Mittelspitz in Norway was in 1999, and there are now approximately 840 registered Mittelspitz in the country.

Characteristics and mentality

The Mittelspitz is always attentive, lively and incredibly devoted to its family. It is very willing to learn and wants to be involved in everything that happens. It is lively, fast and robust, and is well suited to activities such as agility, obedience, rally-obedience and flyball. A special feature is its ability to withstand all kinds of weather, be robust and have a long life. A happy Mittelspitz gets to use both his head and his body every day.

Size and appearance

The Mittelspitz is an attractive breed with its beautiful coat that stands out from the body due to the abundant undercoat. It has an impressive mane-like collar around its neck and a bushy tail carried proudly over its back. The breed has a fox-like head with quick eyes and pointed, small and close-set ears that give it its characteristic and charming expression. The height at the withers is usually 34 cm /- 4 cm, and it has typical spitz features with standing ears and a curl on the tail.

Fur and fur care

The Mittelspitz’s coat should be brushed and combed weekly to keep it in good condition. The breed comes in many different color variants, both multi-colored and single-colored.

Health

The breed is considered to be physically and mentally healthy and well. The average lifespan is between 10-14 years. There have been some cases of hip dysplasia (HD), patellar luxation and eye disease within the breed. Most breeders check both the eyes and the patella status of the breeding animals.

Do you want to know more about the breed?

In general, everyone is recommended to contact the breed club for the particular breed they are interested in. The breed club has knowledge of the breed, can give advice and guidance, and has an overview of serious breeders. The breed standard describes the breed’s physical and mental characteristics and is also recommended reading for anyone considering buying a puppy of this breed.Good luck!Supporting Sources: Purina , Purebred Dog , Animal Bar