The German Spitz (German: Deutscher Spitz) is a breed of spitz-type dogs from Germany. Considered a single breed, it comes in five distinct varieties based on size and colour: the Wolfsspitz or Keeshond, the Giant Spitz or Großspitz, the Medium Spitz or Mittelspitz, the Miniature Spitz or Kleinspitz and the Pomeranian or Zwergspitz ("Dwarf Spitz").
Description
The German Spitz is a long-haired, double-coated breed of spitz-type dogs, the five varieties vary significantly in size. The breed standard states all variants have a double coat with a long, straight and outer coat and a short, thick, cotton-wool like undercoat.[1][2]
Wolfsspitz
The Wolfsspitz (or Keeshond) is a medium sized dog, it usually weighs 25 to 30 kilograms (55 to 66 lb) and the breed standard states it stands 43 to 55 centimetres (17 to 22 in); its coat is grey coloured.[1][2]
Giant Spitz
The Giant Spitz is a medium sized dog, it usually weighs 17 to 18 kilograms (37 to 40 lb) and the breed standard state it stands 43 to 55 centimetres (17 to 22 in); its coat can be white, black or brown, black and brown animals can have white spots on the chest, paws and tip of tail.[2][3]
Medium Spitz
The Medium Spitz is a medium sized dog, it usually weighs 10.5 to 11.5 kilograms (23 to 25 lb) and the breed standard state it stands 30 to 40 centimetres (12 to 16 in); its coat can be white, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours.[1][2]
Miniature Spitz
The Miniature Spitz is a small sized dog, it usually weighs 8 to 10 kilograms (18 to 22 lb) and the breed standard state it stands 24 to 30 centimetres (9.4 to 11.8 in); its coat can be white, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours.[1][2]
Pomeranian
The Pomeranian (or Zwergspitz, "Dwarf Spitz") is a small sized dog, it usually weighs 1.4 to 3 kilograms (3.1 to 6.6 lb) and the breed standard state it stands 18 to 24 centimetres (7.1 to 9.4 in); its coat can be white, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours.[1][2]
History
The German Spitz breed is believed to be descended from Nordic spitz-type herding dogs that were the common ancestor to other breeds such as the Samoyed, the Finnish and the Swedish Lapphund.[4] It is believed these Nordic dogs spread throughout Northern Europe and as far as Britain during the Middle Ages with the Vikings, the earliest mentions of spitz dogs in German literature date from 1450 AD.[1][3][4][5] In 1750, Count Eberhand zu Sayre Buffon wrote in his National history of quadrupeds that spitz dogs were the ancestor of all German breeds.[4]
German Spitz dogs were originally kept on farms for a number of roles including herding and guarding, as the centuries progressed some lines were bred to be smaller for other duties and eventually as small companion dogs.
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