The German Spitz breed includes three subtypes: Giant, Medium, and Klein (Toy). With a history of more than 6000 years, this breed has been developed and adapted to different purposes: herding (Giant German Spitz), working (Giant and Medium German Spitz) and pets (Toy German Spitz).
Archeological findings show that during the Stone Age period there were dogs with the same constitution as the German Spitz Klein, which makes it one of the oldest breeds in the world. Having a square type constitution, they are as long as tall, the height of these dogs ranging between 23 to 28 centimeters .Their normal weight is in the range of 5 to 18 kilograms.
Another subtype of the German Spitz is the German Spitz Standard or German Spitz Medium. Its size varies from 30 to 38 centimeters at withers and its weight can reach 7 - 11 kilograms. This subtype is the correspondent of the American Eskimo Dog, its relative from the United States of America.
Varying from 40 to 43 centimeters and a weight of about 17.5 18.5 kilograms, the German Spitz Giant is the largest subtype of the German Spitz breeds.
The above three subtypes are very similar regarding coat colors, constitution and temperament, the only notable difference between them being their size.
The German Spitz breed is described as having the head elements, including the ears and the facial expression similar to the ones of a fox. They have a very thick coat, less fluffy on the head than on the rest of the body. Their tail, most often, is curled up over the back.
They come in different colors including - but not limited to - wolf sable, cream, brown, black and sometimes even blue. The color of their beautiful coat can also be a mix of black and white, brown and white and black and tan.
The dogs of this breed grow very fond of their owners, they are always eager to please and love human company, although they might be reserved towards strangers. Therefore, they make great watchdogs that will alert the owner when unknown persons are approaching.
They are active, alert dogs that can be very independent, but, at the same time, devoted to their owners. They are intelligent and confident and have a balanced temperament, neither timid, nor aggressive.
They are characterized by longevity, having a lifespan of around 15 years. They do not usually suffer from genetic disorders, but cases of epilepsy, eye disorders and Patella Luxation have been reported by owners.
In terms of grooming, they should be brushed a couple of times a week to avoid matting - caused by the thick coat.
Unlike many other breeds, these dogs do not necessarily require a great amount of exercise, which makes them suitable for all kinds of owners, even for less active ones. They will be satisfied with a jog and even with a daily walk.
The German Spitz dogs are not only intelligent and beautiful - they are also affectionate companions that one can easily train into the perfect pets.
