INTRODUCTION

The German Spitz is one of the oldest dog breeds originating in Europe. Attentive, energetic and devoted, these puppies have some of the best qualities of any dog breed in existence. German Spitzes go by other names such as Spitz, German Spitz Mittelspitz and Deutscher Spitz. If you would like to take home a dog of this breed, look for them at your local shelter or rescue centre. These lovable dogs can make excellent flat dogs due to their small stature and will suit any type of home or family, although they have a tendency to be affectionate. If you want an energetic, “firecracker” dog that will keep you on your toes, warn you of any potential danger and love you unconditionally, this may be the dog for you.

HIGHLIGHTS

The standard German Spitz has a wider variety of coat colours than some of its Spitz cousins, such as black, brown, orange, wolf-grey and white. As the German Spitz is a small dog, it can easily be injured by over-excited children. German Spitzes prefer to be around adults or older children who know how to play gently. Make sure they get at least one good walk of half an hour to an hour a day, with some active play sessions and shorter walks mixed in.These little puppies can be wary of strangers and are noisy, so they may bark around people they don’t know. They have a high-pitched bark that sounds “yappy” to some.German Spitzes have a high prey drive and enjoy games in which they may chase toys.German Spitzes are intelligent, but can be stubborn. They need strong and consistent trainers.

HISTORY

The first mention of the German Spitz comes from Count Eberhard Zu Sayn of Germany around 1450. Eberhard Zu Sayn praised the breed as a brave protector of his homes and fields. Many of the early German Spitz lived in the province of Pomerania, located at the southern end of the Baltic Sea, near what is now Germany and Poland.The German Spitz is known to be an ancient breed of dog and one of the oldest from Germany and Europe in general.Although a small group, these dogs are very alert and vocal. Fishermen carried them on their boats as guard dogs for their goods and trades. They were also used on farms to alert farmers to any nearby intruders. In Germany, they are sometimes referred to as Mistbeller, or hill barkers, as they liked to sit somewhere high up like a hill and keep watch.they were popular with royalty and the upper class in England, and in the 18th century, when King George I came to the throne, he and his wife had several German Spitz dogs.although they were almost extinct by the time of the First World War, they eventually made a comeback and are doing well today.