German Spitz

Akcfss	part of the akc fss
Akcgroup	FSS
Akcstd	http://www.akc.org/breeds/german_spitz/index.cfm
Altname	Deutscher Spitz
Ankcgroup	Group 7 (Non Sporting)
Ankcstd	http://www.ankc.aust.com/gerspitz.html
Country	Germany
Fcigroup	5
Fcinum	97
Fcisection	4
Fcistd	http://www.fci.be/uploaded_files/097gb98_en.doc
Kcukgroup	Utility
Kcukstd	http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/160 Klein]Mittel
Name	German Spitz
Nzkcgroup	Non-Sporting
Nzkcstd	http://www.nzkc.org.nz/br733.html Klein]Mittel

German Spitz is used to refer to both a breed of dog and category or type of dog. Several modern breeds have been developed from the German Spitz, and are either registered as separate breeds or as varieties of German Spitz. All the German Spitz type dogs are dogs of the Spitz type of German origin. The Grossespitz, Mittelspitz, and Kleinspitz breeds of German Spitz type are also called the German Spitz in English.

The German Spitz breed

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognizes the German Spitz (Deutscher Spitz) under Group 5, Section 4, European Spitz. The Deutscher Spitz is one breed, names differentiate sizes and colour:

Keeshond or Wolfsspitz - wolf grey with black points

Großspitz (Great Spitz) - white, brown or black

German Spitz (Mittel) (Medium/Standard Spitz, incl. American Eskimo Dog) - Black, White, Cream/Gold, Brown, Sable, Parti-color and more

German Spitz (Klein) (Miniature Spitz) -  white, brown or black, orange, grey shaded and other colours

Zwergspitz (Dwarf Spitz) or Pomeranian - Usually Orange, Cream, Black, Black and Tan, etc

The German Spitz type

Since there is no one German Spitz breed type, "German Spitz" can also be considered a subtype of the Spitz. Dogs descended or bred from various German Spitzen are included in this grouping.

The Wolfspitz is also called the Keeshond and is registered as a separate breed by the Kennel Club (UK) and other registries. The Großspitz (Grossespitz) or Giant Spitz is 40.5-41.5 cm/16-17 in. high and weighs 17.5-18.5 kg/38.5-40 lbs. The Keeshond and the Giant Spitz are divided primarily by colour. The Mittelspitz or Medium/Standard Spitz is the ancestor of, and is sometimes taken to include, the American Eskimo Dog. The American Eskimo Dog is allowed to be registered as Mittelspitz by some registries. Only the Canadian Kennel Club and the two major American kennel clubs recognize the American Eskimo Dog as a separate breed. The German Spitz (Klein) (sometimes known as the Kleinspitz) is allowed more colours than the larger German Spitz under the Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard. The Japanese Spitz, also bred from the German Spitz, is very similar to the Spitz Klein but is limited to the white colour. The Zwergspitz, the Pomeranian, is also registered as a separate breed in the UK and North America.

The Kennel Club (UK) and the Australian Kennel Club recognize only the Kleinspitz and Mittelspitz. In those countries the Grossespitz is not recognized, and the Pomeranian (Zwergspitz) and Keeshond (Wolfspitz) are separate breeds. In many countries the Miniature (Klein) Spitz is also confused with the Pomeranian (Zwergspitz). Some registries and breed clubs allow various sizes of German Spitz to be interbred, others do not.

Appearance

German Spitz are similar in appearance but vary in color. The German Spitz is usually Black, Gold/Cream or White-ish, but the Standard, Small and Dwarf can have various color combinations as well. All German Spitzen have a wolf/fox-like head, double coat, highset triangular ears and a tail that is curled over the back. Although the Kleinspitz and the Pomeranian look alike, they are not the same dog. Also, some mixed-breed dogs, such as the papichon, a cross between the Bichon Frise and Papillon breeds, resemble them, but are not to be confused with them.

History

While claims are made that German Spitz are descendants of the ancient spitzen found in the Stone Age and they are the oldest breed of dog in Central Europe, genetic evidence places them in a much more recent lineage, dating the Wolfsspitz type to the 1800s.. The German Spitz was later brought to America, and was renamed American Eskimo Dog due to the widespread anti-German prejudice during World War I, although other breeds ("White Keeshonds" and Pomeranians, along with Japanese Spitz) were also used in the formation of the breed. The American Kennel club recognizes the breeds as separate.

External links

German Spitz World in the UK

German Spitz Breeders & Owners Club in the UK

References

Category:Dog breeds Category:Dog types Category:Dog breeds originating in Germany Category:Companion dogs