The German Spitz FAQ - USA version
This document was last updated January 11, 2008. Any changes or
corrections, please email Cait@mittelspitz.org
11 week old mittelspitz Lizzie with Santa 
1. What is a German
Spitz?
A German Spitz is a spitz-type dog breed that
developed in Germany. The breed is really made up of five
mostly-separate breed (some countries do allow breeds to be crossed but
in general this is frowned upon.) The breeds are Wolfspitz (shown as
Keeshonden in the rest of the world, come in grey-sable only, with
distinct spectacle markings and weighing about 35 pounds), Grossespitz
(Giant Spitz, come in black, brown and white as solid colors only),
Mittelspitz (Medium or Miniature Spitz, 12-15" at the shoulder and
coming in a wide variety of colors and patterns), Kleinspitz (Toy or
Small Spitz, 9-11.5" at the shoulder and coming in a wide variety of
colors and patterns) and Zwergspitz (Dwarf spitz, shown in other
countries as the Pomeranian, 7-9" in height and coming in many colors
and patterns.) The most common colors for German Spitz (Mittel, Klein,
and Zwerg) are black, white, cream, orange and brown. Dilutes of these
colors (blue, beaver, and isabella) are also allowed, if somewhat less
common. Particolors of any of these colors are allowed, as well as
tan-pointed colors. This breed does not and never has come in merle.
German Spitz are NOT American Eskimos, Pomeranians,
or Keeshonds in the United States. A very large Pomeranian is still a
Pomeranian, an American Eskimo is still an American Eskimo even though
it looks superficially like a German Spitz. Keeshonds are registered in
the US as
Keeshonds, not Wolfspitz. None of these other breeds should be
advertised a a German Spitz and if a breeder is doing so, walk away and
purchase from a REPUTABLE breeder instead.
For more on the specific differences between each of the breeds
mentioned above, click here.
1.5 Registration
The German Spitz imported to American most recently
have all come from the UK and Australia, where they are recognized by
the Kennel Club and the ANKC, respectively. The KC and ANKC have a
slightly different standard than the FCI and recognize the varieties of
German Spitz as entirely separate breeds, the German Spitz (Mittel) and
German Spitz (Klein). (Neither currently recognizes the Grossespitz.)
In
the United States, German Spitz are registerable with the United
Kennel Club as of 2006 and are eligable for full registration with that
club, using the FCI standard.
The American Kennel Club has enrolled the German
Spitz in their Foundation Stock Service but the breed is not eligable
to compete in any AKC events. Unfortunately, AKC is chosing to register
all varieties (including Gross Spitz) as a single breed and not noting
their size as separate varieties, which will permit cross breeding and
confuse the issue, as the standards are distinctly different in ways
other than simply size. The best comparison to this is the Miniature
and Standard Schnauzer- although both are schnauzers and the Miniature
is a bred-down version of the Standard, their proprtions, head planes,
and other features are different; judges do not expct the one to be a
copy of the other. Once a parent club is founded and established,
hopefully this may be changed. If you are interested in being kept up
to date on attempts to form a parent club or are interested in joining
one when it exists, please contact Sharon Buethler who is
maintaining a list of interested parties.
14 week old Lizzie, stacked-
like all coated breeds, they go through 'puppy uglies'
2. Where can I find one?
The German Spitz is not especially rare in the US
but there are not many breeders in the country-presently, there is one
in Texas, one in North Dakota, one in California and one in Alabama.
Expect to travel to get your
pup or to have one shipped. We recommend joining the GermanSpitzUSA
list on Yahoo in order to find out about litter announcements and
plans. If you will consider an adult, there are a great number of
spitz-y 'Big poms' in Pomeranians rescue- oversize, incorrect Poms with
great personalities who make lovely pets. Petfinder.org has many
pomeranian-specific breed rescue groups who often get spitzy dogs into
rescue.
3. What's a responsible breeder and
why does it matter?
A reputable breeder is a breeder who
-breeds to benefit the breed, not their pocketbook
-ensures to the best of their ability that the dogs
they are breeding are healthy via in-depth health testing and conform
to the breed standard, with correct breed type and temperament.
-does not breed dogs with genetic or potentially
genetic health problems.
-requires that dogs placed as pets (and which are
not evaluated as potential breeding stock) be spayed and neutered.
-screens their homes to make sure that the puppies
they produce will have homes for life and takes back any dog that
cannot stay in their original home, at any time in their life.
-does not sell 'wholesale' or through a third party
(such as through a broker or pet store), ever.
Many breeds have a massive problem with
overpopulation and unwanted dogs today in the US. Shelter statistic
state that between a third and a quarter of all dogs in shelters are
purebred. Reputable breeders do everything they can to ensure that the
dogs they breed do not add to this problem.
4. What sort of health problems does
the breed have?
The German Spitz is a pretty healthy breed, overall.
Luxating patellas, retinal dysplasia, PRA, hip dysplasia, and allergies
have all been reported by owners of German Spitz in other countries as
problems..Epilepsy and heart defects have also been reported in other
countries,
and related breeds (the Keeshond and Pomeranian) have thyroid and
parathyroid problms issues as
well.The incidence of these in Spitz is completely unknown and the low
numbers currently in the US unfortunately make any large scale
scientific study unfeasible. Thankfully, none of the health problems
mentioned above are common- but breeders, owners, and vets should be
aware of them and keep an eye out.
4.5. What health testing should
breeders be doing?
Breeders should be having their dogs checked for
Luxating Patellas (after 1 year of age) with their own veterinarian or
a specialist and Retinal Dysplasia (at 6-8 weeks and again periodically
as an adult for signs of degenerative eye diseases including PRA and
Retinal Dysplasia), either by a veterinary opthamologist or at an eye
clinic- it's not something a regular vet can do though. A regular 'vet
check' like all pets should have yearly is insufficient- eye disease
can't be diagnosed until quite advanced except by a specialist. In the
US, it is recommended that a CERF exam (and certificate) be obtained
yearly.
6. Are German Spitz rare?
Some folks really hate this terminology.
Statistically speaking, there are fewer German Spitz than say, American
Eskimos or Pomeranians in the United States. But the breed is far from
rare, and is in fact one of the most common pet dogs in Germany, with
large populations in much of Europe.
7. Where can I get more information
about mittelspitz?
Check out Lizzie's blog
for some stuff about life with a spitz, GermanSpitzWorld for a
wonderful pictoral introduction to the breed from the UK, or the three
mailing lists - German Spitz Alliance in Australia GermanSpitzWorld
in the UK, and GermanSpitzUSA
here in the US. There are several other private lists if you are liked
by the people on them and a member of their clique.
Got more questions about Spitz, or want to add to (or fix :P) an
answer? Email cait@mittelspitz.org