- German Spitz
Infobox Dogbreed
image_caption = A white German Spitz (Mittel)
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] [http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/161 Mittel]
name = German Spitz
nzkcgroup = Non-Sporting
nzkcstd = http://www.nzkc.org.nz/br733.html Klein] [http://www.nzkc.org.nz/br734.html 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 theSpitz 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: [ [http://www.fci.be/nomenclatures_detail.asp?lang=en&file=group5#section4FCI Group 4] and [http://www.pedigree.ch/Deutscher_Spitz.Pedigree Deutscher Spitz (in German)] ]
*Wolfsspitz (Spitz loup; Keeshond; Spitz Lobo) - Wolf grey with black points
*Großspitz (Grand Spitz; Giant Spitz, Gran Spitz) - White, Brown or black
*Mittelspitz (Spitz moyen; Medium/Standard Spitz; Spitz mediano) - White, Brown or black
*Kleinspitz (Petit Spitz; Miniature Spitz; Spitz pequeno) - White, Brown or black, Orange, Grey shaded and other colours
*Zwergspitz (Spitz nain; Pomeranian; Spitz enano) - Any colourThe 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) orGiant 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, theAmerican 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.TheKleinspitz is allowed more colours than the larger German Spitz under the Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard. TheJapanese Spitz , also bred from the German Spitz, is very similar to the Kleinspitz but is limited to the white color.The Zwergspitz, thePomeranian , 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. Iin 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 can only be white but the Standard, Small and Dwarf can have various color combinations as well. [http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/germanspitz.htm] . 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.History
German Spitz are descendants of the ancient spitzen found in the
Stone Age and they are the oldest breed of dog inCentral Europe . [http://www.germanspitzworld.co.uk/article/history.php] The German Spitz was later brought with to America, and was renamedAmerican Eskimo Dog due to the widespread anti-German prejudice duringWorld 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.ee also
Types of German Spitz
*Pomeranian (dog)
*American Eskimo Dog
*Keeshond Related breeds
*Samoyed (dog)
*Schipperke
*Norwegian Elkhound
*Volpino Italiano (Italian Spitz)
*Laika (Russian Spitz)
*Finnish Spitz
*Indian Spitz
*Japanese Spitz External links
* [http://www.germanspitzworld.co.uk/ German Spitz World in the UK]
* [http://www.isionline.de/~Carlo-von-Ayers-Rock/seite4ce.htm German Spitz of various sizes and colors]
* [http://www.GSBOC.co.uk/ German Spitz Breeders & Owners Club in the UK]References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.