(AKC Non-Sporting Group)
Size: Medium.
Weight: Averages 40 pounds (male); averages 35 (female).
Availability: May take some effort to find.
A cute Keeshond puppy video
ORIGIN : Germany.
UTILIZATION : Watch and Companion Dog.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : German Spitz are
descendants of the stone age « Peat Dogs » (Torfhund) « Canis
familiaris palustris Rüthimeyer » and the later Lake Dweller’s
(Pfahlbau) Spitz; they are the oldest breed of dog in Central Europe.
Numerous other breeds have been produced from them. In non-
German speaking countries Wolfsspitz are known as Keeshonds and
Toy Spitz as Pomeranians.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Spitz breeds are captivating on
account of their beautiful coats, made to stand off by plentiful
undercoat. Particularly impressive is the strong, mane-like collar
round the neck (ruff) and the bushy tail carried boldly over the back.
The foxy head with alert eyes and the small pointed, closely set ears
give the Spitz his unique characteristic, cheeky appearance.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : The ratio of height at withers to
body length is 1 : 1.
BEHAVIOR AND CHARACTER : The German Spitz is always
attentive, lively and exceptionally devoted to his owner. He is very
teachable and easy to train. His distrust to strangers and lack of
hunting instinct make him the ideal watchdog for home and farm.
He is neither timid nor aggressive. Indifference to weather, robustness
and longevity are his most outstanding attributes.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION : The Spitz’s medium size head, seen from
above, appears broadest at the back and tapers in wedgeshape to the
tip of the nose.
Stop : Moderate to marked, never abrupt.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : The nose is round, small and pure black, dark brown in brown
Spitz.
Muzzle : The muzzle is not overlong and stands in pleasing proportion
to the skull. (In Wolfspitz/Keeshond, Giant Spitz and Medium-size
Spitz the ratio length of the muzzle to length of the skull is
approximately 2:3, in Miniature Spitz and Toy Spitz approximately
2:4.).
Lips : The lips are not exaggerated, close fitting to the jaws and do not
form any folds to the corner of the mouth. They are completely black
in all colours, brown in brown Spitz.
Jaws/Teeth : The jaws are normally developed and show a complete
scissor bite with 42 teeth, corresponding to the teeth formula of the
dog, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set
square to the jaws. In Miniature-and Toy (Pomeranian) Spitz the lack
of a few premolars is tolerated. Pincer-bite is permissible in all
varieties of Spitz.
Cheeks : The cheeks are gently rounded, not protruding.
Eyes : The eyes are of medium size, longish shape, slightly slanting
and dark. The eyelids are black in all shades of colour, dark brown in
brown Spitz.
Ears : The small ears are set high and relatively close to each other,
triangular and pointed; they are always carried upright, stiff at the tips.
NECK : The medium length neck is set broadly into the shoulders,
slightly arched without throatiness and covered by a thick, profuse
coat forming a large ruff.
BODY :
Topline : The topline starts at the tips of the erectly carried prick-ears
and merges in a gentle curve with the short, straight back. The bushy,
sweeping tail, which partially covers the back, rounds off the
silhouette.
Withers/Back: : The high withers drop imperceptibly into the shortest
possible, straight, firm back.
Loin : Short-coupled, broad and strong.
Croup : The croup is broad and short, not falling away.
Chest : The deep chest is well sprung, the forechest well developed.
Lower line : The brisket reaches as far back as possible; the belly has
only a slight tuck up.
TAIL : The tail is set on high and of medium length. It reaches
upwards and rolls forward over the back, straight from the root. It lies
firmly over the back and is covered with very bushy hair. A double
curl at tip of tail is tolerated.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS :
General : Straight, rather broad front.
Shoulders : The shoulder-blade is long and well laid back. The upper
arm, which is approximately the same length, forms an angle of 90
degrees to the shoulder-blade. The shoulder is well muscled and
firmly connected to the brisket.
Elbow : The elbow joint is strong, close fitting to the brisket and turns
neither in nor out.
Forearm : The forearm is of medium length in relation to the body,
sturdy and completely straight. The back of the forearm is well
feathered.
Metacarpus (Pastern) : The strong, medium length front pastern
stands at an angle of 20 degrees from the vertical.
Front feet : The front feet are as small as possible, round and closed,
so called cat feet, with well arched toes. Toe-nails and pads are black
in all shades of colour, but dark brown in brown dogs.
HINDQUARTERS :
General : The hindquarters are very muscular and abundantly
feathered to the hocks. The hind legs stand straight and parallel.
Upper and lower thigh : Upper and lower thigh are of about equal
length.
Stifle : The stifle joint is strong with only moderate angulation and is
turned neither in nor out in movement.
Metatarsal (Hock) : The hock is of medium length, very strong and
vertical to the ground.
Hind feet : The hind feet are as small as possible, tightly closed with
well arched toes, so called cat feet. The pads are coarse. The colour
of nails and pads is as dark as possible.
GAIT/MOVEMENT : The German Spitz moves straight ahead with
good drive, fluid and springy.
SKIN : The skin covers the body tightly without any wrinkles.
COAT
HAIR : The German Spitz has a double coat : Long, straight, stand off
top coat and short, thick, cotton-wool-like undercoat. Head, ears,
front side of front and hind legs and the feet are covered by short,
thick (velvety) hair. The rest of the body has a long rich coat. Not
wavy, curly or corded, not parted on the back. Neck and shoulders are
covered by a thick mane. The backside of the front legs is well
feathered, the hind legs have ample feathering from croup to hocks.
The tail is bushy.
SIZE AND WEIGHT :
Height at the withers : a) Wolfspitz/Keeshond 49 cm +/- 6 cm
b) Giant Spitz 46 cm +/- 4 cm
c) Medium size Spitz 34 cm +/- 4 cm
d) Miniature Spitz 26 cm +/- 3 cm
e) Toy Spitz/Pomeranian 20 cm +/- 2 cm
Dogs under 18 cm undesirable.
Weight : Each variety of German Spitz should have a weight
corresponding to its size.