German Spitz: Dog Breed Characteristics & Care

The German spitz is a small- to medium-sized fluffy companion breed that hails from Germany. “Spitz” breeds, sometimes called Northern breeds, are a type of dog frequently found in cold climates.

Spitz dogs, including the rare German spitz, have thick double coats (a longer outer coat combined with a shorter, thicker undercoat), a wedge-shaped head, upright triangular ears, and a long tail that curls up and over the back. 

Learn more about the German spitz, including their history, care needs, temperament, and health.

Breed Overview

GROUP: Non-Sporting

HEIGHT: Klein (miniature): 9 to 11.5 inches; Mittel (medium): 12 to 15 inches

WEIGHT: 25 to 40 pounds

COAT: Straight and stand-off outer coat; short, soft, dense undercoat

COAT COLOR: All colors and markings

LIFE SPAN: 13 to 15 years

TEMPERAMENT: Lively, devoted, attentive, trainable, entertaining

HYPOALLERGENIC: No

ORIGIN: Germany

Characteristics of the German Spitz

The German spitz is a lively and entertaining family pet. Happy and outgoing with people they know, the dog is naturally suspicious of strangers and will bark to alert you to anyone approaching the home.

A German spitz is extremely devoted to their family. The breed is playful, adoring, and simply fun to have around.

Although some German spitzes are small in size, don’t get into the habit of carrying your dog everywhere like a baby or they can't fully experience the world like a dog.

History of the German Spitz

Originally a farm dog, watchdog, and companion dog, the German spitz is one of several closely related spitz breeds that have been known in Germany since the mid-1400s. In the breed’s home country, there is one German spitz with five varieties; in other parts of the world, these varieties are recognized as separate breeds.

The five varieties are the giant spitz, wolfsspitz (recognized as keeshond in other countries), mittel spitz (medium), klein spitz (miniature), and zwergspitz (toy, recognized as the Pomeranian in other countries). 

Although the breed’s history goes back hundreds of years and is well-known in Germany, this breed is a relative newcomer to the dog scene in the United States. It’s not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club, but it’s part of the AKC Foundation Stock Service, which is the first step toward eventual full recognition.

The German spitz is fully recognized by the United Kennel Club, where it is part of the Northern Breeds group. The breed is also recognized by the international kennel club Fédération Cynologique International.

German Spitz Care

A German spitz is energetic and loves to play, but doesn’t need hours of exercise. Despite its abundance, the dog's profuse coat is easier to care for than you might expect. The breed is highly intelligent and easy to train.

Exercise

Get into the habit of taking your German spitz on daily strolls around the neighborhood and sessions of fetch in a safely enclosed yard. This dog only requires between 30 minutes to an hour of daily exercise to stay happy.

This isn't the type of dog you can take on long, vigorous runs or hikes, however, because they can become too winded.

Grooming

German spitzes should not be trimmed or shaved, and the coat usually looks and feels clean because the hair naturally repels dirt.

Seasonally about twice a year, the German spitz experiences a heavy shed, cropping much of the undercoat in a few weeks (this is appropriately called “blowing coat”). Double down on your brushing during this time to remove the shedding hair. A moistening bath and blow-dry can also help work out more hair.

Outside of these seasonal sheds, the breed sheds very little and needs only weekly brushing. A weekly nail trim and look into the ears (clean with a pet ear cleaner if they look dirty) will help your dog stay comfortable. Don’t forget to brush their teeth for their oral health.

Training

A German spitz is highly intelligent and easy to train. This dog truly wants to please you and can be taught many tricks and basic commands using positive reinforcement like treats and toys.

This breed is not inherently aggressive or nervous around people or other dogs, but begin socializing early by exposing the puppy to many different people, places, and things to help develop their confidence.

Sometimes a German spitz can become a problem barker and extra training (especially teaching the “quiet” command) can help curb this tendency. 

Common Health Problems

Although the German spitz is an extremely healthy breed, there are some conditions that can affect them. Those include:

• Eye diseases: Some instances of eye disease have been noted in this breed, including progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and retinal dysplasia, which can both cause blindness.

• Luxating patellas: With this condition, the dog has loose kneecaps and can experience pain and mobility issues.

Reputable breeders have special eye and knee screenings done on their adult German spitzes before breeding them to avoid passing these issues to future generations. 

Diet and Nutrition

Feed your German spitz a high-quality dog food (if you need a recommendation, talk to your breeder or veterinarian). Smaller German spitzes might benefit from a small-breed or “small-bite” food, which has smaller kibbles for smaller mouths.

Always portion out meals on a schedule (twice daily for adults) with a measuring cup or scale to avoid overfeeding. Leaving food out all day, although convenient, can lead to weight gain. Too much weight can place extra strain on the joints and contribute to other health problems like diabetes. 

Where to Adopt or Buy

The German spitz is a very rare breed in North America. A breed club, the German Spitz Club of America, is seeking full AKC recognition for the breed.

It can be difficult to find a puppy because there are few breeders in the United States and reputable breeders breed few litters a year. If you find a breeder, be prepared to get on a waiting list for a puppy.

Though many experts will say that you can expect to pay under $1,000 for a German spitz pup, some breeders may charge upwards of a few thousand dollars per dog, too.

Here are some helpful resources for buying or adopting a German spitz:

• German Spitz Club of America Breeders List  

• AKC Marketplace  

• Petfinder  

• Rescue Me! Spitz Rescue  

German Spitz Overview

The German spitz is a sweet and cute dog that is easy to live with and care for, and is especially ideal for first-time parents. However, they need proper training and socialization, and aren’t the ideal choice if you want a canine to take on long outdoor adventures.

Pros of German Spitzes

• Devoted family companion

• Clean, easy-care coat

• Good apartment dog

Cons of German Spitzes

• Some may be problem barkers

• May be wary of strangers

• Doesn’t do well when left alone

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More Dog Breeds and Further Research

If you like the German spitz, you might also like these breeds:

• American Eskimo Dog

• Keeshond

• Pomeranian

Otherwise, check out all of our other dog breed articles to help you find the perfect dog for you and your family.