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German Spitz klein

History

The German Spitz breeds descend directly from the Nordic herding dogs, like the Samoyed, which were probably taken to Germany and Holland by the Vikings during the Middle ages. These dogs then spread throughout Europe and were crossed with other herding and shepherd breeds, thus making the foundation of the Spitz type. By 1700's, the Spitz became the fashion of British Society. Queen Victoria acquired several Spitz dogs weighing between 20 to 30 pounds from Pomerania. The German's disapproved of the erroneous term Pomeranian being used to describe the Spitz dog. These were not the same dog which is recognised today as the Pomeranian but were more the size of the present day Mittel German Spitz. With the ascent to the throne of Queen Victoria, the breed would be changed forever. The Spitz were gradually bred smaller and smaller until the toy breed of Pomeranian emerged. The larger sized Spitz died out apart from the odd large Pomeranian puppy cropping up in a litter. All things German dwindled away during the two world wars. The first German Spitz, as we know them today in the UK, was imported by a breeder who was wanting to re-introduce the white Pomeranian. As the breed was becoming established there was a mix of sizes as Pomeranians were used to mate with the imported dogs. You now have our present day German Spitz in two sizes in the UK and breeding between sizes is forbidden. However Kleins will occasionally pop up in Mittel litters and vice versa because of the mixed ancestry. Until 1994 the breed was classified by the Kennel Club as a Rare Breed.

General Appearance Compact, short-coupled and well knit with an almost square outline. Firm condition, the profuse coat not disguising any lack of substance. Characteristics The German Spitz is intelligent, active and alert. Its buoyancy, independence and devotion to the family are the breed characteristics. Temperament
Happy, equable disposition, showing confidence, with no sign of nervousness or aggression. Head and Skull
Medium large, broad and nearly flat skull when viewed from above and narrowing in a wedge shape to the nose. Stop moderately defined; muzzle approximately half length of head. Cheeks clean. Flews tight, no trace of lippiness. Nose Black in black, white, black/white parti-colours, black/tan bi-colours. Self colour as compatible with coat colour in other colour varieties. Never parti-colour or pink.

Eyes

Medium size, oval-shaped and obliquely set. Not too wide apart. Always dark with black rims in blacks, whites black/white parti-colours, black/tan bi-colours. As dark as compatible with coat colour in other colour varieties. Ears Small, triangular and set rather high. Perfectly erect. Mouth A perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Black lips in black, white, black/white in parti-colours, black/tan bi-colours. Colour as compatible with coat colour in other colour varieties. Neck Clean, moderately short and well set into the shoulders. Forequarters Moderately sloping shoulder; upper arm of sufficient length to ensure elbow is vertically below point of withers. Moderate forechest. Elbows equidistant between ground and withers, turning neither in nor out. Well-boned, straight legs. Pasterns strong and flexible.

Body Length from point of shoulder to point of buttock equal to height at withers; short, well-developed loin.. Moderate tuck-up. Well ribbed up and rounded. Distance from brisket to ground not less than half the height from ground to withers. Top-line level. Hindquarters Moderate angulation with hocks moderately well let down. Neither cow-hocked nor wide behind. FeetSmall, rounded, cat-like, with well arched toes. Tail High set, curled right up from root, lying curled over back. Gait/Movement Moving without exageration from any angle. Straight coming and going. Viewed from side, effortless, brisk action, retaining top-line. Coat
Double coat consisting of a soft woolly undercoat and a long harsh-textured perfectly straight top coat covering the whole of the body. Very abundant around neck and forequarters with a frill of profuse off-standing straight hair extending over the shoulders. Forelimbs well feathered tapering from elbows to pasterns. Hindlimbs feathered to hocks. Ears covered with soft short hair. Hair on the face smooth and short. Tail profusely covered with long spreading hair. This is not a trimmed breed and evidence of trimming and shaping, other than tidying of the feet, anal area and legs below the hocks, unacceptable.

Colour All colour varieties and markings acceptable. Butterfly pigment not permitted with any colour. Size * Size Height:
Klein: 23-29 cms (9-11 5ins)Mittel: 30-38 cms (12-15 ins).
Dogs masculine, bitches feminine. Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog. Note Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.