Medium Spitz

Medium Spitz is one of four German Spitz. All dogs in this group are very effective, richly hairy dogs with pointed ears and lush tail curled on the back.

Nature

Medium Spitz is a confident, sociable and intelligent dog. Very loyal, strongly attached to the owner. Distrustful towards strangers, however, he should not be aggressive or fearful. This dog is lively, active, willingly undertaking various types of activities. It requires attachment, but not necessarily every day. He also just likes being around people. He gets along well with children. There is no tendency for poaching or vagrancy.

Skills

The medium-sized German Spitz is a watchful and distrustful dog, so it works well as a guardian. He is also a great companion dog and a companion on walks. In addition, medium-sized Spitz performs well in agility – run in classes M and S, depending on height. On agility, they are fast, agile and easy to teach them how to work at a distance from the guide. You can also successfully train with a rally-o and even obedience. Medium Spitz is great at dancing with dogs.

Training and education

Medium-sized Spitz is usually willing to cooperate and easy to motivate dogs – be they treats or toys. They learn quickly. Some individuals, however, get bored with repetitions fairly quickly. In their case, it is especially important to take breaks and diversify tasks. The most important thing in training the spitz is to keep the play element – then the dog will also be enthusiastic about learning.

Who is this race for?

This breed can be recommended to anyone who is looking for a nice and trouble-free companion. Even a beginner can handle his upbringing, if he puts on it.

Advantages and disadvantages

Medium Spitz – what is it like? Learn its pros and cons!

Disadvantages

• sometimes barking
• intensely molts and requires regular brushing
• can be a bit stubborn

Advantages

• excellent family dog
• great watchman
• very attached to the owner
• it’s easy to raise him
• adapts to different conditions

Health

The middle spitz is a healthy and long-lived breed. Genetic diseases occur sporadically, including patellar dislocation and eye diseases (PRA, RD and cataracts).

Feeding

In terms of nutrition, tips are not demanding. They eat little and are not prone to gaining weight. You can feed them with good quality ready food or prepare meals yourself.

Care

Spitz dogs are very clean and, contrary to appearances, easy to care for. Their long, hard hair does not hold dirt and even after an autumn walk you can quickly bring it to order. Spitz must be brushed under the hair. It is worth combing the puppy often to get used to the care treatments. Comb an adult spitz once every two weeks, more often during molting.

Accessories

The pointer brush is ideal for grooming the tip, and the furminator during molting. Medium spitz we take for walks in the leather or material collar or on guard braces.

History

The Middle Spitz is a young breed in modern understanding, since it has been a few years since its recognition, but in fact, it has an old origin. A popular theory is that European Spitz derives from the so-called peat dog ( Canis familiaris palustris), although now there are doubts. It seems that dogs of this type are the oldest breed formed in Europe and that they are the ancestors of many modern breeds, not only European (e.g. Japanese Spitz is, in fact, a breed in which German Spitz blood flows).

Over the centuries, up to the nineteenth century, German Spitz usually had the size of a modern Medium Spitz. They were such ordinary “dog dogs”, very popular as guard dogs and service dogs among peasants and workers – they were the type of dog that numerous classical writers immortalized in their works, although not always in a positive light. These animals were often despised, as it was said: “of poor condition”, just like their owners. Perhaps from this among others therefore, the first breeders of German Spitz thought that the breed should be improved and refined.

Established in 1899, the Verein für Deutsche Spitze eV recognized miniature (Pomeranian), small, large and wolf spitz as separate breeds – all sizes except the original medium spitz! The breakthrough came only in 1969, when the club and several breeders decided to create a medium spitz pattern and officially establish it as a breed. At exhibitions, the first middle spitz appeared in the early 1970s.

Before the official recognition of the breed, only a few spitz fans bred the medium variety, despite the fact that it was the most original type of spitz, which made the breed’s population diminish over more than half a century. Of course, this was also influenced by both world wars, as was the case with other races. In order to expand the genetic pool, new individuals were selected mainly from overgrown small spitz. The introductory book for the breed is still open and new copies are entered from time to time.

Currently, the breed has already gained moderate popularity in its homeland, mainly due to health and a friendly, kind disposition. Especially the classic white spitz has won its fans. At the beginning of the new millennium, an increase in popularity of the breed could be observed in Germany (white spitz was registered over 40), but already in 2001 there was a decrease in registration again. The population of such a small breed is unfortunately very sensitive to fluctuations in numbers.

The most medium-sized Spitz dogs are registered in Great Britain, Finland, Germany, Austria and Australia. There are also some of them in the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Russia and Sweden.

Template

Medium Spitz – Group V FCI, section 4, reference number 97

• Country of origin:  Germany
• Character:  lively dog, devoted to the owner, distrustful of strangers, watchful guard; maybe barking
• Size:  dogs and bitches – 30-38 cm
• Weight: 7-11 kg
• Coat:  double-layered: long, straight, stiff and protruding top coat and short, thick, woolly undercoat; head, ears and paws covered with short, thick hair, the rest of the body – with long hair, which creates an abundant mane on the neck and shoulders, trousers and a feather on the tail; Spitz molts constantly, but twice a year more intensively
• Color: black, brown, white, orange, gray-shaded (willy), other ointments (black and tan, spotted, red with black coating, cream)
• Lifespan:  12-15 years
• Vulnerability to training:  high; although it belongs to primitive breeds, it is relatively easy to shape
• Activity:  medium; he likes movement, but if he is given regular walks, he will adapt to a less active lifestyle
• Resistance/susceptibility to diseases:  very resistant to cold and frost, does not tolerate heat very well; breed generally healthy, there are problems with the patella, dysplasia and eye diseases
• Possibility to buy a puppy: a  puppy usually needs to be ordered

Interesting facts

Spitz, which looks like contemporary medium-sized Spitz, had, among others King Wilhelm II of Württemberg (1848-1921) – the last king of Württemberg. Wilhelm II was considered a favorite and close to the people of the king. To this day, the story is told how the inhabitants of Stuttgart greeted their monarch, seeing him on a walk with the dogs, and greeted with the words: “God bless you, King.” The king returned the greeting by removing his hat and giving the children candy. At the monument, which stands on Wilhelm Square in Stuttgart, the king was immortalized with his two spitzes. The monument does not have a high pedestal, and the king seems as close to his subjects as he once was.