Klein German Spitz

Behavior

The Klein German Spitz, also known as simply the German Spitz of the Kleinspitz, is known for being a very intelligent and friendly dog. Since they are a little bit larger than some other breeds, they are not prone to nervous energy often found in smaller breeds. However, they are still quite alert and active and like to get out and play. They love to be around people and will happily take part in all types of outdoor activities where they can be with everyone.

While they are noted for their intelligence, the Klein German Spitz can be somewhat stubborn as well, making them something of a challenge to train on occasion. They learn quickly and if they are rewarded for good behavior and obedience they will train faster and well. Maybe people who own this dog end up entering this breed in obedience and agility competitions because they fare so well.

They are high energy, however they are quite happy with just a daily walk or run or even just playing around in the yard and do not need a lot of exercise that many other larger breeds have to do. They do very well with children and have been known to have a tendency to bark, but with proper training this can be curtailed.

Appearance

There are actually three types of the Klein German Spitz – the toy, the standard and the giant. This size can range quite widely, with the toy version being as small as just nine to eleven inches while the giant can be sixteen or seventeen inches. The weight can differ widely as well, with the toy breed often weighing just eighteen to twenty-two pounds, the standard weighing twenty-three to forty pounds and the giant weighing around forty-one pounds. You will see these dogs in a very wide array of colors and mixes of colors, with no particular color scheme being dominant for the breed. They are quite sturdy and have fluffy hair and pointy ears to go along with their dark eyes. They often have a rough coat with feathered or wavy curls on their backs.

Grooming

Grooming is not a big issue for the Klein German Spitz. With regular intervals of brushing, you should have no problem keeping their coat clean and free of any knots. You want to pay particular attention to their elbows and ears, which tend to knot before other areas of the body. They shed very little, typically only about once a year, and only need occasional trimming of their hair. Too much will cause the hair to grown in even thicker and will mat even more than usual.

History

The Klein German Spitz is a direct descendant of the Samoyed, a Nordic dog. These dogs were likely taken to areas such as Germany or Holland by the Vikings in the Middle Ages, allowing the breed to establish residence in this area of the world. They were then crossed with other herding breeds of dogs to create the Spitz. This dog became quite popular among the English, particular the royalty, in the 1700s. While they were often called Pomeranians, the Germans corrected this by properly labeling the dog as a Spitz. As the dog became popular among royalty it was bred more and more to be of a smaller size, creating the toy breed that is seen today.