| German Spitz | |
| Also Known As: | German: Deutscher Spitz |
| Country: | Germany |
| Kc Name: | VDH |
| Kc Std: | https://www.vdh.de/welpen/mein-welpe/deutsche-spitze |
| Fcistd: | http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/097g05-en.pdf |
| Wolfsspitz | |
| Also Known As: | Keeshond |
| Coat: | Double coat, long straight outer and thick cotton-wool like undercoat |
| Colour: | Grey-shaded |
| German Giant Spitz | |
| Also Known As: | German: Großspitz |
| Coat: | Double coat, long straight outer and thick cotton-wool like undercoat |
| Colour: | White, black and brown, sometimes with white spots on the chest, paws and tip of tail |
| German Medium Spitz | |
| Also Known As: | German: Mittelspitz |
| Coat: | Double coat, long straight outer and thick cotton-wool like undercoat |
| Colour: | White, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours |
| German Miniature Spitz | |
| Also Known As: | German: Kleinspitz |
| Coat: | Double coat, long straight outer and thick cotton-wool like undercoat |
| Colour: | White, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours |
| Pomeranian | |
| Also Known As: | German: Zwergspitz German Toy Spitz |
| Coat: | Double coat, long straight outer and thick cotton-wool like undercoat |
| Colour: | White, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours |
The German Spitz (German: italic=no|'''Deutscher Spitz''') is a breed of spitz-type dogs from Germany. It is considered a single breed, with five distinct varieties based on size and colour: the Wolfsspitz/Keeshond, the Giant Spitz or Großspitz, the Medium Spitz or Mittelspitz, the Miniature Spitz or Kleinspitz and the Pomeranian or Zwergspitz ("Dwarf Spitz").
The earliest mentions of these spitz dogs in German literature date from AD 1450. In 1750, Count Eberhand zu Sayre Buffon wrote in his National history of quadrupeds that spitz dogs were the ancestor of all German breeds.
German Spitz dogs were originally kept on farms for a number of roles including herding and guarding. As the centuries progressed some lines were bred to be smaller for other duties and eventually as small companion dogs.
The German Spitz is a long-haired, double-coated breed of spitz-type dog; the five varieties vary significantly in size. The breed standard states all variants have a double coat with a long, straight and outer coat and a short, thick, cotton-wool like undercoat.
The Wolfsspitz/Keeshond is the largest variety of Deutscher Spitz, standing some 43to at the withers according to the breed standard. The coat is silver-grey with black shading. In some English-speaking countries – including Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States – the Keeshond and the German Wolfspitz are classed as two separate breeds; weights may be in the range 27to for the German Wolfspitz and 25to for the Keeshond.
The Giant Spitz is a medium-sized dog. It usually weighs 17to and according to the breed standard stands 43to; the coat can be white, black or brown, black and brown animals can have white spots on the chest, paws and tip of tail.
The Medium Spitz is a medium-sized dog. It usually weighs 10.5to and according to the breed standard stands 30to; the coat can be white, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours - as well as mixes thereof.
The Miniature Spitz is a small dog. It usually weighs 3to and according to the breed standard stands 24to; the coat can be white, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours.
The Pomeranian (or Zwergspitz, "Dwarf Spitz") is a small dog. It usually weighs 1.4to and according to the breed standard stands 18to; the coat can be white, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded and other colours.