German Spitz (Mittel)

From Pet Encyclopedia

German Spitz (Mittel)

Origin of Breed

Breed Nick Names

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Origin and History 3 Appearance 4 Temperament 5 Health 6 External Links 7 References

[edit] Introduction

The German Spitz comes in different sizes in the UK he KC only reconise the Klien and Mittel meaning small and medium. They came from Germany and are in the Utility Group

[edit] Origin and History

The German Spitz were used alongside coachmen of wagon's, goods were often transported via wagons and most coachmen had a 'coachman's'spitz which would run alongside of the wagon or ride on the horses back and would warn of strangers when parked up for the night.There are also many other types of spitz which popped up all over the various european landmass. They all varied in colours/heights but were all used to watch over various buildings or boats/areas of importance.

They came into the UK by mistake, a lady named Averil Cawthera imported the first German Spitz mistaking it for a Pomeranian, she wanted to re-introduce the white poms into the lines in the UK. After breeding from the imported dogs they discovered that all the offspring was too large for a Pomeranian so they tried to have another size added to the KC breed standard but was not accepted so they then moved onto starting the new breed of German Spitz.

The colour of the German Spitz started off as white but they where soon bred to have different colours so the coachmen could tell the diffrence between them and the wolves that scavanged in the same areas

[edit] Appearance

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.

Feet Small, 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.

[edit] Temperament

The German Spitz is intelligent, active and alert. Its buoyancy, independence and devotion to the family are the breed characteristics. Happy, equable disposition, showing confidence, with no sign of nervousness or aggression.

[edit] Health

German Spitz have no major health problems.

[edit] External Links

[edit] References

http://www.angelfire.com/ks/germanspitz/History.html