The Klein German Spitz is a furry little dog with a face that resembles that of a fox.
They stand roughly 9 to 11 inches in height (at the shoulders).
They weigh between 18 and 22 pounds.
They have triangular shaped ears that stand straight up (erect).
Their tail is typically curled or arched over their back.
These small dogs have a heavy smooth coat that is extra thick around their neck (much like that of a lion).
These dogs come in wide range of colors including:
cream
brown
white
black
blue
wolf sable
black and tan
golden and black (more common)
black, brown, and white
Temperament
The Klein German Spitz is a friendly and busy little companion dog. They always need to be doing something.
These small dogs have the tendency to become quite attached to their masters.
They are also alert, affectionate, and desire your attention.
This breed however, can be independent as much as they are affectionate.
These dogs are generally curious and suspicious of strangers. They will not hesitate to bark if they sense or hear unfamiliar sounds. Hence, they are decent watch dogs.
This breed is good with children, other dogs, and other household pets. Keep in mind however, that this small dog should not be handled aggressively.
Living Standards
This breed will be fine living in an apartment.
Though they enjoy the outdoors, a yard is not required.
Make sure to get these dogs plenty of exercise.
Exercise
This breed should be walked on a regular basis.
They also enjoy playing indoors with dog toys or a tennis ball. Be sure to provide them with a bone to chew as well.
This breed is quite agile and can jump rather high. Thus, teaching them agility tricks is a good source of exercise.
You may also let these small dogs run in a safe open area.
Litter Size
This breed will typically have between 2 and 5 pups per litter.
Health and Life Expectancy
This is generally a healthy breed.
These small dogs seem to have no specific inherited health problems.
The life expectancy of these dogs is roughly 14 to 15 years of age.
Trainability and Obedience
This spitz breed is not easy to obedience train.
These dogs must understand that you are the leader or they will simply ignore your commands.
Be patient, firm, and consistent when training these small dogs. As mentioned earlier, this breed is intelligent and can be taught a variety of agility tricks.
For the best results, begin training this breed when they are pups.
Remember that any small dog breed can develop small dog syndrome if not properly trained.
Grooming
Grooming this dog is not too difficult.
Brush them on a regular basis.
Be sure to remove any mats or knots in their fur.
Bathe and trim them only when necessary.
History
Klein German Spitz is related to the Samoyed and Lapphund.
Due to German literature, it is believed that these small dogs date as far back as the 1450s.
The Klein German Spitz was bred to be a companion dog.
Today these dogs have become less popular, even in Germany.
