German Spitz

  1. Home
  2. Dog Breeds
  3. German Spitz
24-26 lbs
12-15"
Germany
Victorian Pomeranian, Spitz Klein, Mittel Spitz, Toy Deutscher, Standard Deutscher, Giant Deutscher Gross Spitz, Deutscher Spitz, German Wolfspitz

The German Spitz resembles an oversized Pomeranian, but they are their own distinct breed. There are two sizes: the small or klein, and the medium or mittel. They are mischievous, playful and loyal. The German Spitz can be a barker if left with nothing to do. Always provide plenty of toys to keep them occupied, giving them mental stimulation and a job to do. They do have a high prey drive, so they may not mix well with small dogs or other small pets including cats, birds, ferrets, and hamsters.  It is believed that this spirited canine originated during the first Stone Age as a hunter and companion.
purpose Purpose
Farm Worker, Companion, Hunter
history Date of Origin
1400s
ancestry Ancestry
Spitz

German Spitz Health

Sketch of German Spitz
Average Size
Male German Spitz size stats
Height: 12-15 inches Weight: 24-26 lbs
Female German Spitz size stats
Height: 12-15 inches Weight: 24-26 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Epilepsy
Minor Concerns
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Retinal Dysplasia
  • Persistent Pupillary Membrane
Occasional Tests
  • Knee
  • X-Rays
  • MRI
  • Eye Examination
  • Physical Examination

German Spitz Breed History

It is reported that the German Spitz originated during the first Stone Age in an area known as Pomerania. Pomerania was located in the region of Germany and Poland. A document found from that region dating back to 1450 described the German Spitz breed within it. They were described as valiant guardians of the home and fields. They were also used in hunting as well being a favored companion. By the 18th century, this sprightly dog became a part of royal families. George I married a German woman and when visitors from Germany came to the English court, this pup was brought with them. There are no written records that show George I or his wife owned any of the dogs. Queen Charlotte, George III’s wife, was said to have several German Spitz dogs that weighed between 20 and 30 pounds. The popularity of the breed saw a sharp decline after World War I but then saw a surge in the 1970s. They are very popular in Germany, Australia, and Great Britain but are still very rare in the United States. The American Kennel Club has not officially recognized the breed but has accepted them into the Foundation Stock Service registry which is the first step in getting the breed recognized by the AKC. The United Kennel Club already recognizes them as an individual breed and has been registering dogs since 2006. The UKC recognizes two varieties: the klein, or small and the mittel, or medium. 

German Spitz Breed Appearance

The German Spitz has a medium-long coat and comes in a variety of colors from black to white. This includes shades of cream, orange, sable, gold, blue or brown. They can also have any of these colors on a white background making them parti-colored or they can be bi-colored in black and tan. Considered small or medium in stature, they are a compact dog with a typical spitz or fox-like head. This perky canine has a tail that curls over the back. If showing in the conformation ring, the coat should be thick and medium long with the hair on the head being short and plush. Ears should be small, triangular and erect on the top of the head. The eyes should be dark and alert, giving this clever dog an inquisitive expression. Their body should be small but sturdy and this spunky pup should never give the appearance of looking fragile or dainty.
Appearance of German Spitz
Eye Color Possibilities
brown German Spitz eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black German Spitz nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black German Spitz coat
Black
white German Spitz coat
White
cream German Spitz coat
Cream
brown German Spitz coat
Brown
red German Spitz coat
Red
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
German Spitz straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

German Spitz Breed Maintenance

The German Spitz has a double coat and will therefore, shed out that undercoat twice a year. Their undercoat is soft and wooly, their topcoat is long and somewhat harsh. The coat should be abundant around the chest and neck and the tail should be plumed. The hair on the face and head will be shorted and plush. Your dog should be groomed several times a week to remove any dirt, debris or loose fur. The fine hair typically found in the coat of the German Spitz will shed and stick to furniture and clothing. A shedding glove may come in handy to wipe your companion down once a day; you will find a lint roller is a necessity for your furniture and clothing. A pin brush is ideal along with a sturdy steel comb when grooming. Pay close attention to tangles that can form where the legs meet the body and work those tangles loose with the comb. Nails should be trimmed every few weeks. The ears should be cleaned once a week and teeth need to be brushed often to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

The German Spitz can suffer from a variety of costly health issues. Secure pet health insurance today to avoid high veterinary care costs. Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like Figo and Spot. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!
Brushes for German Spitz
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Dematter
Dematter
Comb
Comb
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
German Spitz requires daily brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

German Spitz Temperament

The German Spitz is a fun, lively dog that can be independent. They are very smart and many owners describe them as having a sense of humor. They can be challenging to live with if you are not used to the breed. When training a German Spitz, make things fun and lively or they may refuse to do anything for you as they are stubborn and want things their way. They can be a nuisance barker when bored, so keep plenty of toys on hand and give them a job to do during the day. A hunter at heart, they have a high prey drive and may be prone to attacking smaller pets including birds, hamsters, ferrets, guinea pigs, and cats. They can coexist with cats when they are raised with them, but an adult dog can be aggressive if just introduced to a cat. Early socialization is necessary to ensure that they become well-adjusted adults. They will be unsure of strangers but will warm up quickly when visitors stay a while in their home.
Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
8 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
45 minutes
activity minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to German Spitz

Similarly Sized Breeds to German Spitz

German Spitz Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.2 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00
food bag monthly cost

German Spitz Height & Weight

6 Months
Sketch of German Spitz at six months
Male German Spitz size stats at six months
Height: 8.0 inches Weight: 8.5 lbs
Female German Spitz size stats at six months
Height: 8.0 inches Weight: 8.5 lbs
12 Months
Sketch of German Spitz at 12 months
Male German Spitz size stats at 12 months
Height: 10.5 inches Weight: 12.0 lbs
Female German Spitz size stats at 12 months
Height: 10.5 inches Weight: 12.0 lbs
18 Months
Sketch of German Spitz at 18 months
Male German Spitz size stats at 18 months
Height: 10.5 inches Weight: 20.0 lbs
Female German Spitz size stats at 18 months
Height: 10.5 inches Weight: 20.0 lbs

German Spitz Owner Experiences

Willow
2 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Cuddles
Tug-of-war
Hide & Seek
Walks
Fetch
My sweet girl is a Boston Terrier German Spitz mix. She is the absolute light of my life! Her personality is playful, curious, possessive and matronly. I adopted her "brother" last May and I now refer to her as the "Fun Police" as no other pet can have fun without her involvement or her making them calm down, lol! She is so smart, agile and energetic as well. Makes for easy training and lots of activities. but when it is time for snuggles, she is under the blankets and curled up against me. I haven't gotten her fixed yet as she is truly one of a kind and even though I am against breeding for profit, I would love for her legacy to live on. She requires very little upkeep as she has the short coat of the Boston Terrier and her coloring is almost like an Australian Cattle Dog with the white back drop and black spotting, with the cutest little curly tail. She gets along with the cat, her brother and almost every human and pup we have come across, (I started socializing at 8 weeks). She also has NO FEAR...whether it be socially or activity based, she is confident and strong! She picks up on training well but better when it is something she wants to do. She has allergies, seasonal and is on apoquel but otherwise healthy as can be!
8 months, 3 weeks ago
Trey
4 Years
1 People
Condo
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I got Trey from my brother when he was 3 years old. He weighs 6.7kg and is about 13 inches tall. He barks when there's someone at the door and when my neighbor's dog barks. It's a little annoying when it happens. He is the most adorable dog ever. He is friendly but could be a snob to strangers when he's outdoors. He believes that's his time to explore the bushes and has no time for humans. He loves going out. He is also very gently with my cat. I got her as a kitten and would always separate them when I had to go out. But he's was so gentle and I eventually started leaving them together without worrying. He loves her and they always play together. I got him a best friend. And yes, they annoy each other. He brings me so much joy. I hope he lives till he's a hundred.
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Leona
1 Year
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Play
Walk
Fetch
Leona is the best thing to have happened to us! When meeting her litter, she immediately snuggled up to my husband and knew she’d found her family. We take her everywhere - walking, shopping, restaurants, down the beach. She has such a high energy level it’s hard to remember she’s so small. She’s a miniature German Spitz, so she weighs 5kgs (approx 11lbs) but has the energy of her larger herding ancestors. We do 2 long walks per week (5/6km or 3/4 miles) and shorter ones on other days. She is the most sociable dog, with other dogs and humans alike and wants to play with everyone all the time. The breed is supposedly quite yappy, but Leona is only ever vocal when someone tries to leave the group (either at home or out and about) or when she hears a strange noise at night. We discovered the breed by accident, but it’s safe to say that no matter how many dogs we have in the future, there will always be at least one Spitz.
2 years ago
Harlow
10 Months
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
My puppy is stubborn and is still working on training. She does not like getting a harness or leash on and will bite. She eats good and is good with kids, new people and other dogs and cats.
6 years ago
LUCKY
6 Years
5 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Running
Most lively and friendly companion!
5 years, 10 months ago
Kit
8 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He has been a wonderful dog and, until now, we thought he was a Pomeranian! What an education to discover he was an entirely different breed. We will always have a German Spitz in our household!
5 years, 10 months ago
Prince
5 Months
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Dream puppy! Trained within weeks (crate trained) - toilet trained for inside and outside, and lots of basic commands (sit, down, shake hands, high-five, roll over). Sleeps through the night, super friendly with new humans (maybe a bit TOO excited), doesn't bark at other dogs (seldom barks). Very affectionate! Brushed every few days (does shed, but can be controlled with regular brushing), sometimes picky with food (doesn't love kibble, but loves grilled chicken and carrots). Trick for us was to start training and socialising with humans early (8 weeks - other dogs after fully vaccinated) and set clear boundaries - be firm and show that you're alpha.
5 years, 9 months ago
Shiraz
8 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
This is my second one, and he's the son of my first one, we love the breed, they are very loyal, great with kids, well mannered and fast learners. We love ours!
5 years, 8 months ago
Lychee
2 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Tug-of-war
Running
Similar to other people we thought that we bought a Pomeranian and it turns out we got a German Spitz! It was a delightful surprise and now we love out Spitz. High energy dog, that is active smart and very affectionate.
5 years, 8 months ago
Rusty
13 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Extremely loyal, intelligent, attentive and affectionate. He found our family, showed up on the 2nd floor stairs of our 3-floor apt complex and adopted us in seconds! Be tech estimated his age then at 5 months and he’s been with us for 13 yrs now. Healthy other than gum inflammation that causes bad breath, and some skin bumps. Hearing almost gone and some eye issues starting. Trained almost effortlessly to crate (count accidents in 13 yrs on one hand) and tricks (sit, sit up, shake both paws, high five, roll over and sneeze!) within a week of joining our family. Good with cats and dogs in our family but protective and rude to other dogs. Also exhibited some herding behavior with small children when he first came to us. He couldn’t be more perfectly matched to our family. We adore him and he adores us. We’re so blessed that he chose our family. ❤️❤️❤️
5 years, 6 months ago
AJ
10 Months
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Chase
Fetch
Find
He is an amazing dog! He's full of energy and personality. By far he's the smartest dog I've ever owned. He wakes up super early in the morning to play and is my son's alarm clock lol. He doesn't bark a lot either. We thought he was a Pomeranian but as he grew we realized that he is a German Spitz!
5 years, 1 month ago
Oscar
13 Years
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Friendly, happy, loves to play, have to keep it's behind shaved or it gets dirty and hard to get it clean, a daily brushing of 10 minutes, loves to go for walks, loves to play in the snow, easy to house train, Oscar never barked unless the fire siren went off, loved to play with chew toys and loved to carry one around with him all the time,
4 years, 10 months ago
Tiffy
11 Years
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Tiffy is a part of our lives since 2007 Sept. He was tiny cute naughty 1month old puppy. Has a sweet tooth hungry mongrel gobbled one full 2" big laddoo in one go. Eats and drinks only with us around, very possessive, a pure vegetarian, eats anything and everything what we eat, highly energetic, loves kids, very ferocious looking, extremely loyal, very possessive of his toys, health wise not much issues. Eats little. Very very expressive eyes. Hates to take bath. Very particular about cleanliness.. have issues about bad breath now.. very sensitive.
4 years, 9 months ago
Tommy
2 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Tug-of-war
farming
cattle management
Ball
Best dog ever, simply the best companionship and love.He loves spending time with the cows, chickens and take care of the farm.
4 years, 7 months ago
Yoshie
6 Months
5 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He is full of character, my little comedian
4 years, 4 months ago
Buddy
5 Years
6 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing fetch
Running around
My German Spitz is very lively and is very loyal to us. He’s very independent but definitely loves to be petted.
4 years, 2 months ago
Doli
6 Years
1 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Chasing birds
Walking
Sleeping
Play
Hunting
Nature
Cuddling
Tug of war
Running
Had since a puppy for birthday present from my mother. Absolutely fell in love with her. She's a very cheeky busy dog & her character is so funny. Everyday she makes me laugh, smile and ...swear!!!
4 years, 1 month ago
Misty
6 Months
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Running together
teaching new tricks
Tug-of-war
going on walks
Misty is our lovely new family member. She is very lively and eager to greet guests with her famous spitz smile! She has her crazy moments which can be entertaining to watch! She was easy to train. It's amazing how fast she learns. Though we still have to work on her barking tendencies, she's a very expressive puppy and will bark at anything slightly suspicious. Overall she is wonderful and fitting perfectly into our relatively busy lives!
3 years, 11 months ago
Charlie
5 Years
7 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
My Charlie is very protective and good guard dog. Very alert and can tell when someone is near the house 10 meters away. He will go for strangers either by barking or attacking their shoes when on premises. Very playful and very cute. Easy to train new skills and very photogenic. Definitely a crowd pleasure and loves kisses and cuddles from us. Only problem is he does not like sleeping alone at night and does bark and scratch my doors. Very sociable when he gets to know you. Brings security and love in my house with a special needs child and 4 other kids. Would not be able live to without him. Love my Charlie like a human. VERY spoilt.
3 years, 10 months ago
Teddy
11 Months
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playdate
Playing
Lives with a cat, Miniture Dachshund a Chihuahua and an old GS/Staffordshire bull terrier. He thinks he is the boss but the Chihuahua sorts him out.
3 years, 9 months ago
Coco
6 Months
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Walk
We got coco at a pet store. They said she was a Pomeranian but we actually got a dna test and turns out she’s a German spitz or mixed breed. She does amazing with kids of all ages she does get in babies faces and scares them haha. Loves other pets. Will beg you for cuddles. She does bark at a doorbell but as soon as someone comes in she gets crazy excited
3 years, 1 month ago
Chibi
4 Years
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Walk
Our German Spitz Klein, Chibi, is a rescue. We got her when she was around a year old. She showed signs of trauma involving bigger dogs, and she still displays aggressive behavior toward them, if they haven't met before. She is an excellent watch dog, barking at all unfamiliar people approaching our home. She is deceptively smart, and often will play fetch with herself if both of us are busy. She is very protective of us, and very clingy, especially when we are both in the same room. When my wife and I are watching tv on the couch together, she frequently joins us in a tight snuggle pile.
3 years ago
Wednesday
2 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playtime
Walks
Run
Squeak toy time
Tug-of-war
Cuddles
We Rescued Wednesday from a shelter, and like many other owners, we thought we had a Pomeranian! We were thrilled to discover this spunky breed and learn all we could. Wednesday is very smart, and food motivated in her training. She loves cats, and will try to make friends with the strays in our neighborhood. She was successful with one! Other dogs, we haven't had much luck with, but she was great with my mom's Yorkie and Chihuahua/pom mix when we lived with her. She barks at other dogs if she sees them, but the behavior can quickly be corrected by drawing her attention to us. She doesn't shed much, but we do brush her very often. We use a medicated shampoo, as she does have certain food allergies, and pair that with a pup conditioner to keep her coat silky. She does hate bath-time, but it's not too much of a fight. She LOVES meeting new people, and can be a bit much when it comes to strangers. She especially loves children, but can frighten them a bit when it comes to her energy level. All in all she has been an amazing companion to my wife and I. She loves to cuddle, and sleeps with us in our bed. She has a bit of separation anxiety, but that is very common in rescues and can be trained out. An amazing companion. And we couldn't imagine life without our silly little pup.
2 years, 11 months ago
Doli
8 Years
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Hide & Seek
Socialising
Play
Ball
Doli was bought as a bday present. She will be 8 years old on 14.03.2021 but you would think she is half her ages. She's energetic, loyal, funny, loving. Loves to be busy. She comes everywhere with me and loves a massage & belly rub. She hates baths. She's good at listening to commands and has various tricks Which she loves performing if there is a crowd. She's my best friend, my absolute everything!!
2 years, 10 months ago
Tyson
9 Years
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walks
Cuddles,
Tricks
My little baby is so sweet and loving, he is such a good boy!
2 years, 10 months ago
Gringa
1 Year
1 People
Condo
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Hike
Run
Gringa is the light of my life. She is my companion and we do everything together. She loves fetching and takes her little ball everywhere. She is very friendly with other dogs and with people, barks a little not much. Shed a lot, I have to cut her fur time to time. She is extremely active and never gets tired.
2 years, 9 months ago
Whiskey
1 Year
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Play
New doggo got it yesterday.
2 years, 8 months ago
Romeo
9 Months
4 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Play wrestling
Hiking
Find it
Tug-of-war
Cuddles
learning tricks
The absolute best little friend you could have. Extremely loving and always in your shadow. Good with cats but likes to instigate mischief with them to encourage play. Gentle but playful with children, will be both a lap companion and a playmate (though use caution while playing as rough play can cause injury). Easy to house train and loves to learn tricks (spin around, play dead, etc) big fan of games like fetch, if you’re willing to throw the ball, will chase it endlessly and bring it back for more. Distrusting of strangers, will bark at unknown dogs and people. Will bark at the first sign of something amiss and you will know if anyone is near your door/property.
2 years, 6 months ago
Are you a German Spitz owner?
Share Your Experience
Wag! icon help icon Help Center
App Store logo Play Store logo

Download the Wag! app

Facebook icon Instagram icon Twitter icon Tiktok icon
Facebook icon Instagram icon Twitter icon Tiktok icon
App Store logo Play Store logo

© 2023 Wag Labs, Inc. All rights reserved.

Facebook icon Instagram icon Twitter icon Tiktok icon
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Book My Walk!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd