Mary Allen
The Kleinspitz is a representative of the German Spitz. With his cheerful and affectionate nature, he is a great companion dog. You can find out what distinguishes the breed here in the profile.
History of the Klein spitz
The Kleinspitz is a variety of the German Spitz, which today comes in five different sizes and in numerous colors. The exact origin of spitz dogs is difficult to determine. In many regions, there is evidence of an early appearance of the breed. For example, images of similar dogs can be found on Mycenaean pieces of terracotta or Greek vases. From the Middle Ages, spitzes were popular guards and court dogs, especially among the rural population. The dutiful dogs took their duties as protectors of the yard so seriously that they would pinch “intruders” in the calves. For this reason, lace used to be considered left and wrong.
At the beginning of targeted breeding, all representatives of the breed with a height at the withers of less than 29 centimeters were summarized under the term Kleinspitz. Since it was mainly found in the Mannheim area, it was also known as the “Mannheimer Spitz”. Only later did the Pomeranian, with a height at the withers of up to 22 centimeters, develop as a separate variety. Internationally, the breed is included in FCI group 5 “Spitzer and archetypal dogs” in Section 4 “European Spitz”.
Essence and Character
The Pomeranian is an affectionate and attentive dog that is very people-oriented. Like all German Spitz, he does not like to be alone and appreciates the full attention of his owners. They tend to be reserved and suspicious of strangers. The small dogs, therefore, defend their territory loudly and tend to bark if they are not trained. Due to its loving nature and the lack of hunting instinct, the small Spitz are easy to train even for beginners. With the appropriate training, you can easily walk the dog without a leash. Even if he can be a bit rebellious and cheeky at times, the four-legged friend gets along well with other dogs.
The Appearance of the Pomeranian
With a height at the withers of 23 to 29 centimeters, the Kleinspitz is the second smallest of the five German Spitz varieties. Only the Pomeranian is smaller. Its pointy ears and mischievous eyes resemble a fox, giving it a cheerful, cheeky look. It has dense, sparse fur that consists of two layers. The topcoat is smooth and long while the undercoat is soft and dense. The fur forms a lion-like mane around the neck and the dog carries the bushy tail over its back. The fur color is usually black, brown, white, orange, and gray-clouded. However, some laces are cream, cream-sable, orange-sable, black-and-tan, or piebald.
Education of the Puppy
Despite its small size, the Pomeranian is a serious dog that needs consistent training. So teach the puppy the ground rules from day one and don’t allow them to do anything they can’t do as an adult. Don’t be fooled by his charm and cuteness. Dogs learn best when they are young and want to please their owner. When training the little dog, you should not rush into anything and give the puppy time for new commands. The best way to achieve success is with consistency and praise. Early socialization is very important for the cheeky Spitz. In this way, he learns how to deal with other dogs and stays calmer in everyday life. A visit to a puppy school or a walkies’ meet-up is recommended.
Activities with the Klein Spitz
The Pomeranian is a lively and alert dog that prefers to be by your side at all times. Daily walks are the order of the day with him in any weather. Dog sports such as agility are also suitable for physical activity. You can take care of mental utilization with intelligence toys. Likewise, the intelligent Spitz is known to love to learn tricks and tricks. The affectionate Spitz is a pleasant companion dog with a good education. You can easily take her on vacation or on small trips with him.
Health and Care
Despite the long coat, the Pomeranian is not a high-maintenance breed. The protruding hair gives it a natural “shaky haircut” that hardly tangles. It is therefore sufficient to comb the fur from time to time and remove dirt. Your dog will be happy about the additional parts and you can be sure that nothing is missing. During the change of fur, however, the little Spitz also needs your help to get rid of excess hair. In terms of health, too, the Spitz is one of the less susceptible breeds. Some representatives of the breed are prone to tartar, but you can prevent it with the gift of chewing bones or a dog toothbrush.