German Spitz (Mittel)

The German Spitz is generally a relatively healthy breed. Like many breeds they can suffer from hereditary eye disorders and therefore eye testing prior to breeding is advised. Epilepsy and kneecaps that may temporarily slip out of place also occur in the breed.

An hour and a half per day, split into two walks will suffice for the German Spitz, as long as there is company, training, games and other entertainment on hand for the majority of the day. This is a multi-purpose companion breed happy to sit on their owner’s knee while still alert to danger and be fun company always up for a game or an outing. Due to the thick coat, exercise should be in the coolest parts of the day in summer.

The German Spitz Mittel will fit into most homes, but a secure garden is important. Space to groom, and to dry off a wet dog should be considered, as their coat does require some care and can hold a surprising amount of water and mud (although they will often avoid the latter). Because of their tendency to alert to suspicious activity, a quiet home will do better than a busy one, and whilst they can fit into an inner-city environment, this may be stressful and overwhelming for them if busy and noisy.

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape, and remember to feed him at least twice daily in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food.

As a general rule, a thorough brushing several times a week will ensure the coat stays clean and knot-free. Particular attention should be paid to the ears and elbows where knots can occur more quickly. Males tend to shed once a year and bitches twice a year: this is when most of the hair will be shed but in a warm household, they can shed almost constantly.

Early socialisation and habituation is necessary to build confidence. Using positive reinforcement and motivation, the enthusiastic German Spitz can be taught a range of fun tricks and useful behaviours, and this should definitely be done to keep their active and clever minds occupied. Capable of achieving respectable results in competition at agility and obedience if you want to put in the work, they will enjoy time spent with their owners, no matter what the occupation.

A fun family dog if all the family can be involved in training and exercise. Very small children find it hard to differentiate between ‘small dog’ and ‘stuffed toy’ and as the German Spitz as a puppy is very small and incredibly cute, it may be better to wait until children are older. The German Spitz is very much a companion dog and not well equipped to spend long periods alone, which may well rule out full time working families.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.