Japanese Spitz

The Japanese Spitz is a playful, spirited breed, clothed in luxurious all-white fur. Although records of its origin were destroyed in World War II, these dogs were first bred in early 20th-century Japan, a cross between several other spitz-like dogs. The spitz is generally defined by a set of physical characteristics and relationships rather than a particular grouping (like herding, toy, or working group).

The Japanese Spitz has many physical hallmarks of common spitz: a luxurious double coat of white fur, triangle-shaped ears, a curled tail, a pointed snout, and an athletic or muscular body. This breed bears a very strong resemblance to the Samoyed, the American Eskimo Dog, and the white Pomeranian. While still relatively rare and not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club in the United States, the Japanese Spitz has become increasingly popular as a family companion.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Japanese Spitz

History

In spite of its name, this breed is European in origin. The ancestors of the Japanese spitz are actually the white German spitz that were brought over to East Asia by way of Siberia. Its ancestors also include the white Klein Wolfsspitz brought from Australia, Canada, China, and the United States.

The very first exhibition of the fluffy-coated breed was held over a century ago in Tokyo, in 1921. In 1948, the Japanese Kennel Club established the breed standard.

Size and Weight

Japanese Spitz are fairly small dogs in terms of both height and weight, though not quite as small as their close relative, the Pomeranian. Ideal size and breed standards vary between different locations, but most dogs tend to fall within a certain range. These dogs typically weigh between 10 and 25 lbs, and stand 12 to 15 inches tall.

Common Health Issues

The Japanese Spitz is overall a healthy breed, living a lengthy 12 to 14 years. However, this breed does suffer from a few serious health conditions. One of the most common problems to look out for is a developmental disorder called patellar luxation, in which the kneecap becomes dislocated from its normal position. Over its lifetime, a dog with patellar luxation may suffer from lameness, stiffness, and even rupturing or tearing of the surrounding ligaments. Other common health problems include runny eyes, arthritis, and cancer.

Good breeders always take their puppies to the veterinarian for a thorough medical examination before allowing them to go to their various homes. Make sure to get these medical records upon getting a puppy from a breeder.

Temperament

Charming, playful, affectionate, and loyal: the Japanese Spitz has a very strong and distinctive personality. With a great love for fun and adventure, they will accompany their owner almost everywhere. Thanks to their big bark and alert temperament, they also make for surprisingly good watchdogs.

Owners should be aware, however, that this breed can experience separation anxiety if left alone for too long. Signs of separation anxiety present as destructive behavior and excessive barking. It’s a good idea to have someone keep an eye on the dog at regular intervals throughout the day to ease their anxiety.

How to Take Care of the Japanese Spitz

The Japanese Spitz is a good choice for owners of all experience levels. This breed is a lot of fun to interact with, but there are a few important things to remember. First, you will need to devote a lot of time and money to grooming, exercise, and social needs. Second, it’s a good idea to have plenty of space around the home in which your dog can roam. While this breed can adapt to apartment living, it will still need to receive enough playtime and exercise throughout the day, preferably in the form of walks and visits to nearby parks.

The Best Dog Food for the Japanese Spitz

The Japanese Spitz requires a well-balanced, high-quality diet specially designed for its particular size and activity level. Japanese Spitz can be prone to obesity if overfed or under-exercised, so owners should monitor their dog’s calorie intake and ensure regular exercise.

Many brands of dog food make specific diets for small breed dogs, as well as if your pet has any dietary restrictions. In order to determine how much food to feed your Japanese Spitz, you should consult your veterinarian, or it may be listed on the food bag.

Maintenance and Grooming

During most of the year, the Japanese Spitz doesn’t demand quite as much grooming as its long coat would suggest; weekly brushing and the occasional bath about once a season should suffice. When the shedding season arrives, about twice per year, however, your dog will need to be brushed daily as they are blowing their coat. The hair will inevitably get on your clothes and furniture, so this is a higher-maintenance dog. Fortunately, most of the dirt and mud accumulated throughout the day should brush out of the hair with ease.

It is not recommended to bathe your dog too frequently because it may cause irritation to the skin and disrupt natural oils. Other important aspects of its maintenance and care include frequent nail trimming, ear cleaning with a cotton swab, and tooth brushing with an appropriate kind of vet-approved paste.

Training

The Japanese Spitz is known for being relatively easy to train. With very little stubbornness, this dog combines natural intelligence with an eagerness to please its owner, and naturally sees them as the alpha. As a result, treats and positive words should be sufficient to motivate your dog. If you do need some extra help, don’t be shy about signing up for a professional training program.

Exercise

The Japanese Spitz will probably need around 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day. Since they like to run around and play games, it’s a good idea to have some kind of wide-open space near your home. After exercise or playtime is finished, they should be content to settle down and enjoy the rest of the day with you.

Puppies

The Japanese Spitz will need to begin some early socialization and basic training by the eight to 12-week mark. While these dogs are naturally affable and friendly, training is still necessary because it deters bad behavior in your puppy and instills discipline. Housetraining shouldn’t be too much of an issue with this breed, but it might help to crate train just in case, as dogs do not generally like to soil the place where they sleep. Once you’ve established a good bond with your dog, you should start to teach it more advanced commands, usually starting at around four to six months.

If you plan to spay or neuter your dog, do so before the first year of age. Unless you plan on breeding your dog, spaying and neutering are generally recommended because they will improve the dog’s health and behavior while preventing specific health conditions that occur later in life in unaltered dogs.

Children

The Japanese Spitz is a great choice for families with children. Their small, approachable size, affectionate temperament, and desire for constant companionship make them great friends to people of all ages.

Dogs Similar to the Japanese Spitz

The Japanese Spitz bears a striking resemblance, both physically and temperamentally, to several other spitz-type cloud dogs, such as:

• Samoyed: Sporting a thick all-white coat, the Samoyed (a nomadic herding dog from Siberia) looks like a larger version of the Japanese Spitz with about double the weight. Their happy and affable expressions have earned them the appropriate nickname of the smiley dog. Since they’re far removed from their working roots, they make great companions in the home.
• American Eskimo Dog: This small all-white dog was once a common fixture in American circuses and later became a popular companion breed. It was originally known as the German Spitz, but it was renamed during the First World War because of anti-German sentiment.
• Pomeranian: Originating from the Baltic region around northern Germany and Poland, the Pomeranian is a small, lovable toy dog, weighing no more than 7 pounds. The white Pomeranian looks like a smaller version of the Japanese Spitz. They are friendly, energetic, and playful, though a bit aggressive around other dogs.