All about Japanese Spitz

The Japanese Spitz is a small, completely white, breed of dog that is thought to have been bred from the German Spitz for smallness beginning in the late 19th century in Japan. They were introduced to the United States in the 1950s. It is very similar to the American Eskimo Dog, and German Spitz, in size, overall appearance, and temperament.

An adult Japanese Spitz typically weighs 5 to 10 kg, and stands at 32 to 38 cm off of the ground at the withers. Their coats are divided into 2 layers. The outer layer consists of long straight hair standing off from the body, used for insulating against fluctuating temperatures. The under layer consists of short, soft and dense fur that is always a pure white color. The tail is covered with long hair and is carried curled over the back. The coat is short on the bottom half of the legs and has feathering on the forelegs. The dryness of their coat makes it virtually free of odor. The ears are small and pointed upright, and the muzzle tapers slightly. The large oval eyes are dark and slightly slanted, and the nose and lips are black. The face of the Japanese Spitz is wedge-shaped.

The Japanese Spitz is first and foremost a companion. They thrive on human contact and attention, preferring to be a member of the family. They are intelligent, playful, alert, and obedient, excellent with children and have the patience for toddlers. Japanese Spitz are highly compatible with other dogs and animals, as well as being proud, affectionate, loyal and very protective of their masters. Most Japanese Spitz are good watch dogs as they are always alert, and will announce the presence of intruders to their owners with loud and forceful barking. They will not hesitate to bark at new people until they get to know them.

Japanese Spitz enjoy being in an outdoor environment. However it is inappropriate if the owner expects them to live outside in the yard and to be forgotten about. Such treatment will cause them to feel rejected and will inevitably lead to boredom and depression. Consequences include behavioral problems such as barking and destructiveness.