The Spitz is one of the oldest German dog breeds, the Kleinspitz is one of its smallest representatives. But you should not underestimate the handy companions: They are just as alert, intelligent and lively as their large relatives. Well behaved, they prove to be wonderful companions for young and old. With a garden to guard, you give your Kleinspitz heaven on earth.

Small guard dog with a great tradition

Spitz have a long history: According to excavations, Spitz-like dogs – so-called turfspitz – lived together with our ancestors as early as 6000 years ago. They took on numerous tasks, including helping with hunting and guarding the houses. The original Spitz later gave rise to the Wolfspitz, a useful hunting dog that was bred in the colour white to distinguish it from the wild wolf.

In the last two millennia, different Spitz breeds developed in different sizes, in the Middle Ages they were considered the dog of the small bourgeois and farmer. Early on, lace were given the nickname “Mistbeller” – an indication of their passion for guarding. As guard dogs, they were also often carried along as companions of carriages, where they covered long distances on foot or even on horseback.

To this day, Spitz breeds such as the Kleinspitz prove to be very original dogs. They are now bred with an extremely dense, almost fluffy coat and enjoy great popularity as companion and guard dogs.

The character of the Kleinspitz

The Spitz is considered an affectionate, loyal dog soul that bonds closely with its humans. If possible, the lovable companion always wants to be with him. His lively, playful nature and cuddly appearance ensure that the little Spitz is welcome almost everywhere. However, most adult Spitz have little interest in strangers. They are suspicious and reserved by nature, but without being aggressive. You must therefore socialize your Spitz well so that he learns to behave correctly when meeting other people and dogs.

The vigilance of the Lesser Spitz is legendary – nothing escapes him. Visitors are announced before they can press the bell button. In larger residential complexes and apartment buildings, however, loud reporting can become a problem. With the right education, reporting can be controlled. Nevertheless, you should be aware that keeping watch is part of the character of the Lesser Spitz and is just as important to him as running for greyhounds or herding a Border Collie.

Thanks to their intelligence, Lesser Spitz learns quickly – and not just desired behavior. If they get bored, they prove to be extremely creative in keeping themselves occupied: Stolen food, destroyed shoes and other uninvited activities can certainly happen with the clever Spitz without suitable workload. Their curiosity and sophistication provide some surprises. Therefore, practice staying alone with your little four-legged friend thoroughly, better not leave anything interesting behind and always make good use of your Spitz.

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Kleinspitz: education and keeping

But what kind of activity is suitable for your Lesser Spitz? Two things are particularly important for these dogs: They love to move and they want to watch. Despite their small size, Lesser Spitz are very enduring. Hikes and long walks are wonderful to give them the opportunity to explore their environment. Their hunting instinct is hardly pronounced, which is why they can often run without a leash in nature. Prerequisite: The recall must be right. Here it is worthwhile to reward really high-quality when setting up. Liver sausage from the tube or pieces of cheese are popular treats for special performances. Although the Spitz has an affectionate and intelligent nature, it has its own opinion. It reacts dismissively to pressure, it wants to be educated with respect and love. Once you have your Spitz on your side, it will be a pleasant, relaxed and cheerful companion for you.

With regard to keeping, the Kleinspitz is flexible: it does not need much space. However, noisy residential complexes can exhaust its vigilance and encourage the Kleinspitz to bark continuously. A house with a well-fenced garden, where the attentive guard dogs are allowed to do their job, is most suitable for the lively fellows.

Care of the Kleinspitz

The Lesser Spitz has a particularly dense, fluffy coat. The thick undercoat provides the fluffy, hairy look of the small dogs. Once or twice a year, these cuddly dogs shed heavily and spread dog hair throughout the house. During this time, it is even more important than usual to brush the coat daily. In particular, the areas behind the elbows and ears tend to become matted. Check here daily and brush out light felt areas immediately. Unlike other dogs, the coat of the Spitz is brushed against the grain. Additional visits to the experts in the dog salon support you in the elaborate and important care of the pointed coat.

Special features and health

The Spitz breeds are known to reach a high age if they stay healthy. Up to 18 years are not uncommon for a Spitz. However, the breeding of the breed is also burdened by some breed-typical diseases. These include, for example, eye diseases such as retinal dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy or persistent pupillary membrane. Epilepsy and patellar luxation as well as mouth and dental problems also occur regularly.

Many of these diseases can be tested for as part of the breeding approval. Therefore, only buy a Kleinspitz puppy from a recognized breeder who is registered, for example, with the Association for the German Canine Society (VDH) and is regularly tested.

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Let yourself be inspired by other breeds from the Lace family:

• German Spitz: Especially in rural areas, a German Spitz was omnipresent in ancient times as a domestic and farm dog and had a good view of its territory.
• Finnish Spitz: The Finnish Spitz cannot be overheard: it indicates visitors directly with loud barking. This makes it a reliable guard dog – but it can do much more:
• Icelandic Sheepdog: The Icelandic Dog is one of the rare dog breeds, but is finding more and more enthusiasts among dog lovers who are looking for an intelligent, active and affectionate companion.
• Japanese Spitz: Nihon Supittsu – that’s the name of the Japanese Spitz in its Far Eastern homeland. The elegant small dog has not been at home there for long, compared to time-honored traditional breeds.
• Quay: Once he hunted big game in the pack, today the Kai, or more correctly: Kai Inu or Tora Inu, is a dog that is one of the absolute exotics outside of Japan.
• Eurasians: The Eurasier is an interesting choice for families looking for a warm, active and cuddly companion for their everyday life.