Let's talk Medium Spitzes
With their lively, affectionate characters, the Medium Spitz (Mittel) is a breed that just wants to please. As long as they are in the mood. While full of energy, their exercise needs are relatively low, making the Medium Spitz a pretty apartment-friendly breed. Somewhat suspicious of strangers and attuned to new sounds, your Medium Spitz is a great guard dog and will always let you know when something is up. However, early training can help curb this tendency to bark. And can we discuss that lush double coat? With all of these qualities, the Medium Spitz makes for a wonderful companion.
Official name: Medium Spitz
Other names: German Spitz (Mittel)/(Medium)
Origins: Germany
| Drooling tendencies: |  |
Warm weather? |  |
| Shedding level: |  |
Suited to apartment living? |  |
| Physical activity needs (high, low, medium) *: | Low | Kid-friendly? * | |
| Compatibility with other pets: | |
Can stay alone?* |  |
* We advise against leaving pets alone for long stretches. Companionship can prevent emotional distress and destructive behaviour. Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations.
Every pet is different, even within a breed; this snapshot of this breed’s specifics should be taken as an indication.
For a happy, healthy and well-behaved pet, we recommend educating and socialising your pet as well as covering their basic welfare, social and behavioural needs.
Pets should never be left unsupervised with a child.
All domestic pets are sociable and prefer company. However, they can be taught to cope with solitude from an early age. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or trainer to help you do this.
| Baby age: | Birth to 2 months |
| Puppy age: | 2 to 10 months |
| Adult age: | 10 months to 8 years |
| Mature age: | 8 to 12 years |
| Senior age: | From 12 years |
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Origins of the breed
For many enthusiasts, the Labrador Retriever remains one of the most popular all-round dogs worldwide. It’s thought that Labrador Retrievers originated from the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, where fishermen used dogs of this appearance to retrieve fish. The breed as we know it today, however, was established by the British in the early 1800’s.
The Labrador Retriever Club was founded in 1916 and the first standard followed soon after, predominantly tailored to working Labrador Retrievers who found early fame, having been originally introduced to the U.K. in the late 1800’s by Col Peter Hawker and the Earl of Malmesbury.
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2 facts about Medium Spitzes
1. Spitz or spitz?
As we have mentioned, there are Spitz dogs and spitz-type breeds, a classification that unites many dogs with similar characteristics—the American Kennel Club puts the number at between 50 and 70 different breeds! Included under the impressive umbrella of ‘spitz-type’ dogs are Pomeranians, Siberian Huskies, Shiba Inus, Chow Chows, Samoyeds, Akitas … you get the idea. They have more in common than just feathery tails and a wolf-like appearance. But much that sets them apart as well.
2. Driven to distraction
An active breed and one that enjoys going for walks and hikes with their humans, the Medium Spitz was bred to work and still retains a very high prey drive. You might not know it while they are on a leash, but let them off and they will happily give chase to anything that moves or runs in the opposite direction. As such, you will need to pay attention to where and when you let your ultra-fast companion off the lead.
History of the breed
With ancestors thought to be larger Scandinavian herding dogs brought to the region by the Vikings, Medium Spitz dogs were originally farm-dwellers, performing tasks like herding and guarding, skills they still possess. As such, Medium Spitzes are intelligent, independent thinkers and full of pep.
In the 18th century when James I ascended to the throne with his German wife, their many German visitors would bring their dogs to court with them. During this time, spitz-type dogs became hugely popular with British nobility. Queen Victoria was a devoted fan of the breed although at the time there was confusion as to whether her dogs were Pomeranian or Spitz. It is now believed they were more likely to be German Spitz (Mittel) dogs. However, around this time breeders started to develop smaller and smaller dogs, leading them to arrive at a toy breed later known as the Pomeranian, a direct descendent of the Medium Spitz.
Through no fault of their own, German breeds fell out of favour around the time of World War I. It took decades for the Medium Spitz to recover, which they did around 1975, thankfully, when Dutch Keeshonds were bred with larger Pomeranians, putting the Medium Spitz firmly back on the canine map.
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From head to tail
Physical characteristics of Medium Spitzes
1. Ears
Triangular, small ears set high on the head which they hold perfectly upright.
2. Head
Largish, broad heads with virtually flat skulls.
3. Muzzle
Long muzzles about half the length of the rest of the head.
4. Coat
Wide variety of coat hues and markings, with 33 breed colours or combinations accepted for Kennel Club registration.
5. Body
Compact and sturdy body.
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Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your Medium Spitz
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Caring for your Medium Spitz
Grooming, training and exercise tips
That opulent double coat is the Medium Spitz’s crowning glory, but it does require a bit of effort. A quick brush through every few days and a deeper grooming once a week will help keep your dog knot-free and looking their best. However, be prepared for your Medium Spitz to shed their entire undercoat twice a year and decorate your home with it over the course of two or three weeks. Don’t forget to brush teeth regularly as well.
While highly alert and energetic, the Medium Spitz needs only moderate exercise, though they will always be in “yes, please” mode for more. Just make sure they’re in a safe, enclosed space if off-lead as they do have a strong prey drive and might follow that instead of your call. Indoor games will stimulate that sharp mind, also a necessity.
Training a Medium Spitz is easy: They are intelligent and aim to please. However, motivate them with treats (taken from their daily rations to keep them fit) or your independent-minded canine may just lose interest. As a watchdog, you will also need to train the barkiness out of the Medium Spitz early. They were bred to stay alert, so new people and sounds can set them off.
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All about Medium Spitzes
Do birds fly? In all fairness, they don’t shed that much all year. But during their seasonal shedding seasons in spring and autumn, they make up for it, blowing their entire undercoat over the course of two or three weeks. It is simply the price one pays for such a fluffy, beautifully tressed companion.
There are as many answers to this question as there are Spitz and spitz-type dog owners. Suffice it to say that all Medium Spitz dogs are affectionate, affable companions that make a house a home and add to their humans’ lives immeasurably.
Sources
1 - Veterinary Centers of America https://vcahospitals.com/
2 - Royal Canin Dog Encyclopaedia. Ed 2010 and 2020
3 - Banfield Pet Hospital https://www.banfield.com/
4 - Royal Canin BHN Product Book
5 - American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/