Spitz breeds are captivating on account of their beautiful coats, made to stand off by plentiful undercoat. Particularly impressive are the strong, mane-like collar round the neck (ruff) and the bushy tail carried boldly over the back. : THE DOG REPUBLIC

Vrijeme čitanja / Reading Time: 16 min

Its natural distrust of strangers and lack of hunting instinct make it the ideal companion and family dog and watch dog for home and farm. It is neither timid nor aggressive. Indifference to weather, robustness and longevity are its most outstanding attributes.

THE DOG REPUBLIC / Foto: Adisa Banović,”Bandu stars pomeranian kennel”&FCI-Standard N° 97

12.11.2019 / EN

FCI-Standard N° 97

DEUTSCHE SPITZE

(German Spitz)

1. WOLFSSPITZ/KEESHOND

2. GIANT SPITZ – MEDIUM SIZE SPITZ – MINIATURE

SPITZ

3. TOY SPITZ/POMERANIAN

TRANSLATION: C. Seidler / Gabriele Dulling / original version: (DE)

ORIGIN: Germany

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID

STANDARD: 04/09/2019.

UTILIZATION: Watch and Companion dog.

FCI-CLASSIFICATION: Group 5 Spitz and primitive types.

Section 4 European Spitz.

Without working trial.

1. GERMAN WOLFSSPITZ / KEESHOND

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: German Spitz dogs are

descendants of the stoneage «Peat Dogs» (Torfhunde) «Canis

familiaris palustris Rütimeyer» and the later Lake Dwelling Spitz

(Pfahlbauspitz); it is the oldest breed of dog in Central Europe.

Numerous other breeds have been developed from them. In non-

German speaking countries Wolfsspitz dogs are known as Keeshonds.

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Spitz breeds are captivating on

account of their beautiful coats, made to stand off by plentiful

undercoat. Particularly impressive are the strong, mane-like collar

round the neck (ruff) and the bushy tail carried boldly over the back.

The foxy head with alert eyes and the small pointed, closely set ears

give the Spitz its unique characteristic, cheeky appearance.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: The ratio of height at withers to

body length is 1 : 1. The ratio length of the muzzle to length of the

skull is approximately 2 : 3.

BEHAVIOUR AND CHARACTER: The German

Wolfsspitz/Keeshond is always attentive, lively and extraordinarily

attached to its owner. It is very teachable and easy to train. Its natural

distrust of strangers and lack of hunting instinct make it the ideal

companion and family dog and watch dog for home and farm. It is

neither timid nor aggressive. Indifference to weather, robustness and

longevity are its most outstanding attributes.

HEAD:

CRANIAL REGION: The Spitz’s medium-sized head, seen from

above, appears broadest at the back and tapers wedge-shaped to the tip

of the nose.

Stop: Moderate to marked, never abrupt.

FACIAL REGION:

Nose: The nose is round, small and pure black.

Muzzle: The muzzle is not overlong and stands in pleasing proportion

to the skull (approximately 2:3).

Lips: The lips are not exaggerated, close fitting to the jaws and do not

form any folds to the corner of the mouth. They are completely black.

Jaws/Teeth: The jaws are normally developed and show a complete

scissor bite with 42 teeth, corresponding to the dental formula of the

dog, i. e. the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower ones and set

square to the jaws. Strong canines fitting exactly into each other.

Pincer bite is permissible.

Cheeks: The cheeks are gently rounded, not protruding.

EYES: The eyes are of medium size, almond-shaped, slightly

slanting and dark. The eyelids are black.

EARS: The small ears are set high and relatively close to each other,

triangular pointed; they are always carried upright, stiff at the tips.

NECK: The medium length neck is set broadly on the shoulders,

slightly arched without dewlap and covered by a thick, profuse coat,

forming a large ruff.

BODY:

Topline: Merges in a gentle curve with the short, straight back. The

bushy, sweeping tail, which partially covers the back, rounds off the

silhouette.

Withers: The high withers drops imperceptibly.

Back: As short as possible, straight, firm.

Loin: Short, broad and strong.

Croup: The croup is broad and short, not falling away.

Chest: The deep chest is well sprung, the forechest well developed.

Underline and belly: The chest reaches back as far as possible; the

belly has only a slight tuck up.

TAIL: The tail is set on high and of medium length. It reaches

upwards and rolls forward over the back, straight from the root. It lies

firmly over the back and is covered with very bushy hair. A double

curl at tip of tail is tolerated.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS:

General appearance: Straight, rather broad front with well-developed

bone strength.

Shoulder: The shoulder is well muscled and firmly connected to the

chest. The shoulder blade is long and well laid back.

Upper arm: The upper arm, which is approximately the same length as

the shoulder blade, forms an angle of 90 degrees to the shoulder blade.

Elbow: The elbow joint is strong, close fitting to the chest and turns

neither in nor out.

Forearm: The forearm is of medium length in relation to the body,

sturdy and completely straight. The back of the forearm is well

feathered.

Metacarpus (Pastern): The strong, medium length front pastern stands

at an angle of 20 degrees from the vertical.

Forefeet: The forefeet are as small as possible, round and closed, with

well arched and tight nails, so called cat feet.

The colour of nails and pads is as dark as possible.

HINDQUARTERS:

General appearance: The hindquarters are very muscular and

abundantly feathered to the hocks. The hind legs stand straight and

parallel.

Thigh and lower leg: Thigh and lower leg are of about equal length.

Stifle (knee): The stifle joint is strong with only moderate angulation

and is turned neither in nor out in movement.

Hock/hock joint: The hock is of medium length, very strong and

vertical to the ground.

Hindfeet: The hindfeet are as small as possible, round and closed, with

well arched and tight nails, so called cat feet. The pads are coarse.

The colour of nails and pads is as dark as possible.

GAIT/MOVEMENT: The German Wolfsspitz/Keeshond moves

straight ahead with good drive, fluidly and springy.

SKIN: The skin covers the body tightly without any wrinkles.

FCI-St. N° 97/ 12.11.2019

COAT:

Hair: German Wolfsspitz/Keeshond has a double coat: Long,

straight and firm standing off top coat and short, thick, cotton-woollike

undercoat.

Head, ears, front side of front and hind legs and the paws are covered

by short, thick (velvety) hair. The rest of the body has a long, rich,

hairy coat. Not wavy, curly or shaggy, not parted along the back. Neck

and shoulders are covered by a thick mane. The backside of the front

legs is well feathered, the hind legs have ample feathering from croup

to hocks. The tail is bushy.

Hair must not look like being modelled.

Colour: Wolfsspitz/Keeshond: Grey-shaded.

Grey-shaded is a silver-grey with black hair-tips. Muzzle and ears are

dark in colour, round the eyes well defined <spectacles> shown as a

delicately pencilled black line slanting from outer corner of eye to

lower corner of ear, coupled with distinct markings and shading

forming short but expressive eyebrows; mane and ring on shoulder

lighter; fore- and hind legs silver-grey without any black markings

under the elbows or stifles, except slight pencilling on the toes; black

tip of tail; underside of tail and trousers pale silver-grey.

SIZE AND WEIGHT:

Height at the withers:

Wolfsspitz/Keeshond: 49 ± 6 cm.

The Wolfsspitz dog/Keeshond should have a weight corresponding to its

size.

FAULTS:

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault

and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be

in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and

welfare of the dog.

SEVERE FAULTS:

 Head too flat.

 Distinct apple head.

 Flesh-coloured nose, eyelids and lips.

 Dentition faults, missing teeth.

 Too large and too bright eyes.

 Protruding eyes.

 Missing of distinct markings of the face.

 Faults in movement.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:

 Aggressive or overly shy dogs.

 Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural

abnormalities.

 Gap in fontanel.

 Overbite, underbite, crossbite.

 Ectropion or entropion.

 Ears not fully erected.

 Definite white markings or spots.

N.B.:

 Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles

fully descended into the scrotum.

 Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed

typical conformation should be used for breeding.

2. GERMAN GIANT SPITZ

GERMAN MEDIUM SIZE SPITZ

GERMAN MINIATURE SPITZ

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: German Spitz dogs are

descendants of the stoneage «Peat Dogs» (Torfhunde) «Canis

familiaris palustris Rütimeyer» and the later Lake Dwelling Spitz

(Pfahlbauspitz); it is the oldest breed of dog in Central Europe.

Numerous other breeds have been developed from them.

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Spitz breeds are captivating on

account of their beautiful coats, made to stand off by plentiful

undercoat. Particularly impressive are the strong, mane-like collar

round the neck (ruff) and the bushy tail carried boldly over the back.

FCI-St. N° 97/ 12.11.2019

The foxy head with alert eyes and the small pointed, closely set ears

give the Spitz its unique characteristic, cheeky appearance.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: The ratio of height at withers to

body length is 1 : 1. The ratio length of the muzzle to length of the

skull of Giant Spitz, Medium Size Spitz and Miniature Spitz is

approximately 2 : 3.

BEHAVIOUR AND CHARACTER: The German Spitz is always

attentive, lively and extraordinarily attached to its owner. It is very

teachable and easy to train. Its natural distrust of strangers and lack

of hunting instinct make it the ideal companion and family dog and

watch dog for home and farm. It is neither timid nor aggressive.

Indifference to weather, robustness and longevity are its most

outstanding attributes.

HEAD:

CRANIAL REGION: The Spitz’s medium-sized head, seen from

above, appears broadest at the back and tapers wedge-shaped to the tip

of the nose.

Stop: Moderate to marked, never abrupt.

FACIAL REGION:

Nose: The nose is round, small and pure black. The nose of brown

Spitz dogs is dark brown.

Muzzle: The muzzle is not overlong and stands in pleasing proportion

to the skull (approximately 2:3).

Lips: The lips are not exaggerated, close fitting to the jaws and do

not form any folds to the corner of the mouth. They are completely

black. The lips of brown Spitz dogs are brown.

Jaws/Teeth: The jaws are normally developed and show a complete

scissor bite with 42 teeth, corresponding to the dental formula of the

dog, i. e. the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower ones and set

square to the jaws. Strong canines fitting exactly into each other.

The lack of a few premolars shall be tolerated in Medium Size

Spitz and Miniature Spitz. Pincer bite is permissible.

Cheeks: The cheeks are gently rounded, not protruding.

EYES: The eyes are of medium size, almond-shaped, slightly

slanting and dark. The eyelids are black. Brown Spitz dogs have

dark brown eyelids.

EARS: The small ears are set high and relatively close to each other,

triangular pointed; they are always carried upright, stiff at the tips.

NECK: The medium length neck is set broadly on the shoulders,

slightly arched without dewlap and covered by a thick, profuse coat,

forming a large ruff.

BODY:

Topline: Merges in a gentle curve with the short, straight back. The

bushy, sweeping tail, which partially covers the back, rounds off the

silhouette.

Withers: The high withers drops imperceptibly.

Back: As short as possible, straight, firm.

Loin: Short, broad and strong.

Croup: The croup is broad and short, not falling away.

Chest: The deep chest is well sprung, the forechest well developed.

Underline and belly: The chest reaches back as far as possible ; the

belly has only a slight tuck up.

TAIL: The tail is set on high and of medium length. It reaches

upwards and rolls forward over the back, straight from the root. It lies

firmly over the back and is covered with very bushy hair. A double

curl at tip of tail is tolerated.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS:

General appearance: Straight, rather broad front with well-developed

bone strength.

Shoulder: The shoulder is well muscled and firmly connected to the

chest. The shoulder blade is long and well laid back.

Upper arm: The upper arm, which is approximately the same length as

the shoulder blade, forms an angle of 90 degrees to the shoulder blade.

Elbow: The elbow joint is strong, close fitting to the chest and turns

neither in nor out.

Forearm: The forearm is of medium length in relation to the body,

sturdy and completely straight. The back of the forearm is well

feathered.

Metacarpus (Pastern): The strong, medium length front pastern stands

at an angle of 20 degrees from the vertical.

Forefeet: The forefeet are as small as possible, round and closed, with

well arched and tight nails, so called cat feet.

The colour of nails and pads is as dark as possible.

HINDQUARTERS:

General appearance: The hindquarters are very muscular and

abundantly feathered to the hocks. The hind legs stand straight and

parallel.

Thigh and lower leg: Thigh and lower leg are of about equal length.

Stifle (knee): The stifle joint is strong with only moderate angulation

and is turned neither in nor out in movement.

Hock/hock joint: The hock is of medium length, very strong and

vertical to the ground.

Hindfeet: The hindfeet are as small as possible, round and closed, with

well arched and tight nails, so called cat feet. The pads are coarse.

The colour of nails and pads is as dark as possible.

GAIT/MOVEMENT: German Spitz dogs move straight ahead with

good drive, fluidly and springy.

SKIN: The skin covers the body tightly without any wrinkles.

COAT:

Hair: German Giant Spitz, Medium Size Spitz and Miniature Spitz

dogs have a double coat: Long, straight and firm standing off top

coat and short, thick, cotton-wool-like undercoat.

Head, ears, front side of front and hind legs and the paws are covered

by short, thick (velvety) hair. The rest of the body has a long, rich,

hairy coat. Not wavy, curly or shaggy, not parted along the back. Neck

and shoulders are covered by a thick mane.

The backside of the front legs is well feathered, the hind legs have

ample feathering from croup to hocks. The tail is bushy.

Hair must not look like being modelled.

Colours:

German Giant Spitz: White, black, brown.

In black and brown Spitz dogs, white spots on the chest, the paws

and the tip of the tail are permissible.

German Medium Spitz: White, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded,

other colours.

German Miniature Spitz: White, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded,

other colours.

White Spitz: The coat should be pure white. Little trace of yellow,

which often occurs, especially on the ears, is tolerated.

Black Spitz: Black Spitz dogs must have a black undercoat and a

black skin. The colour on top must be a shining black without any

white or other markings.

Brown Spitz: The brown Spitz should be uniformly dark brown.

Orange Spitz: The orange Spitz should be evenly coloured in the

medium colour range. Lightening up of the orange colour on the

chest, the tail and the trousers is permitted.

Grey-shaded Spitz: Grey-shaded is a silver-grey with black hair-tips.

Muzzle and ears are dark in colour, round the eyes well defined

<spectacles> shown as a delicately pencilled black line slanting from

outer corner of eye to lower corner of ear, coupled with distinct

markings and shading forming short but expressive eyebrows; mane

and ring on shoulder lighter; fore- and hind legs silver-grey without

any black markings under the elbows or stifles, except slight

pencilling on the toes; black tip of tail; underside of tail and trousers

pale silver-grey.

Other coloured Spitz: The term <other colours> applies to the

following colours: cream, cream-sable, orange-sable, black and

tan and particolour. Particoloured dogs must have white always

as basic colour. The patches must be uniformly in one colour

either black or brown or grey-shaded or orange or orange-sable

or cream or cream-sable. They should preferably be distributed

over the whole body.

SIZE AND WEIGHT:

Height at the withers:

German Giant Spitz: 45 cm ± 5 cm.

German Medium Size Spitz: 35 cm ± 5 cm.

German Miniature Spitz: 27 cm ± 3 cm.

Each variety of the German Spitz should have a weight

corresponding to its size.

FAULTS:

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault

and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be

in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and

welfare of the dog.

SEVERE FAULTS:

 Faults in construction.

 Head too flat.

 Distinct apple head.

 Flesh-coloured nose, eyelids and lips.

 Dentition faults, missing incisors.

 Too large and too bright eyes.

 Protruding eyes.

 In grey-shaded Medium Size Spitz and Miniature Spitz

missing of distinct markings of the face.

 Faults in movement.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:

 Aggressive or overly shy dogs.

 Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural

abnormalities.

 Gap in fontanel.

 Overbite, underbite, crossbite.

 Ectropion or entropion.

 Ears not fully erected.

 Definite white markings or spots in all non-white Spitz

dogs. Giant Spitz dogs are excepted.

 Any colour not mentioned in section “Colours”.

N.B. :

 Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles

fully descended into the scrotum.

 Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed

typical conformation should be used for breeding.

3. GERMAN TOY SPITZ / POMERANIAN

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: German Spitz dogs are

***Foto: Adisa Banović,”Bandu stars pomeranian kennel***

descendants of the stoneage «Peat Dogs» (Torfhunde) «Canis

familiaris palustris Rütimeyer» and the later Lake Dwelling Spitz

(Pfahlbauspitz); it is the oldest breed of dog in Central Europe.

Numerous other breeds have been developed from them. In non-

German speaking countries Toy Spitz dogs (Zwergspitze) are known

as Pomeranians.

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Spitz breeds are captivating on

account of their beautiful coats, made to stand off by plentiful

undercoat. Particularly impressive are the strong, mane-like collar

round the neck (ruff) and the bushy tail carried boldly over the back.

The foxy head with alert eyes and the small pointed, closely set ears

give the Spitz its unique characteristic, cheeky appearance.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: The ratio of height at withers to

body length is 1:1. The ratio length of the muzzle to length of the

skull of Toy Spitz/Pomeranian is approximately 2:4.

BEHAVIOUR AND CHARACTER: The German Toy

Spitz/Pomeranian is always attentive, lively and extraordinarily

attached to its owner. It is very teachable and easy to train. Its

companionable and cheerful character makes it the ideal

companion and family dog and watch dog for house and

apartment. It is neither timid nor aggressive. Indifference to weather,

robustness and longevity are its most outstanding attributes.

HEAD:

CRANIAL REGION: The Spitz’s medium-sized head, seen from

above, appears broadest at the back and tapers wedge-shaped to the tip

of the nose.

Stop: Moderate to marked, never abrupt.

FACIAL REGION:

Nose: The nose is round, small and pure black. The nose of brown

Spitz dogs is dark brown.

Muzzle: The muzzle is not overlong and stands in pleasing proportion

to the skull (approximately 2 : 4).

Lips: The lips are not exaggerated, close fitting to the jaws and do

not form any folds to the corner of the mouth. They are completely

black. The lips of brown Spitz dogs are brown.

Jaws/Teeth: The jaws are normally developed and show a complete

scissor bite with 42 teeth, corresponding to the dental formula of the

dog, i. e. the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower ones and set

square to the jaws. Strong canines fitting exactly into each other.

The lack of a few premolars shall be tolerated in Toy

Spitz/Pomeranian. Pincer bite is permissible.

Cheeks: The cheeks are gently rounded, not protruding.

EYES: The eyes are of medium size, almond-shaped, slightly

slanting and dark. The eyelids are black. Brown Spitz dogs have

dark brown eyelids.

EARS: The small ears are set high and relatively close to each other,

triangular pointed; they are always carried upright, stiff at the tips.

NECK: The medium length neck is set broadly on the shoulders,

slightly arched without dewlap and covered by a thick, profuse coat,

forming a large ruff.

BODY:

Topline: Merges in a gentle curve with the short, straight back. The

bushy, sweeping tail, which partially covers the back, rounds off the

silhouette.

Withers: The high withers drops imperceptibly.

Back: As short as possible, straight, firm.

Loin: Short, broad and strong.

Croup: The croup is broad and short, not falling away.

Chest: The deep chest is well sprung, the forechest well developed.

Underline and belly: The chest reaches back as far as possible; the

belly has only a slight tuck up.

TAIL: The tail is set on high and of medium length. It reaches

upwards and rolls forward over the back, straight from the root. It lies

firmly over the back and is covered with very bushy hair. A double

curl at tip of tail is tolerated.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS:

General appearance: Straight, rather broad front with well-developed

bone strength.

Shoulder: The shoulder is well muscled and firmly connected to the

chest. The shoulder blade is long and well laid back.

Upper arm: The upper arm, which is approximately the same length as

FCI-St. N° 97/ 12.11.201

Elbow: The elbow joint is strong, close fitting to the chest and turns

neither in nor out.

Forearm: The forearm is of medium length in relation to the body,

sturdy and completely straight. The back of the forearm is well

feathered.

Metacarpus (Pastern): The strong, medium length front pastern stands

at an angle of 20 degrees from the vertical.

Forefeet: The forefeet are as small as possible, round and closed, with

well arched and tight nails, so called cat feet.

The colour of nails and pads is as dark as possible.

HINDQUARTERS:

General appearance: The hindquarters are very muscular and

abundantly feathered to the hocks. The hind legs stand straight and

parallel.

Thigh and lower leg: Thigh and lower leg are of about equal length.

Stifle (knee): The stifle joint is strong with only moderate angulation

and is turned neither in nor out in movement.

Hock/hock joint: The hock is of medium length, very strong and

vertical to the ground.

Hindfeet: The hindfeet are as small as possible, round and closed, with

well arched and tight nails, so called cat feet. The pads are coarse.

The colour of nails and pads is as dark as possible.

GAIT/MOVEMENT: German Toy Spitz dogs / Pomeranians

move straight ahead with good drive, fluidly and springy.

SKIN: The skin covers the body tightly without any wrinkles.

COAT:

Hair: German Toy Spitz dogs / Pomeranians have a double coat:

Long, straight and firm standing off top coat and short, thick, cottonwool-

like undercoat.

Head, ears, front side of front and hind legs and the paws are covered

by short, thick (velvety) hair. The rest of the body has a long, rich,

hairy coat. Not wavy, curly or shaggy, not parted along the back. Neck

and shoulders are covered by a thick mane.

The backside of the front legs is well feathered, the hind legs have

ample feathering from croup to hocks. The tail is bushy.

Hair must not look like being modelled.

Colour:

German Toy Spitz/Pomeranian:

White, black, brown, orange, grey-shaded, other colours.