The Japanese Spitz Shop
Japanese Spitz Breed Summary
Playful, Happy, Adoring, Intelligent and Sensitive
These dogs are becoming very popular around the world. They are still firm favorites in their native country of Japan and have been so since the early 20th century. In terms of their size, they are very small but have lovely, high-spirited personalities.
They also get on very well with children, which is unusual for smaller sized dogs! Additionally, they really thrive within the family environment and love to be involved in everything that goes on at home.
Fun Fact: They have Samoyed in their ancestry!
| Kennel Club Group | Miscellaneous |
| Lifespan | 12 - 15 years |
| Height (at the withers) | Males 14in - 15in, Females 12in - 14in |
| Weight | Males 18lb - 19lb, Females 15lb - 17lb |
| Coat | They have a Double Coat. The Outercoat is Straight, Standing off of the Body. The Undercoat is Denser, Shorter and Softer to the Touch. |
| Color | White, White with Black Points |
| Eye color | Dark |
| Common health issues | Patellar luxation, Runny eyes, Allergies |
| Other Names | JS |
These dogs are known for their playful personalities and absolute love of 'hoomans'. They are also extremely adaptable dogs and because of their size, they make excellent pooches for apartment living. They rarely show any form of aggression towards people or dogs, although they can become hyper-sensitive around strangers. For this reason, they need plenty of guidance and training from experienced owners. But for the right family, they make lovely pets!
Many believe that the Japanese Spitzes are descendants of the great Samoyed. They were first introduced into Japan during the 20th century and were bred to become smaller and smaller. It's also thought that these dogs came about by crossing other spitz-type dogs. In the 1920s and 30s, they were further developed in Japan to look like the dogs they do today, but were introduced into Australia and the States a lot earlier in 1918. They are not a particularly well-known breed across the rest of the world, but remain highly-prized in Japan, even though there are less than 200 left!