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The Japanese Spitz is much more than a small white ball of fur. In our profile, you will find out everything you need to know about the Nihon Supittsu, as it is called in its native Japan.
History of the Japanese Spitz
The Japanese Spitz is a relatively young dog breed. There are various theories about the history of the Japanese Spitz. The most likely is that German Spitz came to Japan with travelers and immigrants around 1920. It is also possible that they made their way through Siberia and crossed them with Nordic tips. In 1921, a white Spitz was presented for the first time at a dog show in Tokyo. The fluffy dogs soon gained great popularity among the residents of Japan.
Japanese breeders then began to build up their own breeding line with German Spitz from American, Canadian, Chinese, and Australian breeds. Above all, they attached great importance to a compact physique and to the fact that the hunting instinct of the dogs is not as pronounced as with other Spitz. Her goal was a pure companion dog. In 1948, after World War II, the Japanese Kennel Club (kennel club) for Spitz was founded and the breed standard for the Japanese Spitz was established. The recognition of the international breeder umbrella organization FCI took place in 1964.
Essence and Character
You should not underestimate the Japanese Spitz because it is quite small. He is a real power pack, active in sports, happy, hardly ever tired, and playful. For this reason, he is also an excellent family dog and a real childhood friend. He always likes to be where something is going on. And he wants to be with his people. If he is left alone, it is torture for him. He is intelligent, also likes to be challenged mentally, and likes to learn tricks. The “will to please”, the desire to please his people, is very pronounced with him.
He dutifully guards his people and his territory but is not a barker who always strikes immediately, on the contrary. The breed standard expressly states that he must not make any noise. Of course, he will also bark sometimes, but the Japanese Spitz is much calmer than its relatives, the Spitz from Europe. He is curious, sometimes a bit suspicious of strangers, but neither fearful nor aggressive. When he sees his people in serious danger, he bravely defends them. His hunting instinct is negligible and he usually gets along well with other pets.
He just sees them as packmates. This can lead to problems with the spirited little Japanese in older animals that want to be left alone. Otherwise, living with the Japanese Spitz is easy and if you can handle the temperament, he is also an ideal beginner dog.
Acquisition of a Japanese Spitz
Japanese lace is still quite rare in Europe, even though it is becoming more and more popular. If you want to take a Japanese Spitz into your family, you have to expect a waiting time and a long journey, because there are not many Japanese Spitz breeders yet. Nevertheless, you should only buy from a reputable breeder who puts the welfare of the animal first. Alternatively, you can ask animal shelters or animal protection organizations such as “Spitze in Not”. Unfortunately, papers do not always protect against animal shelters.
What do I need to pay attention to when purchasing?
A good place to start when looking for a trustworthy breeder is to visit the German Spitz Association (VDH) and the German Spitz Association, to which breeders of the Japanese Spitz are also affiliated. A reputable breeder will allow you to visit and meet them and their breeding stock so you can get an idea of the conditions your puppy will be in for the first few weeks of his life. Are the dogs allowed to live with the family and are they integrated? Do they appear healthy and happy? The first few weeks of a dog’s life are crucial for socialization and later in life.
A good breeder will answer your questions and ask you questions as well. After all, he wants his little dogs to be in good hands. While you may have to wait a long time, you should never be tempted to buy from a breeder where you can’t see the home of the parents and pup. Unfortunately, it happens again and again that so-called “Wühltisch puppies” are sold via classified ads. They are often cheaper, but the papers are usually forged. These puppies usually come from so-called “breeders” who keep the bitches in a kennel or just in a room and lead a sad existence as “breeding machines”.
These puppies have had a little good experience and are usually already ill when they are sold. A reputable breeder will have to charge between EUR 1,500.00 and EUR 2,000.00 for a puppy, but this is also due to the fact that the puppies have already had their first examinations and vaccinations at a veterinarian. The parent animals are also regularly examined by a veterinarian.