German Spitz Care

The German Spitz: independent, fun-loving, and alert. "German Spitz" can actually refer to either a type or a breed; individual German Spitzes can have quite a variety in size, and breed clubs around the world classify these dogs in many different ways.

Variations aside, though, German Spitzes are known to be fun-loving and comical--qualities that make them beloved by owners everywhere. Another great characteristic is that German Spitz care doesn't require a ton of work overall. Below you'll find plenty of details on caring for a German Spitz: puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. For answers to your questions about owning a German Spitz, read on!

Though active and alert, these Spitzes aren't especially athletic, so they have moderate exercise requirements overall. They are fun-loving and even clownish, however, so they'll respond best to activities that include games, tricks, and other types of amusement.

Specifically how much exercise does a German Spitz need each day? The typical adult German Spitz, depending on its age, size, and overall activity level, will be fine with about 45 minutes of proper physical activity per day. You can start exercising your Spitz puppy at three months of age by taking it on short (5- to 10-minute) walks, then increasing the walks' length and frequency as the dog grows.

A few things to consider when exercising your German Spitz: first, puppies younger than nine months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running, and navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And regardless of age, a leash is recommended when you and your Spitz are in public. These dogs are fun-loving, curious, and social, and are likely to run off in search of new friends and environments if given the chance; a leash will help you avoid this when you're out and about. For the same reason, even when exercising your Spitz in your own yard, the area will need to be securely fenced. German Spitzes can be sort of "rebellious" (and their small size and dexterity makes them excellent escape artists!), so they'll need to be kept from running off--which they might do simply for fun.

Precautions aside, it's recommended that you exercise your German Spitz every single day. If bored or restless, these Spitzes can become high-strung, disobedient, and even destructive--and like other Spitz breeds they're frequent barkers, and if under-exercised they're liable to bark until you're sick of the sound! Consistent exercise will do wonders for your German Spitz's peace of mind, and will be great for your own sanity as well. Some exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 15- to 20-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: A German Spitz usually loves chasing a ball or stick
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor, rainy-day activity
• Canine Sports: Spitzes can excel at agility trials, flyball, and other competitions
• Dog Park: A German Spitz will enjoy the company of other dogs

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your German Spitz access to one or more balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that you establish a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these Spitzes will need a moderate amount of care overall. German Spitz shedding is light for most of the year, but heavy during the spring and fall shedding seasons; drooling is basically a non-issue.

German Spitzes have thick, double-layered coats that shed a little bit all the time--but they "blow" their coats each spring and fall, and the shedding will be profuse during those 2- to 3-week periods. Owners say that for most of the year, brushing their Spitzes once or twice a week with a pin bush will minimize the shedding pretty well; during shedding season the brushing will need to be done daily. For cleanup: vacuuming the floors and using lint rollers on clothes and furniture occasionally will suffice for most of the year, but will need to be done much more frequently during shedding season.

And German Spitzes rarely drool at all; possibly in anticipation of food, but practically never otherwise. If your German Spitz is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care will be necessary.

As with all breeds, the German Spitz diet will need to include plenty of animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and essential fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. What this means: the best German Spitz food is the premium dry kind, because this type has balanced portions of the above-listed nutrients that will sustain the dog's health over the course of its life. While more expansive and difficult to obtain, these high-quality foods are much better for your German Spitz than cheap, generic foods, which contain mostly empty "filler" ingredients that simply won't keep a dog healthy in the long term. Fromm, Taste of the Wild, and Royal Canin are three recommended brands that have excellent premium dry food selections.

In regards to portions: the typical adult German Spitz, depending on its size, age, and activity level, will need about two cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. German Spitz puppy food portions, again depending on the pup's age, are a little smaller: about 1½ cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months of age. For more info on feeding a German Spitz from puppyhood through maturity, here's a handy feeding guide:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in just a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a little more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

Try to stick to the above-listed portions if possible. If constantly overfed, a dog of this breed will easily become overweight--and a fat German Spitz will have joint, breathing, and digestive issues, not to mention a shortened lifespan. You can help control your Spitz's weight by establishing consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps or other "human" food, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time, thereby allowing it to eat anytime it wants. It's better to put your Spitz's bowl down only at mealtimes, then pick it up 15-20 minutes after the dog begins eating.

If you're worried your German Spitz is overweight, give the dog this simple test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. Decrease your Spitz's daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.