Life expectancy

14 years

Age adult

10 months

Height (Shoulder height)

35 cm

Weight

8 kg

Coat texture

long-haired / undercoat / short straight hair on the face / tail feathered / straight / ruff, longer hair around the neck

Coat color

white

Common illnesses

patellar dislocation / factor VII deficiency / heart diseases / teeth problems

Food expenses per month in €

about € 26

Suitable for children

Rather yes

Needs a garden

Rather not

Hunting motivated / needs alternative employment

Rather not

First dog suitable

Rather yes

Allergy friendly

Rather not

Athletic

Attention

Care and grooming

Eager to learn

Exercise

Nature

friendly / social / happy / alert / active / clingy / cheeky, fresh

Bred for

companion dog

Common illnesses

patellar dislocation / factor VII deficiency / heart diseases / teeth problems

Dog type according to FCI

spitz and primitive types

FCI description

Many dogs of this group were kept as guard, hat, hunt, or sled dogs. They are considered to be very strong-willed and often less affectionate than other breeds. Many have a pronounced territorial consciousness and get along with same-sex conspecifics less well. They are often not easy to educate and only participate in things they consider useful.

So if you want a cuddly family dog that does every trick, you wont be happy here. Generally many of these dogs, like Chow Chow, Aktita and Co. are rather one-man dogs, i.e. related to one person and do not bind themselves to the whole family. Spitze in particular tend very much to loud utterances.

Short description

The Japanese Spitz is a vivid, good-natured and bold family-dog, that is less nervous and less likely to bark than his European relatives. He can be shy around strangers, but very attached to his family.