German Large Spitz (Grossspitz): breed description, character, care features, nutrition, life expectancy

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The owners of these dogs often call their pets "Napoleons". Self-confident and courageous, the Great German Spitz is a reliable guard who will never let a stranger into his territory. Nevertheless, the dogs of this breed are quite kind, love children and are able to get along with any pets.

Origin story

These cute miniature dogs first appeared in Germany in the 15th century. Then the size of the German large spitz (grossspitz) was somewhat larger. European aristocrats fell in love with them very quickly, and soon the German Spitz appeared even in the English Queen Victoria. Thus, the geography of Spitz breeding has become more extensive.

At their core, they are northern dogs, brought to Holland and Germany by the Vikings. The breed standard was adopted in 1906, and a breed club was founded 7 years earlier.

What it looks like

Great German Spitz Breed Standard:

• The length of his bodyequal to the height.
• He has a fairly developed musculature, and the body itself is quite compact and strong.
• The most common color of the Great German Spitz is white, although there are black and brown varieties.
• The eyes are almond-shaped and dark.
• Spitz's nose remains dark in any color.
• The tail is extremely bushy and wrapped in a double ring.
• Wide strong neck with a convex scruff.
• The belly of the dog is taut and strong.
• The limbs are straight, muscular and parallel to each other.
• He has a fairly wide chest with compact dimensions.
• Like any northern dog, the Spitz has an undercoat. It is quite thick and dense. The coat is straight and long.
• The neck of the Spitz is curved and with a lush collar.
• The ears are quite high and set close to each other. They have a triangular shape and sharp ends.

Many Pomeranian fans find him to look like a fox. Indeed, the muzzle of this dog is very reminiscent of a fox.

Character and characteristics of behavior

Spitz is extremely attached to his master and hard to endure separation. He loves children and enjoys playing with them. In case of danger, it is quite possible to count on him. He fearlessly rushes at opponents much larger than himself and is absolutely not afraid to participate in fights. This dog is designed for a large and active family. In a lonely person, he can get bored. Things are even worse if the owner is often forced to go on trips and transfer the petother people.

The nature of the German Large Spitz requires regular walks and active games. Walking in the city, you should carefully monitor your pet. Sometimes, in a fit of games, the dog runs out onto the roadway where it is mortally injured. It is noteworthy that the dog lends itself well to training and even a completely inexperienced owner can cope with his upbringing.

How to maintain

One of the main conditions for keeping a German Great Spitz is to maintain the pet's coat at the proper level. Experts believe that the Spitz coat has the property of self-cleaning and therefore frequent washing is not required for this dog. During shedding, the undercoat is combed out every day. For convenience, use a furminator for dogs. In the usual period, it is enough to carry out the procedure 2 times a week. From frequent washing, the quality of wool deteriorates noticeably and a characteristic dog smell appears. Thanks to the undercoat, Spitz can safely be even in the most severe frosts in the yard of the house or in the aviary.

Furminator for dogs

This device is designed for combing the undercoat. It has a peculiar design resembling a rake. Its dimensions range from 3 cm to 12 cm. The Furminator has a rather comfortable handle to which a knife is attached. The advantages of the Furminator compared to a regular comb are as follows:

• Wool is combed quickly enough that does not affect the psyche of the dog.
• The dog's shedding period is noticeably reduced.
• It is the furminator that is able to prevent the formation of tangles, which is beyond the power of a conventional brush.
• It perfectly smoothes long hair, making it smooth and shiny.

For a large Spitz, the “Small” model is suitable. Its hand surface is 4.5 cm. The best manufacturer is the German brand Trixie. It features a very comfortable angled brass insert with a bolt-on blade that changes with the push of a button. The handle is made of rubber. The Furminator has the ability to self-clean using special buttons.

Keep he althy

In the description of the breed of the German Large Spitz, it is very often advised not to overfeed it, because despite the mobility, the dogs of this breed are still prone to obesity. Without long walks, dogs feel bad, their immunity decreases, which immediately affects their general he alth. These are strong enough dogs, not prone to diseases typical for dogs. It is enough for the owners to carry out a routine examination at the veterinarian and to be vaccinated regularly.

Most of the diseases of dogs of this breed can be found: limb dislocations, hypothyroidism, epilepsy and joint dysplasia. He does not tolerate heat well, and also easily gains excess weight. In short, with regular exercise and proper nutrition, the dog will always be he althy and active. Otherwise, you can face a host of other diseases. For example, inflammation of the secrets that are located at the anus. Due to the fact that the dog walks little in the fresh air and does not markterritory, it has a malfunction in the work of this important body. Poor nutrition leads to gastritis, dysbacteriosis and stomach cramps. Grooming habits for the Large German Spitz require long walks.

Dog owners should monitor the correct bite of their pet and, if necessary, contact a veterinary clinic. Sometimes stones form on the Spitz's teeth, which should also be removed regularly. The main cause of dental problems is due to poor nutrition.

What to feed

As a rule, dogs are advised to feed meat. Moreover, offal - liver, heart, and so on do not apply to it. About 60% of the daily diet should consist of animal meat. The remaining 40 are distributed among vegetables, cereals, herbs and sour milk products. It is not recommended to give fish often to dogs, as the phosphorus contained in it makes the animal somewhat cowardly. The main condition is the absence of fat on the meat and the presence of a bone. The animal happily gnaws both small and large bones, getting the calcium necessary for the body.

In winter, the food of the German Great Spitz is enriched with vitamin D, which can be obtained from fish oil. Among cereals, buckwheat and oatmeal are the most popular. Buckwheat contains a fairly large amount of iron, and oatmeal contains rare amino acids that are close in composition to animal proteins. When kneading cereals, add a chicken egg and a small amount of dandelion, plantain, dill or parsley.

Tipsand recommendations

Proper feeding of the dog is the basis of he alth, well-being and longevity. Food should be as uncooked as possible and free from preservatives. The most suitable are meat and offal, bran, fresh vegetables and dairy products.

Contrary to popular belief, feeding porridge to dogs is highly discouraged. Simple carbohydrates cause disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system and often lead to excess weight. Too long consumption of cereals leads to dysbacteriosis. You can determine this disease by liquid feces. A common dry food is half grain, so every responsible owner must make a choice whether to buy such a product for his pet.

The most optimal type of meat for a dog is beef. Lamb and rabbit meat are quite high in calories and also lead to excess weight. Chicken meat today is a rather dangerous product due to the huge content of growth stimulants.

Meat must be exclusively raw and previously scalded with boiling water. Thus, you can protect your pet from worms and some harmful microorganisms. Products are not crushed in a blender or meat grinder, but cut into small pieces. The dog's stomach should work and always be in good shape. Chopped food negatively affects the functioning of the digestive organs, relaxing them.

From meat by-products, the dog tolerates the liver and lungs the worst. Therefore, give them as little as possible. The best option aresuch as unpeeled tripe, as well as kidneys and udders. Dairy products are of particular value for pregnant dogs and young animals. Their fat content should not exceed 9%, although in some individuals even two percent cottage cheese or kefir can cause diarrhea. Breeders, as a rule, prepare fermented milk products themselves using sourdough. So you can protect the animal from preservatives and unnecessary components.

Vegetables are given by pets separately and only in raw form. These are mainly bell peppers, carrots, cabbage and beets. It is highly recommended not to use potatoes in your diet. Do not combine vegetables with dairy products. Two or three times a week, any vegetable oil is added to the food.

Lifespan

Any loving owner is interested in the question: how old is his pet. Large-sized Spitz live up to 14 years, while miniature Spitz are much more fortunate. They manage to reach even 20 years of age. At home, with good care and excellent he alth, the life expectancy of the German Great Spitz is quite high. This dog easily passes the age of ten, remaining cheerful and cheerful. This is a fairly he althy breed with good immunity. Of the problems that can occur in a Spitz, there are diseases of the digestive system that are directly related to a violation of the rules of nutrition, as well as damage to the teeth.

These dogs are prone to gastritis and stomach cramps. The Large German Spitz is generally well boned and is not prone to injury. It is noteworthy that with age thisthe dog becomes even more beautiful. As a rule, the quality of wool deteriorates in many dogs every year. With Spitz, it's the other way around. It becomes softer, fluffier and thicker.

Content rules

As already mentioned, bathing the Spitz should be as rare as possible. Due to the undercoat, the dog dries for a very long time, which causes colds. Usually bathing is carried out before exhibitions. The pet is prepared with special cosmetics against the formation of hairballs.

Unlike many other breeds, these dogs do not suffer from diseases of the ears and eyes. The ears are sufficiently well ventilated that they are simply examined once every 2-3 weeks.

Be sure to brush your pet's teeth. In specialized stores you can buy sticks, powders and brushes. For him, get a litter or a house. In this way, the dog feels protected, which has a positive effect on his nervous system.

How to train

The owners of the German Big Spitz are extremely lucky. These dogs are easy to train, which even a beginner can handle. First of all, the dog is taught to lay, recall and shrink. The more repetitions there are, the faster the dog will remember the command. As a rule, training is carried out no more than 5 minutes, and each time on a new terrain.

You can encourage the dog not only with the help of sweets, but also using toys. At the end of the training, the dog is offered to play tug-of-war and, as a result, they give in, allowing him to steal the honestly earned money.booty.

If the owner wants to raise a guard dog, then he cannot do without the help of cynologists. While almost anyone can make a companion out of a dog by teaching the simplest tasks.

Breeding Grossspitz

The German Great Spitz is considered an endangered species. This breed is so rare that some have only seen it online. Today, there are very few nurseries all over the world that breed Grossspitz. In addition, their number is constantly decreasing. Because of this, the price of puppies is simply huge. Unlike other varieties, it has only three types of color: black, white and brown. The highest price is given for a white puppy.

When buying a German Spitz puppy, be sure to pay attention to the metrics, vaccination list, pedigree and other registration documents. It is best to make a purchase in a kennel in order to avoid acquiring a non-purebred dog. In addition, in the kennel it will be possible to inspect the room where the puppy was. If it is raw, most likely the puppies will soon develop joint diseases. In the early days, the puppy is fed what he ate from the previous owners.

Disadvantages of the breed

The disadvantages include rather loud barking. This dog loves to guard his owner and the territory where he lives. She is quite brave and, in which case, is not afraid to rush into a fight with an opponent much larger in size. Therefore, sonorous barking can be heard from the Spitz quite often.

The German Great Spitz is quite stubborn, which, however, is notaffects training. Sometimes pet shedding is so strong that regular combing does not bring the desired result. Owners require careful grooming, which also means the purchase of special devices to remove excess undercoat.