"KINGSFIELD"
Beagles, American Eskimos & German Spitz
Kingsfield Kennels
Fyffe, AL 35971
United States
ph: 256-601-1847
kingsfie
German Spitz history and information
History of the German Spitz,
both abroad and now here in the
United States
The German Spitz is one of the most ancient of dog breeds, and various depictions of them appear in many artifacts from Central and Eastern Europe.
In 1450 Count Ederhard Zu Sayne made the first document reference to the term “spitz” as a valiant defender of the home and fields. The province of Pomerania was the home of many of the early members of this breed, hence the early name of Pomeranian. And it should be noted that this breed is not a big Pomeranian, but the reverse is true; the Pomeranian is a toy German Spitz.
Some of these dogs were frequently taken on boats used for fishing and trade as people took the Spitz along as protection for their goods, for they were very good alert watchdogs. On the farms, these dogs, as they have very acute hearing, were used for “early warning” of any intruder. The little dogs sat up on anything high… little hillocks, old pieces of wood, tree trunks etc. and at the first sign of anything strange would immediately get going with their high-pitched “alarm bark” which alerted the bigger dogs (shepherds etc). In Germany they are known sometimes as “Mistbeller” or dung-hill barkers. Although not many present-day owners of a German Spitz have the dung-hill, most can certainly boast of the “beller” part of the name
It is quite remarkable how a dog that had essentially been a peasant’s dog became so popular with royalty and the upper class in England. During the 18th century, the breed started to gain popularity, for George 1 came to the throne. His wife was German, and that gave rise to many German visitors to the court, who brought their dogs with them.
By the late 1700’s Queen Charlotte (a German princess) and wife of George 3rd of England had many white German Spitz weighing around 20 to 30 pounds. Queen Victoria was another totally devoted to the breed but favored the smaller dogs. The name Victorian Poms became fashionable around this time. However, the onset of the First World War saw a rapid decline in the popularity and numbers of the breed and it wasn’t until 1975 that several “klein keeshonds” were imported from Holland and bred to some of the larger Pomeranians in England and the breed was under way again as Victorian Pomeranian.
There was a lot of opposition from the “toy” Pomeranian breeders but eventually the German Spitz club was formed in 1982 and in 1985, as a result of a final meeting between the Club and the Kennel Club, the breed was reborn under its proper name of German Spitz in the two sizes, Klein and Mittel, to fit neatly between the toy Pomeranian and the Keeshond, or the Wolfspitz as it is known in England. It was only in 1995 that Challenge certificate status was awarded the breed in England. The first German Mittel Spitz arrived in Australia at the end of July 1987, a black male, followed by two more 6 months later. These 3 dogs were the basis of all German Spitz in Australia.
Although the breed has been known to surface in the USA over the years, many times coming in as a pet obtained while families were overseas on military duty, the first recorded arrival of the German Spitz here in the USA came in 2001 when a Keeshond breeder imported two German Mittel Spitz from Australia with the first American born litter arriving on September 11, 2003. One of those pups, now UKC Ch. & Int'l Ch. Sheminee American Dream, was the start of our Kingsfield German Spitz program. Since that time, a number of other dogs have been imported from both Australia and the UK in an effort to establish this breed here in the United States.
Breed Characteristics of the German Spitz
The German Spitz can make marvelous pets, but they are not suitable for everyone. They are a lively intelligent breed but can have a streak of independence and can be noisy if they are not taught otherwise. They have a profuse double coat, which moults twice a year and needs regular care and brushing.
This breed does not need an excessive amount of exercise but at times can display full burst of excess energy. Historically and sometimes comically known as a "berzerker". Just as common, the German Spitz will quite happily keep up on long walks. They have a lively and intelligent mind and keeping them occupied is important to prevent boredom with its associated problems. They learn quickly and love to please their owners and with good training can excel at agility because they are very quick on their feet, and able to leap and clearly jump objects easily.
They are not usually a destructive breed but as with all breeds, if they are bored by being left all day with nothing to do, it may make them more inclined to bark excessively or chew on things they shouldn’t. In general, they are a lively and happy breed, and if raised properly and correctly socialized they will happily mix with other people and dogs.
The German Spitz are extremely intelligent and learn easily and quickly with motivational methods of training. However, they do not respond well to being made to do things. If you want a breed that gives 100% obedience then maybe another breed would be best for you.
Registration of the German Spitz in the USA
The German Spitz was fully recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2006. It was at that time that the German Spitz began to surface in the show rings of UKC and several dogs have gained the title and recognition of champion and grand champion. In 2009 UKC German Spitz breed exhibitors and enthusiasts united in support of this fabulous breed by forming a German Spitz breed club, now known as the German Spitz Association. It was at the request of the officers of the Association that the two varieties of Klein and Mittel were accepted and recognized by the UKC in July of 2009 and as a result, starting in January of 2010, the dogs were being recognized and shown according to their appropriate size variety of either Klein or Mittel. For more information about the UKC, please click on these links below.
UKC German Spitz Breed Standard
The German Spitz here in the United States has also been accepted for recording purposes in the American Kennel Club (AKC) Foundation Stock Service®. The AKC provides this service to allow purebred breeds to continue to develop while providing them with the security of a reliable and reputable avenue to maintain their records. FSS® breeds are not eligible for AKC registration until such time as they are fully recognized as a breed by the AKC. Dogs in the Foundation Stock Service program are issued an AKC-FSS number for record keeping purposes. The AKC identifies the breed only as the "German Spitz" with no designation or recognition of Klein or Mittel. In 2010, the German Spitz became eligible for competion in performance events with AKC.
Click here for more information about AKC-FSS.
Health concerns with the German Spitz
EYE DISEASES
Compared to some other breeds, German Spitz are pretty healthy, but there have been rare incidences of eye disease in both Klein and Mittel.
PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) and RD (Retinal Dysplasia) or RD (Retinal Folds) are currently the main cause for concern, and these conditions can cause premature blindness and are hereditary. When looking to purchase a puppy or older dog, the buyer should ensure that the breeder they are buying from has a current CERF test performed on their breeding stock. However, because PRA is a late-onset disease(appearing later in life), even those that test and breed from only dogs with Clear certificates may occasionally produce an affected puppy. Learn more about CERF testing here.
It is our goal here at Kingsfield to work toward the development of a DNA test (similar to that now available for the American Eskimo Dogs) that will be enable breeders to determine if their dog is clear/normal, a carrier, or an affected dog. In doing so, we will be able to help those breeding the German Spitz to produce un-affected dogs with the hope of some day eliminated this terrible disease altogether.
PATELLAR LUXATION
The patella is located on the back leg, part of the stifle structure, and is the equivalent to the human kneecap. Luxating means out of place, or dislocated. Therefore a luxating patella is a kneecap that moves out of its normal location. The patella normally moves up and down in a groove in the lower femur bone called the trochlear groove. In patella luxation the groove is often shallow and this shallow groove prevents the patella from sitting deeply, predisposing it to dislocation. A patella that is not stable but does not slip out of joint is said to be sub luxating, while one that comes out of joint on its own is said to luxate.
There are two types of luxation, medial and lateral. Medial luxation is the most common and is where the patella dislocates to the inside of the knee. One knee can be more severely affected than the other. This type of luxation is mainly congenital (present at birth) and trauma is not usually associated with it.
With lateral luxation the patella dislocates to the outside of the knee. Lateral patellar luxation can be congenital or the result of trauma to the knee. In some cases the patella can luxate both medially and laterally. Again, this disorder can affect one or both knees and to varying degrees.
Signs of luxation may appear as early as weaning or may go undetected until later in life. Signs include intermittent rear leg lameness, often shifting from one leg to the other, and an inability to fully extend the stifle. The dog may frequently stop to stretch his rear leg behind him to allow the patella to pop back into its normal groove. Mildly affected animals can have a hopping or skipping action. This is due to the patella luxating while the dog is moving and by giving an extra hop or skip the dog extends its stifle and is often able to replace the patella until the next luxation, when the cycle repeats.
A veterinarian can usually confirm diagnosis by manipulating the stifle joint and pushing the patella in and out of position. This can be done as early as 8 weeks of age to ensure that congenital patella luxation is not present before the puppy leaves for his new home. This type of examination is best left to the veterinarian, as an overzealous examination can stretch the ligaments.
The degree of patella luxation is graded from 1 to 4 depending on the relative ease with which the patella luxates.
Grade 1 is the mildest and grade 4 the most severe. With grades 1 and 2 patella luxation (the grades most typically found in German Spitz) the dog may not show any symptoms and can be incidental findings in mature dogs who have never been lame. Grade 3 and 4 dogs are usually lame. Severe cases may develop abnormal growth of the long bones of the leg or a non-functional knee.
Grade 1: Occasional carrying of the leg is seen, often described as skipping or hopping, which may be transient, often returning to normal by itself. Your veterinarian may easily luxate the patella manually and return it to its normal position. Pain may be evident only when the knee cap is luxated.
Grade 2: The frequency of luxation increases, becoming more or less permanent. The dog will usually carry its leg, but will occasionally bear weight on it. When palpated by the veterinarian, a dry, crackling sensation (crepitation) may occur in the joint. A grade 2 luxation can increase in severity, and if not surgically treated, can develop into degenerative joint changes.
Grade 3: Permanent dislocation that occurs though weight bearing may still be possible, however the stance will appear somewhat crouching or bowlegged. Surgical intervention should not be delayed, especially if this is found in a young, growing dog. Rapid growth of abnormalities results in progressive deformities.
Grade 4: Permanent luxation, with the affected limb always being carried, creates a bowlegged / crouching stance. Early surgery is strongly recommended at this stage for bone deformities of the femur and tibia may occur.
What Causes It?
Patella luxation is strongly suspected of being inherited, but it can also be caused by trauma. When the luxation is from trauma, something has occurred that has caused the knee to be forced out of normal alignment. Usually the traumatic injury occurs when the dog's leg gets caught somehow and he struggles to pull free. Or frequently occurs during an overly enthusiastic playtime.
If the luxation is believed to be of a genetic nature, it is due to an abnormal development of the leg. The possible mode of inheritance is at present undetermined, but it is believed that it may be polygenic. This means that any number of genes may be involved, and that dogs are not "carriers" as such but it is merely an unfortunate specific combination of certain genes from the parents that produce patella luxation.
How is it treated? Treatment is based on the severity of signs as well as the dog's age and weight, and ranges from rest (decreasing your pet's activity for 1-2 weeks) to surgical reconstruction of the knee joint.
Grade 1 luxations may respond well to anti-inflammatory therapy and restricted exercise. These may or may not progress to worsening grades.
Grades 2 through 4 luxations tend to require surgical corrections. The worse the luxations the more reconstructive surgery required to provide a functional joint.
Kingsfield Kennels
Fyffe, AL 35971
United States
ph: 256-601-1847
kingsfie