Miniature Spitz: breed description, pros and cons, content

Today we will look at miniature plush dogs of miniature spitz dogs, they are also dwarf spitz dogs. The prefix zwerg already tells us that the animal is very small. The dog has thick hair, a small tail with a ringlet, a pretty muzzle. These signs endow the dog with some kind of "toy" look, to which one cannot remain indifferent.

However, the animal can stand up for itself and the owner without fear, it is distinguished by its energy and intelligence. Why are Zwerzspitzes often called Pomeranians, is this true or not? What are the differences, how to properly care for a pet?

The miniature spitz is originally from Germany. It is for this reason that the dogs got a different name - the German Spitz. The size of the dog is determined in two categories - height and weight. The height of the tallest dogs reaches no more than 20 cm, the weight category is around 3 kg. A miniature spitz weighs on average 2.4 kg, and reaches a height of 18 cm.

In addition to its pretty appearance, the animal has a rather long lifespan. With proper care, pets can live 18 years or more. The coat color of a dwarf animal is varied. The breed standard allows the following types of colors:

• brown with black;
• white with gray.

Puppies, like all babies, look cute, but the most common color of miniatures is orange-gold. A dog of this color resembles a small fluffy fox. Despite its thick, but airy fur, the dog breed is hypoallergenic, without causing any signs of allergic reactions in humans.

The first mention of the German Spitz can be found in the Middle Ages. The second name "Pomeranian" dog received thanks to the country from which the breed spread throughout the world. In Pomerania, and now Germany, the first representatives of the dwarf dog breed were bred. Therefore, the dog can be called both so and so - both options will be correct. The breed gained its true popularity after puppies appeared in England in the 19th century. Queen Victoria brought them there, taking the kids from Italy.

The ancestors of the zwergspitz used to reach a large weight category, namely, weighed 15 kg, the size of the animal made it possible to use it as a shepherd breed. By breeding the animal with other breeds, the breeders managed to get a miniature dog with high decorative characteristics.

In 1871, the Miniature Spitz received the status of an officially recognized breed. Two decades later, a standard was developed by which the characteristics of the animal are compared with other representatives of the German Spitz: Pomeranians, Kleinspitz. On the territory of America, the country's kennel club recognized zwergspits relatively recently, in the 20th century.

At the moment, the decorative characteristics of the dog make it possible to use the animal only for home keeping, bringing visual pleasure to the owner. The tiny size of the miniatures does not allow them to perform other functions, despite their keen hearing and loud loud barking. The cute appearance of the dogs does not fit in any way with the haughty and self-confident character of the animal. Dwarf Spitz need training.

Consider the standards of the two federations FCI and ASK in relation to dwarf miniature spits and ordinary pomeranians. What are the differences?

• Origin. Pomeranians were bred from the German Spitz breed by crossing the main breed with others. In Pomeranians, the structure of the coat and its color are changed. All puppies brought to the territory of Russia from abroad are called German Spitz, which is not entirely true. However, this gives the right to breed dogs according to the standards of the German Spitz. When exported, the animal is considered an orange.
• The size of the animal. According to the classification of ASK standards, oranges reach a height of 28 cm and weigh an average of 3 kg. According to the FCI standard, the Kleanspitz with a height of 23 cm and the Zwergspitz with a height of 20 cm and below stand out.
• Coat color. On the territory of Russia, breeds with golden, black, white, grayish, brown colors are recognized. Imported Oranges may have other color variations.
• Head. The ears of Pomeranian dogs are set wide apart, small, the muzzle is short with a pronounced stop. German Spitz have narrow-set, pointed ears, a sharp muzzle, reminiscent of a fox.
• Jaw, teeth. In Pomeranians, as a rule, premolars are absent, sometimes incomplete teeth occur. German Spitz grows 42 teeth, scissor bite.
• Extremities. The forelimbs of Pomeranians with steep pasterns located at an angle of 90 degrees (visually), the slope of the pastern of German Spitz passes at an angle of 20 degrees.
• Tail. The main distinguishing feature of Pomeranians is their tail; it never curls into a ring. The tail of German dogs is located above the back and can form a double ring.
• The structure of the coat. In Pomeranians, sometimes the guard hair is completely absent, the coat is double. The undercoat is thick, wadded. The hairs of wool are similar in structure to spirals. The Germans have double hair, but long, straight, erect. The hairs are slightly curly.
• Breeding. Imported animals are allowed for breeding without an exhibition evaluation, but with the presence of documents on the pedigree of the dog.German Spitz are bred after receiving an exhibition mark, not lower than the level of "very good" with the obligatory presence of a pedigree line.

Why can a dog living in Russia be less than FCI standards? The fact is that in Russia there is a mating of miniatures with smaller brethren and vice versa.

The character of the animal is rather wayward. Despite its size, the dog is not afraid to enter into conflicts with representatives, whose dimensions are many times larger than the miniature spinner. Loud and sonorous barking can be a big disadvantage for the owners. The dog loves to bark at everything that moves, it can continue this endlessly, so it is sometimes impossible to stop it by nicknames.

Basically, the animal is friendly, treats children well, but on one condition. Miniature Spitz need training, otherwise the character of the dog will deteriorate, it will become capricious and aggressive, and will begin to dominate the house. You cannot have a dog if there are small children in the house. The ideal age for a child to meet Spitz is 7 years and older.

Let's highlight the positive traits of the animal:

• cheerfulness, activity, playfulness;
• decorative qualities, cuteness, visual appeal;
• cleanliness;
• learnability, quick memorization of commands;
• suitable for participation in championships, exhibitions of various levels of class;
• tolerance for other pets;
• willingly makes contact with children.

The disadvantages of the breed include:

• high cost, which can go up to 100,000 rubles. The average price on the market ranges from 10,000 to 40,000 rubles;
• sonorous barking;
• unnecessary fearlessness, excessive curiosity.

A dog's teeth are prone to caries, tartar formation, stomatitis, and various inflammations. It is necessary to visit veterinary clinics once a season to undergo preventive teeth cleaning, followed by oral hygiene at home.

When changing milk teeth, a visit to the dentist is mandatory. The problem is that after a tooth falls out, its roots remain in the same place. Failure to remove the roots can lead to complications and long and expensive treatment.

Spitz is often overfed, which makes it more difficult to rid the dog of extra pounds with age. Being overweight has a negative effect on the health of the animal, in particular on the heart. Due to increased activity, accompanied by jumping, running, the animal can easily be injured. Thick and curly hair of an animal requires careful grooming, constant combing, cutting, bathing.

Before starting a dog at home, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for choosing an animal. First you need to familiarize yourself with the pedigree of the dog. It is not recommended to take animals obtained from blood mating of the same family or by crossing with an unknown partner. It is advisable to purchase dogs in specialized kennels. Such animals have no problems with pedigree documents, each pet has its own veterinary passport. In addition, the kids are accustomed to humans, a little trained.

Take a close look at the room in which the crumbs are kept. Rooms should be clean, bright, spacious, free of unpleasant and other odors. Animals must be mobile, active, free from traces of dirt, skin irritations. Eyes and nose without discharge. Then you should decide on the sex of your pet. Representatives of the male half are larger, more powerful, show more curiosity, activity.Females are graceful, lighter and more attached to the owner.

Count the number of puppies. Spitz puppies in a litter produce a maximum of 3 puppies. If there are more tiny animals, then this indicates that the dogs are artificially fed. Such animals may lag behind in development and growth. Check the puppies. Feel their heads, gently feel the fontanel area. If it is not closed, such a puppy should be discarded. Feel the coat, it should be smooth, shiny, soft, without tangles. The abdomen is soft, the tail is free of kinks, bumps.

Observe the behavior of the little ones. They should be fun, playful. Each animal has its own temperament, the dog can behave phlegmatic, but without signs of fatigue, soreness. Having decided on the pet, it is necessary to conclude a sale and purchase agreement with the breeder. This will save you from unscrupulous sellers and other problems with the animal.

The diet of miniature spits must be correctly built, it is he who affects the health of the pet. An adult dog can be fed in one of three ways:

• dry food;
• natural food;
• combined method (natural food and dry food).

For animals, only premium or super premium food is purchased. Preference is given to food specially designed for Spitz or ornamental breeds. In such products, nutrients and minerals are ideally balanced, essential vitamins are present. Popular feed brands: Eukanuba, Natural, Acana, Husse and others.

Some owners soak dry food in water in advance. These actions are acceptable, but the feed must be diluted in such a proportion that the dog eats it at one time. All that remains must be thrown away. Leftover pieces of food quickly deteriorate and can negatively affect the health of the pet.

Natural food is not food from the owner's table, but prepared products. The animals will benefit from the following foods.

• Low-fat meat. It can be beef, poultry, beef or chicken liver, heart.
• Give your pet a boiled egg once a day.
• Boiled cereals with the exception of barley, millet, semolina are recommended. These cereals cause bloating, colic, due to poor digestion by the dog's body.
• The diet includes fruits and vegetables. You can not give potatoes, legumes.
• The use of fish, seafood is acceptable. Any fish is served boiled, without bones.
• Fermented milk products must be pasteurized. No raw milk.

It is forbidden to feed the animal with the following products:

• confectionery products, various buns, buns, sweets, any flour products;
• spices, seasonings;
• food with preservatives;
• salted, smoked, pickled, fatty products;
• sausages.

You can not abruptly or often change the diet of the animal. Nutritional changes should occur smoothly, it is recommended to introduce or change one type of product within one week. With a combined type of food, natural food and dry food are not consumed at one meal. The diet is structured as follows. In the morning, the animal is given dry food and clean water. For lunch, the pet consumes boiled lean meat or fish products. In the evening he receives a fermented milk product, for example, cottage cheese.

The animal does not need a variety of dishes; dry food of the same brand, two types of meat or fish, two or one varieties of cereals and a couple of vegetables will be enough. The animal must not be overfed. It is necessary to determine the rate of food consumed and give the pet the same amount of food all the time. The frequency of food intake can be broken down into larger quantities, but the mass of food consumed must remain the same.Experts recommend the following picture of food consumption. Puppies under two months old eat 6 times a day. From two months - 5 times. From 6 months - 3-4 times. Older than 8 months, the animal feeds 2-3 times a day, most often the dog is fed in the morning and in the evening. It is advisable to feed your pet at the same hours.

Dog grooming is one of the most important. The hair structure and dense undercoat require brushing with a slicker every 2 days. Combing is done against the direction of hair growth. During molting, combing occurs more often, several times a day. A wide comb can be used for general combing. The procedure is performed after walking outside. Bathing dwarf dogs occurs infrequently, once a month or less. The skin of an animal does not have a sufficient layer of fat, so frequent bathing can lead to dryness and dandruff.

In case of slight dirtiness after a walk, the places are processed with a damp or dry cloth. Full bathing is carried out using special shampoos for long-haired or decorative dog breeds, which are sold in any pet store. Bathing water should be warm. The shampoo is evenly distributed over the animal's coat, pre-moistened with water. It is distributed and foamed with massage movements. It is necessary to process the tail, body, legs of the animal. To touch the muzzle zone from the side of the cheeks, it is not recommended to touch the ears, as well as the area of ​​the eyes and nose. After thoroughly rinsing the shampoo, the animal's hair is wrung out, the dog is wrapped in a towel.

The pet should be placed in a room without drafts, wipe the wool with a dry towel and dry it completely with a hair dryer. When the wool is half dry, you can start brushing it with a wide comb in the direction of the air stream. This procedure will speed up the drying process and get rid of tangles. It is recommended to comb through dry hair again with a slicker. Bathing is prohibited during shedding, as the hair is matted and will have to be cut off.

The miniatures tolerate the haircut well. It is necessary to give various forms to the animal, it is required during performances at exhibitions, to preserve and emphasize the decorative qualities of the pet. A shorn Pomeranian can withstand heat and subsequent grooming more easily. Haircut is done with special tools once a month or less.

Teeth must be cleaned of food debris on their own using special tooth powder and toothbrushes. All items are sold in zoo pharmacies. Teeth brushing is done up to three times a week. Eyes, ears are cleaned with special lotions applied to cotton pads. Cleaning is carried out as the area becomes dirty with dabbing movements. The inner part of the ear, located above the auricle, is permissible to rub.

The animal needs to trim its claws as the nail plate grows back. Pets, who regularly visit the street, practically do not need this procedure, since the claws grind against stone and other hard surfaces. It is advisable to simply shape them once a month. If the pet lives only in an apartment, claws are trimmed weekly. This is done using a special nail clipper, like a guillotine or scissors. The claws are carefully cut, leaving 3-5 mm of free space to the blood vessel, which is easily visible in the light. For the first time, the animal should be taken to the veterinarian so that he clearly shows how this procedure takes place.

The animals are very intelligent and easy to train. It is a mandatory procedure to train dogs, otherwise the pet may deteriorate in character. It is recommended to adhere to the following rules.

• The first steps in puppy training involve simple permission commands. Babies are allowed everything that is allowed for an adult dog.
• It is forbidden to use any physical punishment, raising your voice.
• Commands are given clearly, clearly, in a persistent manner.
• In the process of training, the animal should be caressed, praised, and supported by the right actions with delicious delicacies.
• Any required reaction from the pet must be encouraged.
• Miniature Spitz can be trained to walk in the litter box like cats.

Training begins as soon as the animal gets home. Place newspapers or other rags on the floor. In places where the pet has relieved the need, a tray is placed. To get used to the toilet, a piece of marked newspaper always remains in the tray, which are eventually replaced with new ones. After a week, the toilet is cleaned, washed. The tray is gradually moved to the place where it will constantly be. The toilet should be moved 10-20 cm after each need. When the puppy is getting used to the toilet, the animal can be put into the litter box after waking up or eating.

It is recommended to observe the behavior of the pet. If the dog is circling, sniffing the floor, it must be taken to the tray. After going to the toilet, the animal should be rewarded with a tasty treat. If the puppy did not manage to reach the toilet or missed while doing his business, in no case should you shout or punish the pet. The place is washed, treated with any chemical preparation with a pungent odor. When the animal enters puberty and begins to mark the corners, it is recommended to put a plastic bottle filled with any substance in the tray so that it does not tip over. Thus, the pet's desire to mark the territory will be reduced to a hike to the bottle.

Among the reviews of the owners who own mini-spitz, there are positive ones related to the appearance of the pet. However, the dog is a lot of trouble. Most of them are associated with her sometimes uncontrollable harmful behavior. The reasons for bad taste arise from lack or inadequate training. Most often, one fat minus comes out - the health of the animal. Pets hit the floor, jumping off beds, sofas, injuring their paws.

The stomach of the Spitz, like the heart, is extremely weak. Diarrhea, indigestion, colic appear. Because of this, it takes a lot of time and effort to create a balanced diet for your pet. A dog takes a lot of time, it should not be started by people who often leave or visit little at home. Keeping an animal is not cheap, you should calculate the capacity of your wallet.

In the next video, you will find a haircut for a dwarf spitz.