Miscellaneous Notes

The German Spitz, or varieties of it, also is or has been known as the Deutsche Spitz, Fox Dog, Overweight Pomeranian, Victorian Pom, European Spitz, Lou-Lou, and Lupino. The breed is an amalgam of old German regional spitz varieties such as the Württemberger Hausspitz, the Mannheimerspitz, the Weinbergspitz or Vineyard Spitz, and the Great White Spitz. The German Spitz was characterized by one English book published in 1935 as the national dog of Germany; whether this is now or was ever so, I don't know and cannot yet determine. Honestly, it seems an unlikely choice for the Nazi government to have made. The breed encompasses five (or more) varieties determined by size and/or color, of which this page serves as bibliography for three: the Deutsche Großspitz (German Great Spitz, German Giant Spitz, Giant Spitz or Keeshond, Groot), the Deutsche Mittelspitz (German Medium Spitz, German Mittel Spitz, German Mittelspitz, Mittel, or Keeshond, Middenslag; sometimes also called the German Standard Spitz; recognized in the UK as the German Spitz, Mittel), and the Deutsche Kleinspitz (German Klein Spitz, German Kleinspitz, Klein, German Miniature Spitz [or sometimes even Toy German Spitz, though it is not the smallest variety], or Kleine Keeshond; recognized in the UK as the German Spitz, Klein). The Keeshond (aka, Deutsche Wolfsspitz, etc.) and Pomeranian (aka, Deutsche Dwergspitz, etc.) are covered on their own pages. Note that ancestors of the German Spitzes were also widely referred to as mistbellers, meaning dung-hill barkers. This sounds kind of icky, but just means that when sounding the alert for strangers, they would jump up onto the dung hill to bark from higher ground. According to most sources, the American Eskimo Dog in its three sizes of standard, miniature and toy is descended from and virtually identical to white German Spitzes, and is accepted by FCI member-clubs as a German Spitz for breeding purposes (I do not believe the reverse is true, that any registry accepts German Spitzes as American Eskimos), so a look at the bibliography of that breed might also be of interest to fanciers of the German Spitz. The Japanese Spitz is a descendant of the German Spitz and the American Eskimo Dog. The German Spitz was used through the Keeshond / Wolfsspitz in the creation of the Wolf-Chow, which was used to create the Eurasier; the Eurasier was in turn used in the creation of both the Gross-Elo and, along with the German Mittelspitz and the Japanese Spitz, the Klein-Elo. There was a period in which Pomeranians were shown in two sizes, which was the Pom more or less as we know it now, and the "overweight", which included everything from old-fashioned (unminiaturized) Poms, to Poms bred to be small who grew too large, to other spitz breeds entirely. It is well to keep in mind in reading vintage sources that the Victorian dog fanciers were "lumpers": until at least 1910, English writers seem to have pretty much considered every small-to-medium long-haired spitz they encountered a Pomeranian; in the US, they seem to have all been called Spitzes (as a breed, not a family of breeds) unless they were small enough to have been assumed to be Pomeranians. Sources from that period should, therefore, be read with the understanding that they may not referring to the breed they appear to be. If you're not confused yet, you haven't been paying attention.

Breed Books

German Spitz: A Comprehensive Owner's Guide, Special Rare Breed Edition, by Juliette Cunliffe and Isabelle Francais. Kennel Club Books, 2005. Part of a series of books with generic care and training sections following breed-specific information involving temperament and personality, with history given in general terms. This is a very good book for new or prospective companion dog owners, but contains nothing of use to prospective exhibitors and breeders in the way of history or evaluation of type and quality. German Spitz by Juliette Cunliffe. Interpet, 2003. Spitze sind Spitze by Hartwig Drossard. Kynos, 2001. A book discussing all the varieties of German Spitz. Plenty of photos; valuable book. In German. Der Spitz: Praktische Ratschläge fur Haltung, Pflege und Erziehung by Eyke Schmidt-Rohde. Parey, 1997. In German. Der Spitz, Der Deutsche Spitz. Praktische Ratschläge fur Haltung, Pflege und Erziehung by Eyke Schmidt-Rohde. Parey, 1992. In German. The German Spitz by Julia al-Haddad. Keeshonds of the World by Margo Emerson. Beech, 1991. A large book looking at the state of the Keeshond wherever it is known throughout the world, and including the "other colors"—in other words, Deutsche Großspitzes. Written by the owner of the famous "Rhinevale" Keeshond kennel in England, this is a valuable book for the breeder and exhibitor, and should be interesting to the companion dog owner as well. Unsere Spitzes: Abstammung, Aufzuch, Haltung by Gerda M. Umlauff. Albrecht Philler, 1985. In German. Small handbook of history, care and training of the German Spitz—Wolfsspitz down to Dwergspitz—plus a short history of the Keeshond (Wolfsspitz) in Holland. In German. De Keeshond en Dwergkeeshond by ALJ Vos, and Treskens & S. van Heemert. 1982. Book about the Keeshond, Pomeranian and other German Spitzes. In Dutch. Deutsche Spitze: Aufzucht, Pflege, Haltung by Rudolf Schmidt. Kosmos, 1980. History, care, training and breeding of the German Spitz. In German. Der Spitz, Der Deutsche Spitz: Praktische Ratschläge fur Haltung, Pflege und Erziehung by Eyke Schmidt-Rohde. 1979. Practical advice for training and caring for your dog from puppyhood to old age. In German. How to Raise and Train a Spitz by Ernest L. Hart. TFH, 1969. An introduction to care and training of what one might consider either German spitzes or American Eskimo Dogs, as one pleased, part of a series of breed books with generic care and training sections augmented by some breed specifics, including histories. Der Deutsche Spitz by Joseph Hennecke. Otto Meissners, 1962. My guess would be that this is the 5th edition of the official publication by the German Club for German spitzes. In German. Der Deutsche Spitz: In Wort und Bild, 4th edition edited by Joseph Hennecke. Verein für Deutsche Spitze. 1954. Official publication of the German Club for German spitzes, giving the standard along with history, care, training and breeding information. Also contains advertisements for various kennels. In German. The Keeshond by Alice Gatacre. Country Life Books, 1938. A rich mine of the breed's history in the early 20th Century, well written by the owner of the early "Guelder" kennel whose dogs figure in the pedigrees of all or nearly all modern Keeshonden; well illustrated and contains much early pedigree information on Keeshonden and other Deutsche spitzes. Of note are the pedigrees in the back of the very earliest dogs registered with the Verein für Deutsche Spitze, including those of several black dogs who would, of course, be Großspitzes. Though the care and training information is long outdated, the book remains a valuable resource to those with an interest in the details of the breed's history. Der Deutsche Spitz, 3rd edition. Verein für Deutsche Spitze. 1937. Official publication of the German Club for German Spitzes. In German. Der Deutsche Spitz, 2nd edition. Verein für Deutsche Spitze. 1921. Official publication of the German Club for German Spitzes. In German. Der Deutsche Spitz. Verein für Deutsche Spitze. 1905. Official publication of the German Club for German Spitzes. In German.

Articles and Chapters

The Complete Encyclopedia of Dogs by Esther J. J. Verhorf Verhallen, translated by Stephen Challacombe. Chartwell, 2003. Translation of a 1996 work first published in Dutch. This is a fascinating work by a European authority, and in addition to a section on general care covers a number of dogs rarely seen in the US. It is my guess that the translator does not have a doggy background, given that some of his translations fail to take into account the fact that a number of breeds are discussed under names that are direct translations from the Dutch name rather than the names by which they are known in English. As examples, what we know as the Keeshond is referred to as a Wolfkeeshond under the Keeshond heading, while Keeshond refers to what we could call a German Großspitz; the breed called the Smaller Keeshond we could call a German Mittelspitz; and the Pomeranian is listed as coming in two sizes, the larger of which is what we could call a German Kleinspitz. "German Spitz" in: The Atlas of Dog Breeds of the World by Bonnie Wilcox and Chris Walkowicz. TFH Publications; 5th edition, 1995. A survey of over 500 breeds of dog, including many spitzes, with excellent photography. Eyewitness Handbooks: Dogs: The Visual Guide to Over 300 Dog Breeds From Around the World by David Alderton, photography by Tracy Morgan. DK, 1993. Capsule introductions to many breeds, including the German Spitz, with photographs: something of a dog-watcher's guide with no detailed information. All About the Spitz Breeds by David Cavill. Pelham, 1978. An introduction to several of the many spitz breeds and varieties, including a short mention of the German Spitz in the Keeshond chapter. Hutchinson's Dog Encyclopaedia by Walter Hutchinson. Hutchinson & Co., 1934. This three-volume encyclopedia covers everything from dog terminology to really excellent introductions to breeds. Outdated, of course, but endlessly fascinating as a snapshot of its day, and valuable for the photographs of prominent ancestors of today's dogs. The German Spitz is listed under the simple heading "Spitz", with the information that it is the German national dog. I haven't seen that any place else that I can recall, so I don't know if this is still true (or ever was, for that matter), but nor do I see any reason to doubt it. The entry is several pages long and well illustrated. Die Deutschen Hunde by Richard Strebel. 1904. Kynos reprint, 1986. Des edlen Hundes Aufzucht, Pflege, Dressur und Behandlung seiner Krankheiten. Vollständiges Handbuch für jeden Jäger, Hundeliebhaber und Züchter mit zahlreichen Illustrationen, denen Breschreibung der Rasse, ihres Exterieurs und sonstiger Eigenschaften sich anschliesst by Carl Zorn. Ceasar & Minka, 1901. In addition to sections on care and training of dogs, this book features introductions to a number of breeds, including the German Spitz. In German. Die Luxushunde, ihre Züchtung, Erziehund und Dressur sowie ihre Krankheiten und deren Heilung by E. Wörz. Heinrich Killinger, 1896. Covers the [probably German] Spitz, among other breeds. In German. "The Pomeranian" in: The Illustrated Book of the Dog by Vero Shaw. 1881. This article more aptly describes the German Spitz, since it gives 16" at the withers as an average size. Shaw did not care for the breed in any case, considering it cowardly and useless because specimens put into fighting pits did not fight, and specimens put into rat pits did not kill. I'm thinking he missed the point, myself. "The Pomeranian" by Vero Shaw. In: The Illustrated Book of the Dog by Vero Shaw, B.A., Cantab., and leading authors of the day, with an Appendix on Canine Medicine and Surgery by W. Gordon Stables, CM, MD, RN. Cassell, Petter, Galpin, 1879. An introduction to the Pomeranian, accompanied by an illustration by Mr. Shaw. The breed referred to in this article gives 16" at the withers as an average size, indicating a dog that might more properly be called a German Spitz rather than a Pomeranian in the modern sense. Shaw did not care for the breed in any case, considering it cowardly and useless because specimens put into fighting pits did not fight, specimens put into rat pits did not kill, and the dogs barked at but did not attack strangers in their homes. Der Hund und seine Racen. Naturgeschichte des zahmen Hundes, seiner Formen, Racen und Kreuzungen by Leopold Joseph Fitzinger. 1876. Vignettes of a number of breeds of dog, including the Spitz, by a respected scientist. In German.

Periodicals

Spidshunden. Newsletter of the Spidshundeklubben. In Danish.

For Fun

1 Mops, 1 Spitz, Herr Tralala by Sigi Ahl. Parabel, 1997. Children's tale that features a little white Spitz. In German. Barking Mad!: The Adventures of a Top Dog Breeder by Janet Edmonds. Piatkus, 1992. Memoirs of her life with her dogs of an English mystery writer who is also a well-known Alaskan Malamute and German Spitz breeder. Was ist mit Tiburtius Los? by Inge Keilholz. Engelbert, 1977. Charmingly written and illustrated tale of two children's adventure with their little Spitz, Tibertius. In German. Spitz, the Wandering Dog by Marianne Richter. Children's Press, 1966. A children's story about a little spitz named Spitz who goes wandering and is in the end very glad to get home, told in simple language and very cute color drawings. Translation of Spitz, der Ausreißer. "Rabe, Mops und Spitz" by Otto Speckter. In: Fünfzig Fabeln für Kinder, by W. Speckter-Hey, illustrated by Otto Speckter. Perthes, 1965. Collection of 50 fables for children, including one involving a spitz. Spitz, der Ausreißer by Marianne Richter. Julius Beltz Weinheim, 1964. A children's story about a little spitz named Spitz who goes wandering and is in the end very glad to get home, told in simple language and very cute color drawings. In German. Purzel: Eine Hundegeschichte in Versen und Bildern by Hermann Muck. Lindemann & Lüdecke, 1946. A children's story of a Spitz named Purzel, told in rhymes and pictures. In German. "Mrs Bolles Held Incompetent" by unnamed reporter. In: New York Times, 11 October 1938, pg 19. Mrs Elenore van Houten Bolles, the wealthy widow of a prominent Boston stockbroker, who two years earlier fought a legal case to defend her right to keep her German Spitzes on her Westchester, New York, property, was committed to an institution following the decision by a county court jury that she was incompetent to manage her own affairs. "Asserts Right to Dogs: Mrs Bolles Says Westchester Neighbors Will Lose in Court" by unnamed reporter. In: New York Times, 10 August 1936, pg 21. The widow of a prominent Boston stockbroker is fighting an injunction requested by her Westchester, New York, neighbors that would require her to get rid of what they claimed were fourteen to twenty German Spitzes (Mrs Bolles denied owning more than nine) because of their barking. It was the intention of Mrs Bolles to move regardless of whether she won or lost, having taken an understandable dislike to the neighbors. "Coolidge May Get Late King's Dog" by unnamed correspondent. In: Washington Post, 8 August 1927. The death of King Ferdinand of Romania has left the queen with twelve "beautiful cocker spaniels and white spitz dogs" among the non-negotiable assets. Since the queen already has plenty of her own dogs, she's thinking of sending one of the king's to US President Calvin Coolidge. It is my guess only that the dogs here referred to were German Spitzes, but it seems reasonably likely. "Dog Buried in a Coffin: Mrs SW Whitney Gives Her Spitz a Funeral, but is Barred Out of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery" by unnamed reporter. In: Chicago Daily Tribune, 26 February 1899, pg 39. Reprinted from The New York Herald. A Mrs SW Whitney, evidently a woman of some wealth, has lost her beloved Trixy, "a valuable Bavarian Spitz dog" of advanced years. Mrs Whitney contacted an undertaker and ordered a satin-lined oak coffin, with her name inscribed on a plate. The undertaker laid Trixy as he would a child, tucked in with "its pretty blanket on and a new blue ribbon on its neck." Refused permission to bury a dog in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, the bereaved family held the service and interred Trixy in their back yard for the time being—until they can find a right-thinking cemetery. "Petted by the Grand Old Man: A Little Black Dog Which Has Captured Gladstone's Affection" by unnamed reporter. In: Chicago Daily Tribune, 3 July 1892. This story is a warm human interest vignette of the retirement of British Prime Minister Gladstone at Hawardon Castle with Petz, the black Pomeranian that is his constant companion. Given that this dog was acquired in Coblentz, Germany, in 1888, it is my opinion that this dog would now more properly be termed a German Spitz. "A New Suit for Christmas" illustrated by H Werner. In: Harper's Bazaar, 11 Jan 1879, pg 29. A charming pen-and-ink drawing by H Werner is accompanied by a little paragraph explaining what's in the picture, which it calls "a genre picture of German family life..." For our purposes, the important aspect of the picture is a handsome little Spitz admiring "his" boy's new Christmas suit. "The Flower Vase: The Talking Dog" by unknown columnist. In: Southern Rose, 22 July, 1837, pg 190. This is a humorous report under a regular column of a Pomeranian dog (given the date, think German Spitz) residing in Naples, Italy (or, given the place and date, this could in fact be a Volpino Italiano), who was reputed to be able to speak the phrase "Damn grandmamma." "Windsor, October 21" by unknown. In: The Times (London), 25 October 1823, p 2. Amidst the news in from Windsor is a paragraph about a pair of dogs recently arrived in town that were brought back from Captain Perry's recent Arctic expedition that sound like Alaskan Malamutes and are compared to Pomeranians with the notation that Poms were "a breed of dog now nearly extinct in this country." Since this comment seems to be in regard to the original-sized Pomeranians, this would more accurately refer to German Spitzes. "One Guinea Reward.—Lost" by Mr. Floris of 94 Jermyn-street. In: The Times (London) 23 October 1819. This page 1 classified ad offers a reward for the prompt return of Philip, "a small white dog of the Pomeranian breed with very long full hair, particularly on the neck and tail, fox-head, and sharp dark eyes." Mr. Floris believes Philip to have been stolen, and promises anyone in possession of Philip who does not return him for the reward will be prosecuted. Again, this was a pre-Victorian Pomeranian, and in modern nomenclature would be termed a German Spitz. "Lost" by unknown. In: The Times (London) 10 February 1796. This classified ad on page 1 offers a reward of 2 guineas for the safe return of a small Pomeranian bitch lost from Clitford-street near Bond-street. She is described as "all white, the tail turned over the back, and the ears large and erect, answers to the name of Maitresse." I hope she was found. Of course this Pomeranian would be better termed a German Spitz by modern nomenclature. "First of September.!!!: Lisson Green: The Donkey and the Crow" by unknown. In: The Times (London), 2 September 1791, p 3. In what appears to be a round up of the sporting news appears the humorous story of four sportsmen trying to hunt a crow, with a quick mention of their being hampered by their dogs, a Pomeranian, a terrier, a Mastiff and an "unbroke" Pointer. The Pomeranian in question would, at this time, of course be better described as a German Spitz. "Lost on Wednesday last a smallish cropped Pomeranian dog" by unknown. This classified ad appeared on page 1 of the 24 November 1790 edition of The Times (London). The dog is further described as "whitish brown colour, rather under the middle size, no collar, answers to the name of Azor." A reward of a golden guinea was promised for his return. Like all other dogs termed Pomeranians in this period, Azor would be more accurately described in modern terms as a German Spitz. "Lost on Wednesday last" by Mrs. Castle. This classified ad appeared on page 4 of The Times (London) four days straight, 22-25 May 1786. Sadly, we cannot know if Mrs. Castle of Spring Gardens ever got back Fox, a "large Pomeranian Dog" of "remarkable fine Coat and Tail", despite the offer of a two-guinea reward. The Pomeranian in question would, at this time, of course be better described as a German Spitz.

German Spitz Webring

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