People usually look up the German Spitz when they’re weighing up a small, bright companion dog: something alert enough to let you know what’s happening, but still happy to live close and quietly in the home. Size, coat care, barking, and long-term health are the make-or-break details.
The German Spitz is not one single size. In Australia you’ll most often see the Klein (small) and Mittel (medium), each with a dense double coat and a watchful, lively nature. The notes below focus on what tends to matter day to day—temperament, grooming, exercise, and common health checks—grounded in breed standards and practical veterinary advice.1, 2
Quick profile: German Spitz (Klein & Mittel)
- Origin: Germany3
- Size (height at withers): Klein 23–29 cm; Mittel 30–38 cm1
- Coat: Double coat (soft, woolly undercoat; long, straight, harsher top coat). Not a “trimmed” breed apart from tidy feet and hygiene areas.1
- Colours: Many colours and markings are accepted in Australia, except merle; “butterfly” pigment is not permitted.1
- Temperament: Intelligent, active, alert; typically confident and even-tempered, without nervousness or aggression.1
- Typical lifespan: Often listed around 13–15 years (individual dogs vary).4
History and origin
The German Spitz sits within the wider European spitz family—upright ears, curled tail, weather-resistant double coat—developed in Germany and recognised internationally with several varieties (including Wolfspitz/Keeshond, Giant, Medium, Miniature and Pomeranian).3
In Australia, breed standards are published for the German Spitz (Mittel & Klein), describing a compact dog with an almost square outline and a coat designed to stand off the body rather than lie flat.1
Physical characteristics
A German Spitz is built like a small, self-contained package: short-coupled, well knit, with a wedge-shaped head, pricked ears, and a high-set tail that curls over the back. The proportions are meant to read as balanced rather than delicate.1
The coat is the signature feature. It’s a true double coat: a soft undercoat that insulates, and a longer, straight top coat that forms the familiar halo around the neck and shoulders. Because of how that coat grows, heavy clipping and sculpting is discouraged in the Australian standard (tidying feet and hygiene areas is the exception).1
Temperament: what living with a German Spitz is like
German Spitz are described, in the Australian standard, as happy and equable—confident dogs with no sign of nervousness or aggression. They are also characterised as intelligent, active and alert, with a buoyant independence and strong devotion to family.1
That alertness can present as quick “announcement” barking when something changes in their environment. With calm, consistent training, many learn the household rules—when to signal, and when to settle.
Training and exercise needs
For most German Spitz, daily movement and regular mental engagement matter more than sheer distance. A steady walk, short play sessions, and training games (a few minutes at a time) usually suit them well.
- Exercise baseline: Many adult dogs do well with around 30 minutes a day, with extra play if they’re keen.4
- Training style: They typically respond best to positive reinforcement—clear cues, tiny rewards, and repetition without pressure.
- Enrichment that fits the breed: Scent games, brief obedience sessions, and low-impact agility-style obstacles can keep a bright Spitz brain occupied.
Grooming and everyday care
The coat looks extravagant, but it’s manageable when you treat it like a system: frequent light brushing instead of occasional battles. Several times a week is a sensible rhythm for many households, with extra attention where friction creates knots (behind ears, under collar areas, and where legs meet the body).5
Expect heavier shedding episodes during seasonal coat changes, when more frequent brushing helps lift dead undercoat before it mats and before it spreads through the house.5
- Brushing: Several times per week; more during heavy shedding periods.5
- Bathing: Only as needed. Over-bathing can dry the skin and strip oils.
- Nails, ears, eyes: Regular checks and trims keep small dogs comfortable and reduce minor problems becoming bigger ones.
Dental care matters (especially in small dogs)
Small breeds are often overrepresented in dental disease, and German Spitz owners commonly end up managing tartar and gum inflammation over the dog’s lifetime. Home brushing is the most effective preventive step, and it’s easiest when introduced gradually and kept low-drama—short sessions, pet-safe toothpaste, and consistency.6, 7
It also helps to avoid “DIY dentistry” and anaesthetic-free cleans offered outside a veterinary setting. Proper dental assessment and cleaning generally requires a vet and, when indicated, general anaesthesia so the whole mouth can be examined safely and thoroughly.8
Health concerns to watch for
No breed is free of inherited issues, and individual risk varies with lines and breeding choices. In German Spitz, owners and breed information sources commonly flag:
- Patellar luxation (kneecap slipping): can range from occasional skipping to ongoing discomfort and lameness.9
- Hereditary eye conditions: an argument for responsible breeders who screen breeding stock and for owners who act early if vision changes appear.9
If you’re choosing a puppy, ask what health screening has been done (and request written evidence), and what the breeder has seen in their lines over time. If you already have a Spitz, treat changes—limping, squinting, cloudy eyes, rubbing at the face—as a reason for a proper veterinary check, not a “wait and see”.
Choosing the right German Spitz for your family
The best match is usually about household texture rather than aesthetics: noise tolerance, grooming tolerance, and how much daily interaction you genuinely enjoy.
- Size: Klein (23–29 cm) suits smaller spaces and lighter handling; Mittel (30–38 cm) brings a bit more substance and stride.1
- Coat reality: You will brush. If you dislike brushing, the relationship will feel strained.
- Temperament fit: Look for confident, steady pups and adults—curious without being frantic, social without being pushy.1
Final thoughts
A German Spitz is often at its best when life is orderly: a familiar walking loop, a few short training moments, regular brushing, and a predictable place to settle. In return you tend to get a small sentinel—bright-eyed, observant, and closely tuned to the household—without the need for extreme exercise.
References
- Dogs Australia — German Spitz (Mittel & Klein) breed standard
- Dogs NSW — German Spitz (Mittel & Klein) breed standard (republished)
- FCI — German Spitz (Deutscher Spitz), Standard No. 97 (varieties and recognition)
- Hill’s Pet Australia — German Spitz breed overview (longevity and general care)
- PetMD — German Spitz grooming guide
- RSPCA Australia — Importance of dental health (home care and tooth brushing)
- Greencross Vets — Dental home care for pets (brushing guidance and toothpaste safety)
- RSPCA Knowledgebase — Caring for a cat or dog’s teeth (vet checks and dental work under anaesthesia)
- Purina — German Spitz Klein (exercise notes and commonly reported health concerns)
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom