Description
The Japanese Spitz is a cheerful, playful, and friendly companion, known for barking very little. Its intelligence, trainability, and sensitivity make it a wonderful family partner. While it learns commands easily, it needs regular mental stimulation and engagement. A spirited nature and occasional stubbornness add to its distinctive charm.
Deeply attached to its family, this breed struggles with being left alone for long periods. It gets along wonderfully with children and enjoys joining their games. Relationships with other dogs call for a sensitive approach, as the Japanese Spitz can be both jealous and perceptive. It usually coexists peacefully with other pets if socialized with them from a young age.
Reserved yet not aggressive, it retains natural watchdog instincts despite its quiet nature. Although its dense coat allows it to enjoy the outdoors, its true happiness lies indoors with its family, and it is not suited for permanent outdoor living.
Its beautiful white coat requires regular care, especially during the twice-yearly shedding season, when gentle daily brushing is recommended. Bathing also calls for specific care to maintain coat quality.
Training requires a steady, consistent approach with clear rules. The breed is generally quick to learn, and rewarding good behavior is far more effective than punishment. Its enthusiasm for activity makes it an excellent candidate for dog sports such as agility or dog dancing.
FCI Standard
FCI-Standard N° 262 / 16. 06. 1999 / GB
JAPANESE SPITZ (Nihon Supittsu)
ORIGIN : Japan.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 1987.
UTILIZATION : Companion dog.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 5 Spitz and primitive type.
Section 5 Asian Spitz and related breeds.
Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : The origin of the Japanese Spitz is said to be the large-sized white German Spitz brought to Japan around 1920 via the continent of Siberia and northeast part of China. Around the year 1921 the breed was first exhibited at a dog show in Tokyo.
Subsequently, in 1925, two pairs of white Spitz were imported from Canada, and until around 1936, imports came from Canada, the U.S., Australia and China. Eventually their offspring were crossbred to produce a better breed. After the 2nd World War, the unified breed standard was established by the Japan Kennel Club in 1948 to be valid to the present.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Covered with profuse pure white coat, with pointed muzzle, triangular pricked ears, and feathering tail over back. The constitution tough and the whole well balanced, its harmonious beauty causing spirit and dignity peculiar to this breed, and expressing elegance.
IMPORTANT PROPORTION : The ratio of height at withers to length of body is 10 : 11.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Intelligent, cheerful, keen in sense. Noisy not permitted.
HEAD : Size in balance to body, moderately broad and rounded.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Forehead moderately developed. Rear part of skull broadest.
Stop : Defined.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Small, round and black.
Muzzle : Pointed, the tip slightly round, and well balanced. Lips tight and preferably black.
Jaws/Teeth : Teeth white and strong with scissor bite.
Eyes : Moderately large, almond-shaped, set slightly oblique, dark in colour. Black eyerims.
Ears : Set on high, small, triangular, pricked, facing forward, and not too far apart.
NECK : Moderately long, muscles well developed.
BODY :
Withers : High.
Back : Straight and short.
Loins : Broad.
Chest : Wide and deep, ribs well sprung.
Belly : Well tucked up.
TAIL : Set on high, moderately long, carried over back.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Shoulders well sloping, forearms straight, elbows tight.
HINDQUARTERS : Muscular, stifle and hock moderately bent.
FEET : Cat-feet. Pads thick, and desirably black as well as the nails.
GAIT/MOVEMENT : Quick and active.
COAT
HAIR : Outer coat straight and stand-off. Undercoat short, soft and dense. The foreface, ears, front of forearms and part below hocks are short haired, and the rest covered with abundant long coat, especially from neck to shoulders and forechest covered with beautiful frill, and the tail also has long profuse feathering.
COLOUR : Pure white.
SIZE :
Height at withers : Dogs 30-38 cm.
Bitches slightly smaller than dogs.
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
• Overshot or undershot mouth.
• Strongly curled tail.
• Shyness; noisiness.
ELIMINATING FAULTS :
• Aggresive or overly shy.
• Drop ears.
• Tail not carried on back.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.