Japanese Spitz
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Covered with profuse white fur, with a pointed snout, erect triangular ears and a feathered tail over the back. With a robust and balanced constitution, its harmonious beauty gives it a lively and dignified appearance, peculiar to this breed, and expresses elegance.
Personality: Active, alert and agile.
Energy Level : Very Active.
Good with children: Yes.
Good with other dogs: With supervision.
Grooming: Seasonal.
Life Expectancy : 10-16 years old.
Bark level: Moderately high.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
The origin of the Japanese Spitz is said to be the large White Spitz that was brought from Japan around 1920 via Siberia and part of Northeast China. Around 1921, the breed was shown for the first time at an exhibition in Tokyo. Later, in 1925, two pairs of White Spitz were imported from Canada, and until almost 1936, imports came from Canada, the United States, Australia and China. Subsequently, the descendants of these dogs were crossed to produce a better breed. After World War II, the breed standard was established by the Kennel Club of Japan in 1948, and is still valid today.
Country of Origin: Japan.
BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT: Intelligent, cheerful, with keen senses. He is not allowed to be noisy.
HEAD: Size in balance with the body; moderately wide and rounded .
CRANIAL REGION
Skull: Forehead moderately developed. The back of the skull is wider.
Stop : Set.
FACIAL REGION
Nose: Small, round and black.
Muzzle: Pointed. The tip is slightly rounded and well balanced. Adhering lips and preferably black.
Jaws and Teeth: White strong teeth with a scissor bite.
Eyes: Moderately large, almond shaped, set slightly slanted, dark in color. Black eye rims.
Ears: Set high, small, triangular, erect, directed forward and not too far apart. NECK: Moderately long, with well-developed muscles.
TRUNK
Withers: High.
Back: Straight and short.
Loin: Long.
Chest: Broad and deep; ribs well sprung.
Bottom line: Well tucked up.
TAIL: Set on high, moderately long, carried over the back.
MEMBERS
FOREQUARTERS: Shoulders well sloping; forearms, straight; elbows close to the body.
HINDQUARTERS: Muscular; moderately angled knees and hocks.
Paws: Cat feet. Pads thick and desirably black, as are the nails.
GAIT/MOVEMENT: Fast and active.
COAT
Hair: Straight, bristly covering coat. Undercoat short, soft and dense. The forehead, the ears, the front of the forearms and the underside of the hocks are short-haired. The rest is covered by a long and abundant coat, especially from the neck to the shoulders, and the forechest covered by a beautiful mane. The tail also has long and profuse fringes.
COLOR: Pure white.
SIZE Height at withers: Males: 30-38 cm Females slightly smaller than males.
FAULTS
Any deviation from this standard should be considered a fault and penalized in exact proportion to its severity and its effects on the health and well being of the dog.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
• Aggressiveness or excessive shyness.
• Any dog that shows any sign of physical or behavioral anomaly must be disqualified.
• Atypical dogs.