Page 97 - The Complete Dog Breed Book Choose the Perfect Dog for You, New Edition (DK)

SPIT Z - TYPE DOG S 97

SPITZ-TYPE DOGS

A team of huskies pulling a sled over icy wastelands
epitomizes the type of dog known as a Spitz. In fact, this
group has diverse uses, including herding, hunting, and
guarding; many smaller types are kept solely as pets. Descent
from wolves is apparent in many spitz dogs: the shape of the
head, the typical wolf coloring, and an alert expression. The smiling-faced Samoyed
originated in Siberia

Many of the modern spitz breeds seen racing and with tourists who want to the distinctive “spitz” tail that curls
today originated in northern Arctic try their hand at dog-driving. Other upward over the back.
regions, though a number of them— spitz dogs have been bred for hunting As house dogs, most spitz breeds
including the Chow Chow and Akita— large game, such as wolves and bears, are happy with family life, but they are
were developed in East Asia. The and for herding reindeer. The Akita, not the easiest of dogs to train.
history of the spitz group remains originally from Japan, was developed Without sufficient exercise and
unclear, but it is currently thought as a fighter and bear hunter and now amusement, they can resort to
that they originated in Asia, some often works as a guard dog. Among disruptive behavior such as digging
migrating alongside tribal movements the small, nonworking spitz dogs holes and barking.
into Africa and others across the are the Pomeranian, selectively bred
Bering Strait to North America. down in size from a larger type of dog, SMALLEST SPITZ
Breeds such as the Greenland Dog and the newly created Alaskan Klee The tiny Pomeranian is the smallest of the
and Siberian Husky were used most Kai, a miniature husky. spitz-type breeds. Although it was bred as
famously for sled-hauling by the polar Spitz dogs, both large and small, a pet, this dog has a strong character and
is full of indomitable spitz spirit.
explorers of the 19th and early 20th have the characteristics of animals
centuries. These tough dogs worked in bred specifically for living in
appalling weather conditions, often on extremely cold climates. Typically,
a diet of poor food, and frequently they have a very thick double
ended up being eaten themselves when coat, which varies in length
their owners ran out of rations. Such and density according to the
spitz-type sled dogs were also once origin of a breed. Other
widely used by North American hunters features for preventing heat
and fur trappers. Today, the sled-hauling loss in low temperatures
spitz breeds are popular for endurance are pointed, densely
furred ears and
well-furred feet. An
attractive addition
to many breeds is

EX-FIGHTER
The burly Akita
was once a
fighting dog
in its native
Japan.

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