Japanese Spitz

The Japanese Spitz has a face that resembles a fox, with alert ears and a tail that curls up, which adds to their lively appearance and shows off their cheerful and friendly nature. These dogs are small to medium-sized and boast a beautiful, fluffy white coat that looks like a cloud. They are energetic pets that love to play and bring joy to their homes.

Quick Info

Size
Small
Colours
White
Lifespan
12 to 15 years
Height
12 to 15 inches
Type
Hound
Hypoallergenic
no
Weight
10 to 25 pounds
Family
Companion

Personality

These charming snow angels are loving and devoted to their family and close friends, but they may be shy around strangers. It may seem odd to describe a dog as humorous, but this breed loves to have fun and will use their smart and playful nature to make you laugh. Get ready for a bright, alert bark, as they are great at guarding your home. They thrive on being with their family and are usually friendly, getting along well with other pets and dogs. Regular socialization is important for them.

History

The Japanese Spitz is a fairly new breed, around 100 years old, that comes from the white German Spitz. This breed made its way to Japan in the 1920s. There’s also a chance that it was influenced by some American Eskimo dogs from Canada and Russian Spitz at some time in its development.

Ideal Owner

If you like teaching tricks with clicker training, the Japanese Spitz is a great choice. They thrive on challenges and are very smart and clever. These dogs enjoy going for walks in any kind of weather, so be ready for some muddy moments. The good part is that once the mud dries, it tends to come off their fur easily.

Exercise Needs

Fitness enthusiasts really enjoy working out and typically require at least an hour of exercise each day. They also like to train for enjoyment, aiming to impress their owners with top scores whenever they can. Activities like games and puzzles can tire out their energetic minds.

Space Requirements

These dogs thrive in homes with lots of room to run and play. However, they can be quite lively and vocal, which makes busy city environments less suitable for them. Living close to neighbors might not be ideal for a Japanese Spitz, especially if they get excited by people walking by or the noise of traffic.

Training

The Japanese Spitz is very enthusiastic about learning and enjoys demonstrating its smarts. Still, this breed has a mind of its own, so using positive rewards is important for training. It's especially crucial to focus on recall, as they may follow their instincts and chase after a scent without warning.

Grooming

Even though Japanese Spitz dogs have a beautiful white coat, taking care of them isn’t as difficult as it seems. They require regular baths and brushing. Their fluffy undercoat is dense, topped with a long, straight outer coat that resembles a lion’s mane around their neck, chest, and shoulders. Their cheerful personality is highlighted by a curly tail.

Suitability for Family Life

A Japanese Spitz can be a great family pet if they receive the right training and plenty of fun activities. They are flexible and adjust well, but they thrive best in homes without young kids who might not understand their limits. These dogs tend to bark frequently, so a noisy and active home might be overwhelming for them.

Did You know?

The Japanese Spitz is often called the Cloud Dog because of its soft, fluffy look. People say their fur is like a “self-cleaning” coat. When they dry off, dirt and mud easily shake off or fall away. Even though they resemble a little snowball, they enjoy warmth and are happy living indoors.

Similar Breeds

No items found.

Need to Know

Dog suitable for owners with some experience
Extra training required
Generally healthy breed
Enjoys active walk
Some drool
Requires frequent grooming
Chatty and vocal dog
Barks and alerts to visitors/anything unusual