Japanese Spitz
The Japanese Spitz falls in between a small and medium breed of dog. It is grouped into the Spitz type of dogs. Its primary role is to be a companion dog. They see their roots in the 1920s and 1930s in Japan. The breed was created by cross breeding other Spitz dogs together. First breeders started with white German Spitz dogs from China,
Appearance
The Japanese Spitz is about 33 cm to the withers. It has a squarish body and a deep chest. The coat of this dog is white. It is easily mistaken for the Samoyed Dog and the American Eskimo dog. Interestingly enough their coat has often been compared to Teflon because it seems to have a non stick quality.
Temperament
This are highly active and loyal dogs. They are highly devoted to their masters. This makes them a good companion to the elderly and children. They tend to bark excitedly.These dogs can be good watchdogs as well as being excellent active parts of a family. These dogs generally are easy to train, they are a smart breed who needs to be stimulated appropriately. They are small enough to fit in your lap. It should be noted that when this breed is younger it can get itchy gums so a toy to bite on is required. Harsh training is not appropriate for this dog and will tend to be met with stubbornness.
Grooming and care
This breed is very fluffy however due to the non stick texture of the coat they tend to not get very dirty and shedding is a relatively minor problems. Although these dogs can tolerate colder climes they prefer to live in the family home as this is how they were bred.
Health
The life expectancy of this breed is between 12 and 16 years, they tend to have very few genetic disorders. A significant health concern with this breed is patellar luxation, this is where the kneecap dislocates out of position. They are also prone to runny eyes this can either occur due to having tear ducts which are too small or have allergies to grass. They may also develop runny eyes due to stress.