Many breeds of dogs popularly kept today are said to be ‘Spitz’ dogs or ‘Spitz type dogs’. If you’ve been looking at a variety of different breeds and types of dogs with a view to finding out the perfect future pet or companion for you and the entire family, you may have possibly heard the term in usage and wonder what kind of a dog it is and also, whether, a Spitz dog might be worthy of consideration as a future pet.
Spitz is generally characterized by their pointed ear and elongated muzzle and thick, dense fur which often contains a significant amount of white pigmentation. Their tail naturally curls up over the back of the dog to some degree. The term Spitz is not a breed in itself, nor does it refer to dogs of any particular breed. It’s more of ‘type’ identification and dogs of the Spitz type often bear a passing or sometimes strong resemblance to wolves. Recent genetic testing of a range of dogs of Spitz type shows that they originate from both deliberate and accidental mating of both domestic and wild dog packs with wolves. A significant number of dogs classed as Spitz originate from East Asia and the Arctic regions. While the word Spitz is Germanic in origin and a significant number have been bred in Germany during their relatively recent history, various factors that make up the Spitz typing are not believed to be indigenously Germanic

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Dogs which fall under the heading of Spitz type may come from a wide variety of different breeds. The range of dogs most usually considered to be Spitz and having the universal traits of that type include Alaskan Malamute, American Akita, Canaan Dog, Chow- Chow, Finish Spitz, German Spitz, Greenland Dog, Labrador Husky, Siberian Husky, West Siberian Laika.
Spitz is extremely cute dogs. One of the most distinctive and uniting factors common to all of them is their dense, often luxurious coat, which comprise of two layers; a long fine tapcoat and a thick insulating undercoat of coarser hair. A dog with a coat of this type requires considerable grooming to avoid matted fur and associated problems. Dust ad licks found in their fur makes it uncomfortable for the dogs. Brushing is not enough because a brush takes care of only the top layer of fur and a comb, if used to groom the dog down to the skin, will have to deal with knots and mats within the fur.
Spitz is loyal, good natured and inquisitive and relatively easy to train, although they can be prone to stubbornness and need firm direction and consistent handling. They inherently have a lot of stamina and endurance which helps them run over long distances etc. They are always brimming with excess of energy and hence need a large amount of space to walk around, roam freely and do energetic exercise for proper utilization of their energy. They are generally good with children and other pets. They are very active since they are bred for work. Spitz love to bark and we adore a barking Spitz at home, although outsiders and guests can find it scaring. Some people are too petrified of Spitz because of their ‘non-stop barking nature’. They are real smart animals; they get bored easily, try to grab your attention and if not given, they know well how to manage it from you. It will not eat unless you feed it. It will hover all around you until your attention falls on him and if guests are at home, they sniff so carefully from head to toe unless they make sure that you are perfect and not an evil intruder.

In warm seasons, it is of utmost importance for you to perform regular checks on your Spitz for fleas and ticks. There are numerous ways to avoid this problem which includes shredding the fur, using flea comb to find fleas etc. If she is exposed to mosquitoes often, she may carry heat-worms with her. As a result, she might die early. In some moderate climatic areas, veterinarians advise preventive worm medication throughout the year. Male Indian Spitz need to be neutered-and the females sprayed- removal of ovaries and uterus by 6 months of age. This reduces female breast cancer possibility. Prostate diseases, testicular cancer, some Hernias and certain types of aggression can be prevented by neutering males. The yearly cost of rearing the Indian Spitz- to include food and snacks, to vet bills, toys and license- is not much high.

The Indian Spitz is a dog type belonging to the utility group and was once an excellent farm worker found in India. As pets, they are playful and kind towards the humans. They love to chase their own tail and are quiet athletic. They adapt an aggressive nature if not treated properly. They learn to perform many impressive tricks and tasks. They are quiet clever and can understand human intentions very well. When properly socialized from a young age from a young age, the Indian Spitz gets along well with small children and other pets, often making friends quickly due to its social nature. These dogs adapt well to indoor and apartment living. They are obedient, loyal, loving and affectionate, making an excellent hunting dog, family pet and companion alike. They are superb watch dogs and strangers will be greeted with yapping shrill barks. Their diet is very adaptable and can include anything from milk, rice and yogurt to a rice and chicken diet. The point of obesity should also be kept in mind.

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Friendly, loyal, sweet, intelligent, playful, exuberant, mouthy, mischievous, naive, curious, loving and protective are some of the adjectives we use to describe dogs. But then some dogs are labeled dangerous, ferocious, aggressive, savage, vicious and unpredictable. This thought has mainly developed based on the fact that some dog breeds have a history of being violent with animals as well as people. Since big dogs create bigger wounds they’re reported more frequently and this causes the medical data to be skewed inaccurately toward big dogs. Truthfully, all breeds can be provoked to bite. Whether or not a dog actually bites is generally a result of how well it’s been trained and treated. Nevertheless, it can’t be helped that some dog breeds have more potential to cause serious harm to a person if the dog were to decide to attack. But why would a dog, man’s best friend, decide to attack? Here are some of the most common reasons:

1)      The dog is protecting or thinking that it is protecting its owner.

2)      The dog is protecting its owner’s property.

3)      The dog is protecting its puppies.

4)      The dog is guarding its food.

5)      The dog is provoked by the actions of the victim like pulling its tail, hurting it by mistake etc.

6)      The dog is not properly trained and does not interact well with strangers.

7)      The dog is having a bad day, is irritable and its tolerance level has fallen.

8)      The dog’s sixth sense tells it that the person/ animal has bad intentions.

9)      The dog is in pain, injured or sick.

10)   The dog is involved in rough play with the victim and gets overly excited.

11)   The dog does not know how to bite and does so by mistake.

Dogs are intelligent creatures and do not like to assault without reason or warning.  A dog bite rarely happens without warning, so chances are these warnings are being misunderstood or ignored. The best way to avoid such a situation is to learn a dog’s language and respect its boundaries. A dog could be humungous in size or have very large teeth but could be very docile while a small and petite dog could suddenly bite! A dog’s disposition should not be judged by its looks or its breed. Every dog is different. But like humans speak with their mouths, dogs express themselves with their body language. Some of the warning signs before a dog becomes fierce and aggressive are given below:

1)      Pleading eyes: The dog looks at you with a pleading expression.

2)      Physical Retreat: The dog takes a few steps back. One must not try to approach it.

3)      Head turn: The dog turns his head indicating that it does not want an altercation.

4)      Yawning: Dogs yawn when they are nervous and try to calm themselves down. Although a yawn is not always for this reason.

5)      Licking: Incessantly licking either you or itself could be a request to back off and give it space but you might also taste very good!

6)      Whale eyes: Seeing the whites of a dog’s eyes, also known as “whale eyes”, a fixated look and dilation of its pupils is a serious warning sign.

7)      Body Language:A hard stare, ears back, head lowered, fur standing and most of its body weight on its front legs is a sign of an aggressive or threatened dog.

8)      Tail position: A wagging tail is not always a friendly sign.

9)      Growling & Snapping: Critical warning point i.e. just before the attack.

10)  Two or more signs together: If any of the above signs are combined, most probably the attack is imminent.

I am a proud owner of a Doberman pinscher a.k.a. Doberman. She is about 11-12 months old but is quite big in size already. She is the friendliest dog I have ever petted. She does not bark at strangers unless she senses that they are a threat to me. She only barks in defense and so far she has never growled or snarled. But still sometimes, she shows one or more of the warning signs above while we are just playing or running around. Since she is still a pup and is in her training period, I say ‘No!’ whenever she gets aggressive. My training and my upbringing will design her temperament. Same goes for all the other dogs and their owners. Some of the other dog breeds, including Dobermans, that are considered more aggressive and dangerous than the others are:

2)    Rottweiler

3)    Pit bull

4)      German Shepherd

5)      Boxer

6)      Presa Canario

7)      Dalmatian

8)      Giant Schnauzer

9)      Bull Terrier

10)   Alaskan Malamutes

One must know that no dog is minacious without some kind of provocation. The reason for an attack could have just been perceived by the dog rather than an actual reason. That is why the owners as well as other people should be wary of the signs a dog displays. One must know how to read a dog’s body language. Dogs are one of the best creations of nature. They are cute and faithful. No dog should ever be punished. Pain should not be inflicted on any dog to train it or teach him a lesson. Dogs are creatures full of love and no lesson can be taught better, than with love. Happy petting!

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