fellfolioSpitz
Medium German Spitz (Mittelspitz)
Alert, lively and instantly recognisable by its full ruff, the Medium German Spitz notices what is happening around the front door and often has plenty to say about it.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at shoulder
- 30 to 40 cm
- Weight
- 7 to 11 kg
- Lifespan
- over 12 years
- Activity
- Moderate
- Grooming
- Daily
- Training
- Patience & clear guidance
- Owner experience
- First dog with support
An observant dog with a clear voice
German Spitz dogs have long been valued as watchful companions around the home and farm. The Mittelspitz still notices footsteps in the hall or a visitor at the door, and may announce them loudly. It also tends to enjoy being near its people and learns readily when training is clear and kind. This is unlikely to suit someone hoping for a very quiet dog. When your Spitz barks at the door, practise sending it to a mat and rewarding calm waiting while you open it.
Everyday life
A good day for a Mittelspitz includes shared walks, time to sniff and a few short tasks that give it something to think about. Scatter a little food for it to find outdoors or ask it to search for a familiar toy. Access to a garden does not replace that time together. If it barks at every passer-by from the garden fence, do not leave it there unsupervised. Call it back to you and reward it for coming, rather than letting it continue barking at the fence. If children or other animals share the home, give the dog a resting place where it will not be disturbed and supervise early introductions.
Staying home alone
Dogs learn to stay home alone in small steps. The RSPCA advises no more than four hours at a time. Puppies and dogs that become unsettled when left alone need shorter absences and gradual practice. Arrange someone to care for your dog when you will be away longer.
Everyday dog training: recall, a loose lead and clear communication ↗
Day-to-day care
A dense, soft undercoat sits beneath the longer, straight outer hair. It creates the breed’s full outline but means a quick brush over the surface misses much of the loose hair. Part the coat and brush in small sections down to the skin, paying attention behind the ears, around the ruff and on the feathered hind legs. Loose hair can collect and tangle there. The UK veterinary charity PDSA recommends daily grooming, with more undercoat coming away during seasonal shedding. Introduce a puppy to the brush and comb in short, pleasant sessions so coat care becomes familiar.
Size and build
The standard of the international kennel federation FCI gives an ideal shoulder height of 35 cm for the Medium German Spitz, allowing five centimetres either way, or 30 to 40 cm. PDSA lists an approximate weight of 7 to 11 kg for the medium variety. Beneath the abundant coat is a compact dog, almost square in outline, with a short, straight back and sturdy, straight legs. Its wedge-shaped head, small upright ears and high-set bushy tail carried over the back give it the familiar spitz silhouette. The double coat forms a ruff around the neck and longer feathering on the hind legs. Medium German Spitz come in white, black, brown, orange and grey-shaded colours, among others. The Mittelspitz is recognised as a distinct German Spitz size variety.
From puppy to senior: caring for your dog through every life stage ↗
Health
PDSA lists luxating patellas among the breed’s possible health problems. The kneecap moves out of its normal groove. Some dogs lift a hind leg for a few steps and then walk normally again; others develop more persistent discomfort. Repeated little skipping steps call for a vet assessment, even if the dog seems fine afterwards. If it happens only now and then, record a short video to show your vet. When choosing a puppy, ask to see the parents’ health records and whether knee problems have occurred in close relatives. Maintaining a healthy body weight also reduces strain on the joints.
Could this breed fit your life?
Could work well if …
- You enjoy an alert companion who likes walks and short search games.
- You have time to groom the coat and patiently practise a calm front-door routine.
May be less suitable if …
- You need an exceptionally quiet dog, perhaps in a home with little sound insulation.
- You would rather not brush a dense undercoat down to the skin regularly.
Similar needs, different dogs.
Selected by shared size, activity, grooming and training characteristics.
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Sources and photograph credit
- Teaching your dog to be left alone
Used in this profile for: Staying home alone
- German Spitz · FCI Breed Standard No. 97
Used in this profile for: Size / Weight, Temperament, Day-to-day care, Size and build
- Luxating patella in dogs
Used in this profile for: Health
- German Spitz (Mittel) · breed guide
Used in this profile for: Size / Weight, Temperament, Everyday life, Day-to-day care, Size and build, Health, Lifespan, Could this breed fit your life?
Photo credits
Portrait · German spitz (Mittel) · Balano · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Edited
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Side view · Mittelspitz cream sable · Canarian · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Edited
Puppy · Mittelspitz LOF Malo, 2,5 months (2) · Tsaag Valren · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Edited
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Sniffing · Mittelspitz 1 year (5) · Tsaag Valren · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Edited
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