The German Spitz is not one breed but a family of five size varieties, and French kennels that keep them work within the FCI standard for each. The varieties differ in height and weight, not in type: same fox-like head, same dense double coat, same alert character. A small Nordic breed like this needs daily coat care, controlled exercise, and health testing that is declared openly by the breeder.
What are the size varieties and their standards?
The FCI groups the German Spitz under standard 97, and the size varieties are Wolfspitz (Keeshond), Grossspitz, Mittelspitz, Kleinspitz, and Zwergspitz. Each has its own height range at the withers, and the ranges do not overlap in the way a casual reader might assume. The Wolfspitz is the largest, roughly 43 to 55 cm. The Grossspitz sits around 40 to 50 cm. The Mittelspitz, the medium size, is about 30 to 38 cm. The Kleinspitz is roughly 23 to 29 cm, and the Zwergspitz, the Pomeranian, is around 18 to 22 cm. Weight follows height, but the standard is written around height because it is the more stable measurement in a mature dog.
What matters clinically is that these are not separate breeds with separate health profiles. They share the same body plan, the same coat structure, and largely the same orthopedic and ocular concerns. A veterinarian assessing a Mittelspitz for patellar luxation is applying the same logic used on a Kleinspitz. The size variety changes the dose of a drug and the size of a surgical implant, not the underlying anatomy.
For readers who want to see how one French kennel documents its medium black German Spitz, including LOF numbers and health test dates, the breeding pages at Spitz de France show the kind of record a buyer can ask for. The point is not the kennel itself but the standard of proof: a breeder who publishes test results and practitioner names is a breeder you can question precisely.
What coat and character should you expect?
The German Spitz carries a double coat: a soft, dense undercoat and a straight, harsh outer coat that stands off the body. The ruff around the neck and the plume on the tail are breed features, not grooming accidents. Colors vary by variety and by national club rules, but black, brown, white, orange, and wolf-grey are all recognized in the wider family. The coat is weather-resistant and sheds, usually heavily once or twice a year, with a continuous lighter shed in between.
Character is where the family is most consistent. These are alert, vocal, watchful dogs. They were farm and yard dogs before they were companions, and they still notice everything. That makes them good alarm dogs and poor candidates for an owner who wants silence. They are intelligent and trainable, but they are not eager to please in the way a retriever is. They respond to routine, clear rules, and food, and they will test a soft handler.
With children and other pets, early socialization decides the outcome more than breed temperament does. A Mittelspitz raised with cats and children is usually fine with both. A Mittelspitz kept in a single-adult household and never exposed to noise or strangers will bark at everything. The breed is not aggressive by nature, but it is reactive if under-socialized.
How do French kennels declare breeding and health data?
In France, a breeder working with LOF dogs declares a litter through the Société Centrale Canine, and the puppies receive provisional registration that becomes definitive after confirmation. Health testing is separate from registration. The two tests most relevant to the Spitz family are patellar luxation, assessed by a veterinarian and often recorded with a cotation, and prcd-PRA, a DNA test for a form of progressive retinal atrophy. Both have published protocols and both produce a result that can be dated and attributed to a named practitioner.
A serious breeder will show you those dates and names. A breeder who says the parents are "tested" without a document is asking you to take a verbal claim. The difference matters because prcd-PRA is inherited in a known pattern, and patellar luxation has a polygenic component that makes screening across generations more useful than a single clear result.
Hip dysplasia is less prominent in the small Spitz varieties than in large shepherd breeds, but it is not absent. The same principle applies: a radiograph read by a competent reader, scored under a recognized scheme, is worth more than a pedigree full of champions. Buyers should ask for the actual report, not a summary.
What daily care does a small Nordic breed need?
Grooming is the first commitment. A German Spitz needs brushing two to three times a week, more during the seasonal shed. The undercoat mats if ignored, and mats close to the skin are painful and can hide skin infections. Do not shave the dog in summer. The double coat insulates against heat as well as cold, and shaving it can damage the regrowth pattern.
Exercise needs are moderate. A Mittelspitz or Kleinspitz does well with two walks a day and some indoor play. They are not built for long-distance running, and their small joints do not need repeated high-impact work. Puppies should not be asked to do stairs or jumps on hard surfaces before growth plates close, which in a small breed is earlier than in a large one but still months, not weeks.
Dental care is often neglected in small breeds. The teeth are crowded, and periodontal disease is common by middle age. Brushing, appropriate chews, and professional cleaning when indicated are part of routine care, not optional extras. Patellar luxation can also be managed conservatively in mild cases with weight control and controlled exercise, which is the same advice given for hip dysplasia in larger dogs.
Do small Spitz varieties get hip dysplasia?
Yes, but the clinical picture differs from what a shepherd owner would recognize. The prevalence is lower, and the dogs are lighter, so the mechanical load on the hip is smaller. A mildly dysplastic Kleinspitz may never show a limp. That does not mean the diagnosis is meaningless. It means the threshold for intervention is higher, and the value of screening is mostly in breeding decisions rather than in the individual dog's daily life.
When a small Spitz does show hind limb lameness, the differential list is broader than hip dysplasia alone. Patellar luxation, cruciate disease, and lumbosacral pain are all common in small breeds and can mimic a hip problem. A proper workup includes orthopedic examination and imaging, not a guess based on breed reputation.
How should a buyer verify a French kennel?
Ask for the registration documents, the health test reports with dates and practitioner names, and the conditions under which puppies are raised and leave. A breeder who keeps one breed and can explain why is easier to assess than one who keeps five. A breeder who publishes the parents' test results before you ask is easier still.
The German Spitz family is a good choice for an owner who wants a small, hardy, watchful dog and is willing to brush it. It is a poor choice for an owner who wants a quiet dog or one that can be left alone all day. The varieties differ in size, not in the work they ask of you.
Before you commit to a Spitz breeder in France, ask for documents rather than impressions. The FCI standard n°97 defines the breed, but the paperwork is what you can verify: a French litter declaration, registration with the Société Centrale Canine, and health checks the breeder can show you in writing. Ask which tests were done, on which dogs, and when. A breeder who answers precisely, and who invites you to see the dam with the litter, is giving you something a website photo cannot. For the questions that reveal a documented breeder, read this Spitz breeder checklist.