Spitz

Spitz-type breeds of dog (the correct German plural is Spitze, though Spitzen is commonly used in the US) are characterised by long, thick, and often white fur, and pointed ears and muzzles. The tail is usually curled over the dog's back. more...

Origins

The exact origins of spitz-type dogs is not known, though most of the spitz-types seen today originate from the Arctic regions.

There is no archaeological evidence showing transition stages between the wolf and the often-similar spitz-type dogs. Skeletal remains up to 5,000 years old suggest it is far more likely that the ancestors of spitz types mated with wolves.

Though it is not completely certain that there has been wolf blood in the spitz-type dogs for that long, it is certain the humans have intentionally mated spitz types with wolves in more recent times to achieve the wolf-like appearance of breeds such as the Alaskan Malamute.

Migrations

About three thousand years ago, dogs began to migrate from the Arctic into temperate Europe, North America, Asia, and to a lesser extent, Africa.

Skeletal remains around 2,000 years old unearthed in Switzerland indicate that spitz-type dogs have inhabited Central Europe for millennia. These dogs are almost certainly the ancestors of the European spitz-types, such as the Keeshond and Schipperke.

Many spitz-types also migrated into Korea and China. Over the centuries, many of these dogs were transported by humans to Japan, most likely from Korea. These Asian spitz types are the ancestors of today's breeds such as the Chow Chow and the Akita Inu.

Working Dogs

Through selective breeding, spitz types have evolved to fit three purposes helping humans: hunting, herding, and pulling sleds.

The larger and more powerful breeds such as the Karelian Bear Dog and the Norwegian Elkhound were used for big game hunting, helping humans kill moose and elk.

Smaller breeds such as the Finnish Spitz and the Lundehund were used in Scandinavia to hunt birds and smaller mammals.

The largest of all the spitz types, notably the Canadian Eskimo Dog and the Greenland Dog, were used to pull sleds up until the 19th century. During that century, when fur trapping became a lucrative business, people began to realise that size did not necessarily relate with endurance, and the smaller Siberian Husky came to be used more frequently in Canada and Alaska. The Finnish Lapphund was used by the Sami people.

Adaptation to the Arctic

Spitz types are well suited to living in harsh northern climates. They often have an insulating, waterproof undercoat that is denser than the topcoat to trap warmth.

Small ears help reduce the risk of frostbite and thick fur grows on the paws to protect the dogs from sharp ice.

However, many spitz-type breeds retain wolflike characteristics such as excessive independance, suspiciousness, and aggression towards unfamiliar humans or other animals, and can therefore require much training before they become manageable. Some, such as the Karelian Bear Dog, are almost impossible to train as companion dogs.

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