Tag archives: spitz

Descended from larger herding dogs, the Pomeranian is a spitz-type dog that is now a companion and show dog in the toy group. Its small size makes it a great choice for apartments or houses with small yards as it doesn’t need much exercise, but the small dog is very energetic and requires attention from its owners. The Pomeranian’s popularity began in the late 1800s with British royalty and continues to this day.

The modern breed is believed to have developed in a region of northern Germany and Poland that is known as Pomerania, and that it was used as a herding dog. In this working form, the breed was approximately 30 pounds (and perhaps weighed as much as 50). The early iteration of the breed, which came from the German spitz, worked in harsh northern climates (even earlier versions were used in the arctic) and gives the current breed its thick double coat, which protects it from the cold, wet, windy elements.

Pomeranian popularity soared in 1891 when Queen Victoria showed a small, 12-pound dog named Windor’s Marco. The smaller size immediately became all the rage and breeders began selectively choosing mates based upon their miniature dimensions. It is ...

Almost all dogs are better suited for the cold than humans – it’s just the way they’ve evolved. However, some breeds are better suited for the cold, rain, snow and ice than others. These breeds historically served a purpose that had to do with cold, nasty weather, climates or conditions.

Three breed groups feature several dogs that tend to fall into the winter-loving category and have some unique features that help them adapt to cold climates – namely double coats (those featuring an insulating under layer and weather-resistant outer layer) that were developed to repel the elements.

It’s something to keep in mind if you’re considering a new dog. These dogs tend to be happy and at home in colder temperatures, and if you live a hot area (like the desert southwest) they might not fare as well as in more northern climes or higher elevations where cooler weather is more prevalent.

Retrievers

Breeds such as the Labrador, Chesapeake and golden retriever were developed to fetch fishermen’s nets and hunters’ waterfowl from rough, icy seas.

As such, retrievers tend to have an outer coat that is slightly oily, which helps repel water while trapping air and body heat while submersed ...

Sometimes politics and patriotism combine to influence the development of a canine breed. Such is the case with the American Eskimo dog, which originated in Germany (where it was known as the German spitz) and was brought to America in the early 1900s as a companion and watchdog. However, with the rise of World War I and anti-German sentiment, the name was changed from German spitz to American Eskimo dog (and nicknamed the “Eskie”).

The name wasn’t the only thing that changed. The American version of the breed, separated from the German, and perhaps mixed at some point with the Japanese spitz, developed into its own, primarily white, breed.

Eskies were originally used as watchdogs, and as such still retain a tendency to bark at strangers that approach or encroach upon their territory. In America, they became popular as performing animals in circuses, walking on balls, tightropes and performing other tricks. Marketing gurus of the day sold puppies after the show and, as such, many families went home with their very own Eskie.

Because they evolved as alert watchdogs and performing animals, Eskies are intelligent, affectionate, playful and biddable – they love to please. These personality traits make them perfect ...