Spitz犬FCI Standard: Breed Characteristics & Temperament

Spitz Dog FCI Standard:

Group Classification: The Spitz belongs to Group 8 of the FCI, which encompasses hunting, search, and water dogs.

Height: Males stand at 18.9 to 20.9 inches at the shoulder, while females range from 18.1 to 20.1 inches.

Weight Range: Males typically weigh between 44.1 and 55.1 pounds, and females between 39.7 and 50.7 pounds.

Skull: Moderately long, slightly rounded, with a slightly prominent forehead. The furrow between the eyes separates the eyebrows or stop.

Nostrils: Welldeveloped.

Lips: Deep and square in shape.

Jaws/Teeth: Strong with a perfect, regular, complete scissors bite, where the upper teeth closely overlap the lower teeth, forming a square with the jaw.

Eyes: Medium in size. Almondshaped eyes, as well as those with a light color, are not desirable.

Ears: Small, with a suitable length and width, close to the head, and near the eyes. They are beautifully adorned.

Neck: Moderately long, muscular, and elegantly slender.

Body: Strong, not too long or too short. Ribs: Ribs are muscular, slightly arched, and wellmuscled.

Chest: Deep and welldeveloped. Natural, wellrounded ribs.

Limbs (forelimbs, shoulders, upper arms, elbow joints, hocks, pasterns, feet, hindquarters, thighs, stifle, hock joints, and dewclaws):

Forelimbs: Vertically aligned, with sufficient bone mass.

Shoulders: Moderately placed, slightly sloping.

Elbows: Welljoined with the body.

Legs: Strong and supple.

Hindquarters: Naturally relaxed.

Legs: Broad and muscular, welldeveloped.

Knees: Moderately bent. Stiffness is not acceptable.

Feet: Firm, round, with strong, full pads.

Tail: Docking is common, with the tail hanging low, not higher than the tip of the tail. The tail has a good coat, allowing for joyful movement. It is wellbalanced with the rest of the dog's body.

GAIT/Action: The Spitz has a distinctive gait, with the shoulders leading the forelimbs forward in a straight line, and the hindquarters moving freely. The hocks align with the forelimbs below the body. This dog exhibits a unique stride when moving slowly.

Disqualifying Faults: Any deviation from the above points is considered a fault, and any dog that shows明显 abnormality in either body or behavior is also considered a fault.

Pet Doctor's Tip: For more information on dog standards, click to read about the Weight Standards of the American Eskimo Dog.