Japanese Spitz

Fun-loving, energetic, and outgoing, the Japanese Spitz is a happy dog. They are small to medium in size and always have a pure-white, snowy coat with a feathery tail that curves over their backs and pointed ears. They are eager to please and eager to learn, always game for a training session. Their fox-like faces are alert – often with a twinkle in their eyes.

Japanese Spitz Breed Overview

The Japanese Spitz is loving and affectionate with those they know and more standoffish with those they don’t. They are natural clowns who love to show off their clever personalities. They are likely descended from white German Spitz that were brought to Japan in the 1920s, but the breed’s full history is unknown because records were destroyed in World War II. Easygoing for the most part, they get along with most animals and children, especially if socialized early and often.

Japanese Spitz Facts

• Likely descended from white German Spitz dogs, but official records were destroyed in World War II
• They enjoy being with their owners
• They are highly adaptable and can live in smaller spaces  
• They are a relatively rare dog in the United States  
• Very affectionate, easygoing dogs that make good family dogs
• Sheds a medium amount

How to Care for Your Japanese Spitz

Here’s what you need to know about caring for a Japanese Spitz dog, including feeding and nutrition, health and wellness, grooming, hygiene, and living with the breed.

Nutrition & Feeding

What to Feed a Japanese Spitz

The Japanese Spitz is a small-to-medium dog breed that needs adequate food with high-quality protein and a healthy balance of carbs and fats, such as in Purina Pro Plan Small Breed Chicken & Rice food or Purina ONE +Plus Small Breed food. They could have sensitive stomachs, which might require a switch to a food made specifically for them, like Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Small Breed Salmon & Rice Dry Dog Food. It has natural prebiotic fiber that can help with good intestinal bacteria and overall digestive health.

How Much to Feed a Japanese Spitz

Japanese Spitzes can weigh between 10 and 25 pounds. Talk to your vet or consult your dog’s food label to find out how much to feed them. You can also use a tool like the Purina Feeding Calculator to help you get an exact measurement by entering your dog’s age, activity level, weight, and more information. Feed them over two scheduled feedings per day to help maintain a healthy weight.

Treats & Supplements

Your dog can benefit from low-calorie treats used in conjunction with positive reinforcement training, but you should monitor the dog’s caloric intake, especially if they are on the smaller side. Treats should not exceed 10% of the dog’s daily calories. They might benefit from supplements like joint supplements and omega-3 fatty acids – something you can discuss with your vet.

Health & Wellness

Veterinary Care

Pet owners should schedule recurrent vet checkups for their dogs to discuss vaccine schedules, parasite prevention, and more. Japanese Spitz dogs might have a few genetic conditions. Luxating patellas, or a kneecap slippage, muscular dystrophy, a degenerative disease, and Factor VII deficiency, a blood disorder, are all possible with Japanese Spitz dogs. They are also prone to dental disease. These are conditions you can discuss with your vet.

Japanese Spitz Enrichment & Exercise Needs

Highly adaptable, the Japanese Spitz dog likes just about anything. They love farms and lots of land on which to run, but they can do okay in an apartment, too. They need regular exercise and lots of mental stimulation, like games, trick training, and puzzles, to keep them happy and well-behaved. They’ll do anything you ask of them with a smile on their face – they crave your attention. Once they’ve been exercised properly, they are very happy to be inside and relax as a companion dog.

Understanding Your Japanese Spitz’s Behavior

These smart dogs are driven by companionship and want to be with their owners every chance possible. They can suffer from separation anxiety if they are understimulated and left alone for long periods during the day. Barking can be a problem, especially when they are excited or trying to alert owners about something.

What to Expect as Your Japanese Spitz Ages

A healthy Japanese Spitz can live between 10 and 14 years. As they age, it’s important to watch them for aging conditions and diseases like patellar luxation and dental disease, to which they are prone. Keep them at a healthy weight to relieve pressure on their joints, and discuss supplements or switching to specific senior dog food with your vet. Some dog breeds become more independent as they age, but the Japanese Spitz will want to be a good companion until the very end – something to consider with your lifestyle.

Grooming & Hygiene

Skin & Coat Health

Known for their feathered, pure white coat, the Japanese Spitz isn’t as high-maintenance as you might expect. They need brushing to remove loose or dead hairs from their topcoat. They will shed more heavily twice a year. You can bathe them as needed and use a whitening shampoo to keep their coats pristine, although they do a fairly good job of shaking off dried dirt. Bathing them too often can irritate their skin.

Ear, Paw & Dental Care

Pricked ears somewhat protect this breed from ear infections, but they can still occur, so check their ears regularly and clean them with vet-approved wipes. Check their paws for scrapes and cuts, and be sure to trim their nails regularly to prevent cracking and splitting. Dental care is important with this breed, so set up a predictable dental routine for them to help prevent tartar buildup and gum disease. You can also use dental chews to assist with tartar removal. Because they are pure white, Japanese Spitz dogs are prone to tear staining. Wipe their faces with dog-safe wipes regularly to prevent staining.

Anal Gland Care

Some Japanese Spitz dogs might have a hard time expressing their anal glands and might need professional help with an abscess or blockage. Call your vet if you’re suspicious of an abscess and if your dog is scooting, emitting a foul odor, or licking excessively.

Living With a Japanese Spitz

Living Space

Their small size means that Japanese Spitz dogs can live just about anywhere. They can bark a lot to alert – something to consider if you live in an urban environment or in an environment where they might have unrestricted access to a window. So long as they have access to the outdoors and get plenty of exercise and games to play, they’re happy dogs. 

Socialization

Unlike some Spitz dogs that can be more solitary, Japanese Spitz thrive on human interaction. They want to be involved in family life and go and do whatever their family is doing. Early and frequent socialization can help them get adjusted to unfamiliar places and people. They are friendly dogs that are eager to please, and are great with children and other pets, including cats, if trained and socialized properly.

Climate Considerations

Many smaller breeds don’t do well in colder temperatures, but the Japanese Spitz’s double coat provides good protection, although they shouldn’t be left out in excessive cold temperatures. Their white coat does help regulate their body temperature in warmer temperatures, reflecting heat rather than absorbing it. However, they can overheat in extreme heat and should be monitored. Exercise them in the coolest parts of the day, make sure that they are offered plenty of shade and water, and don’t keep them outside for too long in warmer climates. They do okay with moderate exercise, so you can even bring the mental stimulation and exercise indoors in hot temperatures.

Potential Challenges

Generally eager to please and easygoing, the Japanese Spitz is a well-rounded family dog. They can have challenges, though, such as excessive barking if they are suffering from separation anxiety. These dogs love to be around their families and go where they are, so leaving them for long periods of time could lead to destructive behavior. Socialize them frequently and make sure they are mentally and physically satisfied regularly to get them to relax. They can be barkers, especially when they want to tell their families about something or someone. Keep their access to windows and doors restricted, and train them properly not to react. At the end of the day, Japanese Spitz dogs are highly trainable, happy dogs that do well with families that can incorporate them into daily life.

Explore All Dog Breeds or find a Japanese Spitz to adopt with our partner, Petfinder!