German spitz, also called the great spitz, is an old breed of dog. Spitzlike fossils have been found that date from 2000 B.C. The breed is divided into two types. The kleinspitz stands 9 to 11 inches (23 to 28 centimeters) high, and the mittelspitz is 111/2 to 14 inches (29 to 35 centimeters) high. Both types are popular as house dogs and make good guard dogs. The German spitz has a foxlike head, small dark eyes, and pointed ears. It has a thick coarse coat. The tail is bushy and curls over the dog’s back. The color of the coat can be black, brown, gray with black shading, or white.
