ORIGIN : Japan.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 1987.

UTILIZATION : Companion dog.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 5 Spitz and primitive type. Section 5 Asian Spitz and related breeds. Without working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : The origin of the Japanese Spitz is said to be the large-sized white German Spitz brought to Japan around 1920 via the continent of Siberia and northeast part of China. Around the year 1921 the breed was first exhibited at a dog show in Tokyo.

Subsequently, in 1925, two pairs of white Spitz were imported from Canada, and until around 1936, imports came from Canada, the U.S., Australia and China. Eventually their offspring were crossbred to produce a better breed. After the 2nd World War, the unified breed standard was established by the Japan Kennel Club in 1948 to be valid to the present.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Covered with profuse pure white coat, with pointed muzzle, triangular pricked ears, and feathering tail over back. The constitution tough and the whole well balanced, its harmonious beauty causing spirit and dignity peculiar to this breed, and expressing elegance.

IMPORTANT PROPORTION : The ratio of height at withers to length of body is 10 : 11.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Intelligent, cheerful, keen in sense. Noisy not permitted.

HEAD : Size in balance to body, moderately broad and rounded.

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Forehead moderately developed. Rear part of skull broadest.

Stop : Defined.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Small, round and black.

Muzzle : Pointed, the tip slightly round, and well balanced. Lips tight and preferably black.

Jaws/Teeth : Teeth white and strong with scissor bite.

Eyes : Moderately large, almond-shaped, set slightly oblique, dark in colour. Black eyerims.

Ears : Set on high, small, triangular, pricked, facing forward, and not too far apart.

NECK : Moderately long, muscles well developed.

BODY :

Withers : High.

Back : Straight and short.

Loins : Broad.

Chest : Wide and deep, ribs well sprung.

Belly : Well tucked up.

TAIL : Set on high, moderately long, carried over back.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS : Shoulders well sloping, forearms straight, elbows tight.

HINDQUARTERS : Muscular, stifle and hock moderately bent.

FEET : Cat-feet. Pads thick, and desirably black as well as the nails.

GAIT/MOVEMENT : Quick and active.

COAT

HAIR : Outer coat straight and stand-off. Undercoat short, soft and dense. The foreface, ears, front of forearms and part below hocks are short haired, and the rest covered with abundant long coat, especially from neck to shoulders and forechest covered with beautiful frill, and the tail also has long profuse feathering.

COLOUR : Pure white.

SIZE :

Height at withers : Dogs 30-38 cm.

Bitches slightly smaller than dogs.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

· Overshot or undershot mouth.

· Strongly curled tail.

· Shyness; noisiness.

ELIMINATING FAULTS :

· Drop ears.

· Tail not carried on back.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.