Japanese Spitz Owners

[Jumabaar]

anyone know if any japanese spitz do fly ball?

I dont think I have ever seen one doing it. But I do believe that they would be snapped up by any team as a hight dog!! Fast, slightly crazy, spunky, small- yep I think you would have a flyball dog!! They really are a good shape for flyball too- their back is a nice lenght, nice sized mouth etc!!

I believe that there is a german spitz in flyall and if a pug can do it than just about any small dog can!!

[Miss B]

I dont think I have ever seen one doing it. But I do believe that they would be snapped up by any team as a hight dog!! Fast, slightly crazy, spunky, small- yep I think you would have a flyball dog!! They really are a good shape for flyball too- their back is a nice lenght, nice sized mouth etc!!

Excuse me as I know nothing about Flyball What is a height dog?

[kimigirl]

We have a 2 year old JS. From our experience I would highly recommend them. She is very intelligent and not much of a barker (unless someone knocks on the door, then she goes berserk, something we are working on stopping!) learnt all her basic tricks within the first 2 weeks of having her.

I don't find grooming a big deal with her, she is pretty much a 'self cleaner', I brush her for about 10 mins once a week and bath her about every 3 months. She loses a large amount of hair once a year, but the rest of the time hairloss is not too bad, much better since I started grooming her with a furminator.

She loves people and most other dogs, but not too keen on dogs smaller than her, she wants to be boss. We have recently got a new puppy ( a papillon because we couldn't find another js) and she is just starting to get on well with her after 3 months. There was no agression previously, kimi just preferred being in a one dog family I think!

Not sure about flyball though, it has taken us ages to teach her to catch... I think she thInks it's beneath her hates water too, though does love the beach, as long as she doesn't get wet. Loves a wrestle with the OH and a game of tug.

She is my 10 yr old daughters dog and is a great companion for her. Sleeps in her bed, loves to be cuddled and loves to go for a walk with her.

[Gayle.]

What is a height dog?

I believe that in flyball, the hurdles for each team are set at a height suitable for the shortest dog in the team. So flyball teams look for small FAST dogs so they can get a height advantage with their hurdles. Hence the smallest dog on the team is called the height dog, because they are the ones who set the height of the jumps.

I think small smart fast dogs are highly sought after by flybal teams.

[W Sibs]

Thanks everyone for the info and input!

Ohh.. I love the sound of how spunky and fiesty they are

Are they best as single dogs? Because, i do have a little fella at home..

Edited March 2, 2010 by charleswentworth

[W Sibs]

What is a height dog?

I believe that in flyball, the hurdles for each team are set at a height suitable for the shortest dog in the team. So flyball teams look for small FAST dogs so they can get a height advantage with their hurdles. Hence the smallest dog on the team is called the height dog, because they are the ones who set the height of the jumps.

I think small smart fast dogs are highly sought after by flybal teams.

Oh, I remember at the World Games.. there was a small black poodle.. OMG.. he was amazing!

A little pocket rocket!

[Persian Spitz]

I don't have much experience with dogs but my first one is a Japanese Spitz, he's 11 months now.

A good thing is that he's easy to train. The first two weeks he was in puppy pre-school he was the only one who could sit, drop and stay with any consistency. I didn't teach him to stand and hop but he does it anyway. He was very active when he was around the other puppies, not aggressive but he ran around a lot for no reason, probably too excited at seeing other dogs. A couple of dogs tried to bite him but he just ran away. He's a pretty good watchdog, in that he will bark when he hears a noise in the front yard (cars driving up the driveway, someone trying to get into the gate). In terms of feeding, he'll eat anything.

Only negative thing I can say is that he has too much energy. He'd run inside the house and a couple of times he steamrolled over our cat. I'm not too sure about his agility, I'd sometimes put him on a coffee table about 40 cm high and he can't jump off.

[rastus_froggy]

I know that you are only in the consideration stage but just thought I should throw this in anyway (and you are a smart person because you are on DOL and hopefully would never get done by a scammer but still thought I should just throw this warning out there) There was an article in our local paper this week about someone who was buying a JS and it all turned out to be fake. She had seen photos and they had emailed her a copy of the registration papers but it all turned out to be a scam and she had already paid for the dog.

So buyers beware!

[W Sibs]

I know that you are only in the consideration stage but just thought I should throw this in anyway (and you are a smart person because you are on DOL and hopefully would never get done by a scammer but still thought I should just throw this warning out there) There was an article in our local paper this week about someone who was buying a JS and it all turned out to be fake. She had seen photos and they had emailed her a copy of the registration papers but it all turned out to be a scam and she had already paid for the dog.

So buyers beware!

thanks for the heads up!!

If I decide to get a pup and a breeder agrees to sell me one of their pup... I will insist of going to visit the puppy, to view the parents, see papers and all that with my own eyes... a good breeder will allow me that, won't they?

I've learned a lot from DOL

[Bartok]

I am more then likely going to have 3 x femaile Japanese Spitz come into foster care

1 x 4yr old

2 x 5yr old

All from a registerred breeder

[dancinbcs]

I am more then likely going to have 3 x femaile Japanese Spitz come into foster care

1 x 4yr old

2 x 5yr old

All from a registerred breeder

That's sad. Unfortunately there are quite few registered "puppy farmers" with Jap Spitz. One kennel that comes to mind has at least a litter or two every month, compared to the few dedicated show breeders who only breed about 2 or 3 litters a year.

[dancinbcs]

All I know about the breed is that we had 2 in our Obedience Club, both owned by the same couple, and they were EXTREMELY dog aggressive. I don't know if they were from the same litter, all I know is that the owners didn't do much about the aggression (amazing how some people seem to think a smallish dog being DA is all right). I'm afraid that really put me off the breed. I know it's stupid to make a generalization from 2 dogs, but that's how I feel - whenever I see a Japaese Spitz, I give it a wide berth!

That would be a complete lack of socialisation with other breeds as babies. They are a breed that needs to be introduced to dogs other than spitz at a very young age or they can become very fearful of other shaped dogs. They are always more comfortable with other spitz breeds but can get on well with other breeds if they meet them young enough.

Japanese Spitz are the only breed I know of where breeders routinely run several stud males together with no aggression problems at all. They even seem to be able to put a strange male in with their other boys without problems. The girls are sometimes a different matter and some just don't get on but the boys are fine.

They are very territorial and will bark at other dogs when in crates or trolleys at shows, but it is all false bravado. Once they are out of the crate they are not so brave and are happy to say hello to other dogs with no issues.

I always pinch my friends new babies at shows and take them over to sit amongst the Border Collies and the other working breeds at their first few shows. It really helps them accept that those other strange creatures are all dogs, even if they are not spitz looking.

[Jumabaar]

What is a height dog?

I believe that in flyball, the hurdles for each team are set at a height suitable for the shortest dog in the team. So flyball teams look for small FAST dogs so they can get a height advantage with their hurdles. Hence the smallest dog on the team is called the height dog, because they are the ones who set the height of the jumps.

I think small smart fast dogs are highly sought after by flybal teams.

Yes- so many teams dont have a height dog and so may have to have their dogs jump the maximum 14inches!! Jump heights are set 5in below the withers of the shortest dog in the team to a minimum of 7in. A Good height dog is the backbone of any team!!

Idealy you dont want to have dogs jumping more than about 10in so any dog under 15in tall are very popular. I believe with flyball though a consideration should be back lenght ie corgies do not cope so well with jumping and turning in the long term (dont flame me!) whereas the shape of a JS ie lenght of leg to lenght of body lends itself well to flyball!!

[corvus]

Oo, I like Japanese Spitzes. Those I've met have been bold, spunky, busy little things. Smart as a whip, but a bit of a handful at times. A bit like Erik. :D Although Erik at least lies down eventually. I like Shibas as well. But then, I like anything with pointy ears and a curly tail. ;)

[poodlemum]

All I know about the breed is that we had 2 in our Obedience Club, both owned by the same couple, and they were EXTREMELY dog aggressive. I don't know if they were from the same litter, all I know is that the owners didn't do much about the aggression (amazing how some people seem to think a smallish dog being DA is all right). I'm afraid that really put me off the breed. I know it's stupid to make a generalization from 2 dogs, but that's how I feel - whenever I see a Japaese Spitz, I give it a wide berth!

That would be a complete lack of socialisation with other breeds as babies. They are a breed that needs to be introduced to dogs other than spitz at a very young age or they can become very fearful of other shaped dogs. They are always more comfortable with other spitz breeds but can get on well with other breeds if they meet them young enough.

Japanese Spitz are the only breed I know of where breeders routinely run several stud males together with no aggression problems at all. They even seem to be able to put a strange male in with their other boys without problems. The girls are sometimes a different matter and some just don't get on but the boys are fine.

They are very territorial and will bark at other dogs when in crates or trolleys at shows, but it is all false bravado. Once they are out of the crate they are not so brave and are happy to say hello to other dogs with no issues.

I always pinch my friends new babies at shows and take them over to sit amongst the Border Collies and the other working breeds at their first few shows. It really helps them accept that those other strange creatures are all dogs, even if they are not spitz looking.

I thought that might possibly have been the case - the owners were d*ckheads, as well! It's a pity - as it has led me to be wary of any JS I encounter, when I'm sure that many of them are calm, non-aggresive dogs.

[W Sibs]

Oo, I like Japanese Spitzes. :D Those I've met have been bold, spunky, busy little things. Smart as a whip, but a bit of a handful at times. A bit like Erik. Although Erik at least lies down eventually. I like Shibas as well. But then, I like anything with pointy ears and a curly tail.

I'm sold!

The more I find out about this breed, I really want one! I don't mind that they are busy and somewhat of a handful.

I think the bad behaviour in the breed is lack of social skills, no firm leadership (or lack of knowleadge) and no training.

I was going to put up a thread about getting an older and mature dog... just to see what other people thought. But, I think the boyfriend and I have our heart set on getting a puppy. A clean slate, no issues, the challenge of owning and training another puppy, and also Charlie likes puppies (I'm also keeping in my mind if he has his bad day and doesn't want any company... we will deal with that too, the boyfriend and I make a really good team.. both dogs needs will always be met).

[pip1981]

Ooohh, I'm excited for you!

Now we'll all have to wait patiently until you go through with it! We must have puppy pics!

Just to add, I've only met two Jap. Spitz (hmm plural?). The first one was at an off leash park, this dog was friendly and comfortable around other dogs and people, but not overly playful/interested (could have been older). The second one was a young female in a busy street, both she and our girl were on lead, and they interacted perfectly together, even though the owners lead me to believe she hadn't had a lot of socialisation.

Anyway, all the best!

[kimigirl]

Oo, I like Japanese Spitzes. Those I've met have been bold, spunky, busy little things. Smart as a whip, but a bit of a handful at times. A bit like Erik. Although Erik at least lies down eventually. I like Shibas as well. But then, I like anything with pointy ears and a curly tail.

I'm sold!

The more I find out about this breed, I really want one! I don't mind that they are busy and somewhat of a handful.

I think the bad behaviour in the breed is lack of social skills, no firm leadership (or lack of knowleadge) and no training.

I was going to put up a thread about getting an older and mature dog... just to see what other people thought. But, I think the boyfriend and I have our heart set on getting a puppy. A clean slate, no issues, the challenge of owning and training another puppy, and also Charlie likes puppies (I'm also keeping in my mind if he has his bad day and doesn't want any company... we will deal with that too, the boyfriend and I make a really good team.. both dogs needs will always be met).

To be honest I'm a little surprised that a lot of them are known to be a handful, because ours is actually a bit of a slug! She's happy to spend the day lying at my feet whilst I work. Though she loves nothing more than getting out and about for a walk. We were first time dog owners when we got her, so were really lucky that she was so easy to train etc. I came to a rude awakening when we recently got our papillon... she's a maniac!! I had never realised how placid our JS was as a puppy until we got the papillon!

[dancinbcs]

Oo, I like Japanese Spitzes. Those I've met have been bold, spunky, busy little things. Smart as a whip, but a bit of a handful at times. A bit like Erik. Although Erik at least lies down eventually. I like Shibas as well. But then, I like anything with pointy ears and a curly tail. :D

I'm sold! :D

The more I find out about this breed, I really want one! I don't mind that they are busy and somewhat of a handful.

I think the bad behaviour in the breed is lack of social skills, no firm leadership (or lack of knowleadge) and no training.

I was going to put up a thread about getting an older and mature dog... just to see what other people thought. But, I think the boyfriend and I have our heart set on getting a puppy. A clean slate, no issues, the challenge of owning and training another puppy, and also Charlie likes puppies (I'm also keeping in my mind if he has his bad day and doesn't want any company... we will deal with that too, the boyfriend and I make a really good team.. both dogs needs will always be met).

To be honest I'm a little surprised that a lot of them are known to be a handful, because ours is actually a bit of a slug! She's happy to spend the day lying at my feet whilst I work. Though she loves nothing more than getting out and about for a walk. We were first time dog owners when we got her, so were really lucky that she was so easy to train etc. I came to a rude awakening when we recently got our papillon... she's a maniac!! I had never realised how placid our JS was as a puppy until we got the papillon!

Most of the Jap Spitz I have known are pretty easy as babies but tend to become more active as they get older. The exact opposite to my Border Collies. BC babies are up and running as soon as they get on their legs, climbing out of everything including the whelping box, digging holes and chewing everything in sight from a few weeks. :D The Japs in contrast sit in the whelping box and look cute and once they are in a puppy pen it never occurs to them to climb out. Just so easy going compared to BCs.

As adults the BCs learn to chill out and lie around if nothing is going on but the Japs seem to spend more time on their feet just keeping an eye on everything. Unless, of course they are lying on your lap getting a tummy rub ;) when they are very calm.

[kimyata]

Not sure about flyball though, it has taken us ages to teach her to catch... I think she thInks it's beneath her

Had a giggle at this... mine do the same thing chase the ball and then go "well are you gonna come get it and throw it again". Hehehehe