How many spitz live and what does it depend on?

The breed of dogs that has recently enjoyed great popularity is the spitz. The name of the breed most often causes an association with a small sofa dog that looks like a cute bear or a young fox. There are several varieties of dogs of this breed, but they all share a good appearance, friendliness and dedication to the owner. Any owner of such a charming creature wants his favorite to please him with his presence longer.

Spitz dogs, regardless of their variety and color, can always be recognized by the correct, proportional body structure. The animal's shape resembles a square. Spitz fur is thick and beautiful with a dense undercoat. But these are general characteristics, and each species has its own nuances and longevity. It is believed that the smaller the size of the dog, the longer it will live. It is not always so.

The most popular varieties of the breed are the following.

• Keeshond (Wolfspitz) - a rather large dog, especially boys. At the withers it can grow up to 55 cm. With its appearance and color it resembles a wolf. Lives an average of 14 years.

• Grosspitz - having a slightly smaller size, up to 50 cm, has a good-natured character. Very clever and courageous dog, will become a reliable protector in the house. In favorable conditions, able to please the owners for about 15 years.

• Mittenspitz - this spitz has 40 cm at the withers, girls - 30 cm. It copes well with both the role of a guard and a companion for games. Can live up to 16 years.

• Kleinspitz - A miniature dog with a clear voice will protect housing from unwanted guests and will become a true friend to all family members. Average life expectancy ranges from 12 to 16 years.

• Pomeranian spitz - The growth of this decorative dog is approaching 20 cm. This clever and perky animal will become not only an ornament of your home for the next 14-16 years, but also a full-fledged member of the family.

• White japanese spitz - This type of dog is medium in size and has only white coat color. The animal is cheerful and cheerful, loves to play with children. This spitz is able to live to 16 years.

• Finnish Spitz - large dog weighing more than 10 kg. It is independent, but very loyal to the owner. It can perform the functions of a hunting dog. Life expectancy is about 14 years.

• American Eskimo Spitz - here the name speaks for itself. The animal quickly learns new skills, true to one owner. Can live from 15 years and more.

• Volpino (Italian spitz) - individuals of this breed of rather small size -25-30 cm at the withers. The long coat is mostly light shades. They have an unstable temperament, live 12-13 years.

• Eurasian Spitz - relatively new breed. The dog is calm and restrained, good guard. Life expectancy is a maximum of 13 years.

Spitz dogs live next to a man for a very long time. For some, it is a loyal friend and companion for walking, but for someone a reliable guard and protector. The average life expectancy of these dogs is 13 years, and in exceptional cases can live to 20 years. The smallest representatives of the breed are dwarf spitz; they do not live longer than 8 years.

A number of reasons affect a dog’s life spanFirst of all, it is the disease inherent in the spitz. They may develop as a result of improper care and maintenance of the animal. These diseases include:

• inflammation of the intestine or pancreas;
• neoplasms of both internal and external organs;
• disruption of the liver, heart;
• joint diseases;
• injuries (fractures, dislocations).

The spitz bone system is a very fragile design. Therefore, if a sufficient amount of calcium and other vitamins, minerals and trace elements do not enter the body of your pet, injuries cannot be avoided. The importance of physical exertion is also difficult to overestimate. Lack of movement leads to brittleness and deformation of bones and joints. And this fact does not exactly contribute to an increase in the length of life.

Your dog’s food must be balanced and appropriate for its age and weight. Cheap or improperly chosen dry food can cause obesity. Excess weight exerts stress on the bones and the heart and adversely affects the lifespan. A lack of vitamins will lead to depletion of the animal and disruption of the internal organs.

Stress also have an important role on the health of Spitz. Dogs are too impressionable and too strong negative emotions can lead to a heart attack. The lack of vaccinations in a puppy makes him vulnerable to diseases such as enteritis or plague. And they can be fatal.

The Spitz is a sweet, trusting creature who, regardless of size and age, needs affection, care and communication. In order for a furry pet to live a long and happy life, you need to strengthen its immunity from puppyhood. This breed of dogs is very susceptible to stress, so they should be protected in every possible way from negative emotions.

For a term and quality of life, the dog's nutrition plays the main role. Ready food should be only premium, with a predominance of meat in it. If food for spitz is cooked at home, then its basis should also be low-fat meat.

At a young age, the dog is held an annual scheduled examination and the necessary vaccination in the veterinary clinic. Upon reaching the age of 7, it is necessary to check the animal's health condition 2 times a year. It helps to identify the disease at an early stage and start timely treatment. Most of them are indoor dogs, therefore it is important to provide proper care for your pet's hair. These procedures have a positive effect not only on its appearance, but also beneficial to health.

• Bathing. It is necessary to do this, but not very often - 1 time in 2 months, and in winter it is generally worth refusing water procedures. Use only special zoo shampoo and dry hair well.
• Combing. During the molting period, this should be done every day, the rest of the time - twice a week.
• A haircut. You can carry out this action 1 time in 3 months with a specialist and preferably in the warm season.

The lifespan of a spitz is affected by its lifestyle. He must be active. The owner needs to devote a maximum of time to his pet, playing outdoor games with him. Communication, positive emotions, the sun and nature walks will give a lot of positives to both the dog and its owner.

All about the dog breed Pomeranian Spitz, see the following video.