Last Updated on October, 2024
Are you looking for the ideal Indian dog breed for your household?
An Indian Spitz is the perfect dog to own if you live in a warm, humid climate.
This beautiful breed is an ideal family dog, and is highly adaptable. They are super friendly, playful, easily trainable, and excellent watchdogs.
But there’s a lot more you need to know before you invest in a new furry companion.
I’ll take you through the basic specs of the Indian Spitz, covering everything from the origin, physical characteristics, and grooming to health concerns.
So keep reading to find out all you need to know before buying an Indian Spitz.
Quick Summary
The Indian Spitz is an ideal family dog, highly adaptable, friendly, playful, easily trainable, and an excellent watchdog.
These dogs are originated in the 19th century and gained popularity in India in the 1980s due to their resemblance to foreign breeds and affordability.
They require regular grooming, a nutritious diet, and moderate exercise to have a healthy life span of 10-14 years.
Table of Contents
Complete Profile of an Indian Spitz
Origin
Indian Spitz dogs originated in the 19th century and were introduced to India by the occupying British. This breed gained popularity in India in the 1980s because they resembled foreign dogs while being affordable and easy to get.
Another reason for their popularity was the restrictive import rules imposed by the Indian government. These rules made people turn to indigenous and local breeds, and the Indian Spitz was a top choice for many people.
There are two varieties of Indian Spitzes based on size. Smaller dogs are called lesser Indian Spitz, whereas the larger ones are called greater Indian Spitz.
Other closely related breeds include the German Spitz and the Japanese Spitz.
Appearance
Indian Spitzes are small dogs. An adult Indian Spitz dog will be around 40 cm (15.7 in) in height and weigh about 5-7 kg.
The main characteristic of the Indian Spitz is its fluffy, thick coat.
The coat colors can range from white to dusky brown to black, and they also have a double coat with a dense undercoat.
The Indian Spitz has a wedge-shaped head and pointy, fox-like ears.
Thick fur covers their ears, which means you must pay special attention to the ears during grooming.
Another notable characteristic of the Indian Spitz is that they have such expressive faces. You can almost always guess how your pup is feeling by one look at his face.
The tail of an Indian Spitz curls upwards and is very furry.
This dog breed closely resembles Indian Pomeranian dogs. However, they are entirely different. Indian Spitzes are always bigger than Pomeranians. Also, the Indian Spitz has pointy ears, whereas Pomeranians have rounded ears.
Temperament
Indian Spitz is a popular family dog that develops strong emotional connections with humans.
They are energetic and enthusiastic dogs. They are also very social and enjoy interacting with both people and other pets.
Although they have an ingrained hunting instinct, you rarely see them chasing after other animals.
Indian Spitzes are also alert and vocal, which makes them excellent watchdogs.
A properly trained Indian Spitz will be a great guardian and protector.
A great thing about Indian Spitzes is how good they are with kids.
If you are looking for a family-friendly dog who’ll get along with your kids, an Indian Spitz puppy is the perfect addition to your family.
The most important thing is to socialize your puppy from a young age. This way, you’ll have a friendly, obedient adult dog.
Adaptability
Indian Spitzes are highly adaptable dogs. They will quickly adapt to your lifestyle and are well suited to live in a small space like an apartment. All you need to provide is a daily walk, healthy food, and plenty of affection.
Indian Spitzes are also well adapted to the warmer Indian climate.
Intelligence
Indian Spitz is an intelligent breed and among the easiest dogs to train.
For best results, start training your puppy at an early age. Use lots of positive reinforcement and train them in a distraction-free environment.
Also, mix up the training exercises because the Indian Spitz can get easily bored.
They are fast learners, and you can teach them almost any trick.
Because of their cleverness, Indian Spitzes are trained for dog shows and competitions.
They are also often seen in movies and TV shows because they are highly trainable, social, and adorable.
Health And Life Expectancy
Indian Spitz is generally a healthy dog breed. They will breed once a year, and each litter will have upto 5 puppies.
As a rule of thumb, smaller dogs live longer than larger ones. The average lifespan of an Indian Spitz is 10-14 years. But with proper care, they can live upto 16 years.
A nutritious diet, enough exercise, and proper grooming will ensure that your pup has a healthy life and happily reaches his golden years.
Price
Indian Spitz is one of the cheapest local breeds in India. You can buy one for about 55-100 USD (around 4000 – 8000 INR).
Their affordability makes them a popular breed for new, first-time dog owners.
You will also have to spend less on food and maintenance. So, they are one of the most affordable dogs overall.
Taking Care of an Indian Spitz Dog
Indian Spitz is a low-maintenance, healthy breed. It’s relatively easy to groom, feed and take care of these adorable furry dogs.
Grooming
Since this dog breed is very furry, you must groom them properly.
Shedding is a minor issue for most Indian Spitz owners. To keep your furniture fur-free, you must stick to regular brushing. A weekly brushing session of 15-20 minutes should be sufficient on most days.
If your pup is in the shedding season, you’ll have to brush them more often. Because the Indian Spitz has a double coat, you must use a double-row brush.
It is also a good idea to check the coat regularly for fleas and ticks. Fleas and tick infestations are prevalent during warmer months. Pay special attention to their furry ears as ticks could hide there.
When it comes to bathing, you can bathe your Indian Spitz pup once or twice a month because too much washing can dry out his thick coat. Alternatively, you can use a dry shampoo to clean their thick fur.
Regular nail trimming is also needed. Other grooming requirements include brushing teeth about once a week and wiping the eyes with a damp cloth.
Try to start grooming while your puppy is young. This way, he’ll feel more comfortable with the grooming sessions.
The good news is that they seem to enjoy the grooming sessions. So you won’t struggle too much with nail clipping and brushing. You can also opt to have your pup professionally groomed.
Diet
The Indian Spitz does well with homemade food. Because they are adaptable to the Indian lifestyle, they thrive on home-cooked meals like rice, chicken, and fish.
During early age, you have to feed your pup multiple times a day.
Once your puppy is over his 1st birthday, one meal a day should be sufficient. You can also add raw meat and eggs to your pup’s diet.
If you are too busy to make a home-cooked meal, your Indian Spitz pup will also enjoy high-quality commercial dog food.
You can supplement the main meal with snacks and treats. But remember that overfeeding can cause obesity.
In addition to feeding, ensure your dog always has access to a clean water bowl.
Exercise
Another great thing about Indian Spitz dogs is that they don’t need much exercise. So these dogs are perfect for those with a busy lifestyle.
The overall energy level of your dog depends on factors like age and health. Typically many Indian Spitzes have an average energy level and don’t enjoy extreme physical activities.
However, they need at least one daily walk, and a long walk in a park is enough exercise for an Indian Spitz.
Indian Spitzes are perfectly capable of keeping themselves busy, and they can tire themselves out by playing around. Ensure your pup has enough toys and a sufficient area to play and run around.
Health Concerns
They are not a smelly breed and will not stink unless they have an infection, skin folds, or a bad tooth.
Some health problems common to Indian Spitzes include cryptorchidism, hip dysplasia, and progressive retinal atrophy.
Like most dog breeds, uncontrolled food portions and insufficient exercise can cause obesity.
Because they are a very social breed, they are also prone to separation anxiety. If you plan to leave your puppy alone for an extended period, make sure he has plenty of ways to keep himself busy.
Pros and Cons of Owning an Indian Spitz
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Cons
Other dog breed Infos:
FAQs
Final Thoughts
Indian Spitzes are one of the most popular Indian breeds.
They are friendly and loyal family dogs and quickly adapt to their surroundings. They are also comfortable with small living spaces and a flexible, homemade diet.
These clever, adorable dogs are healthy and low-maintenance compared to other breeds. It’s hard to find fault with the adorable Indian Spitzes. They shed a lot of fur, but so do all furry dogs!
To sum it up, an Indian Spitz is the ideal addition to any family. Whether you live in a single-story house, shared home, or an apartment, you can count on the Indian Spitz to adapt.
You can even take care of these furry pups while working a 9-5 job. Just don’t skip the daily walk and shower them with a lot of love and attention once you get back home.
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