ORIGIN: Japan
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD: 1987
UTILIZATION: Companion dog

FCI’S CLASSIFICATION:
Group 5: Spitz and primitive types, Section 5: Asian Spitz and related breeds.

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 cross bred 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, and its harmonious beauty causing spirit and dignity peculiar to this breed, and expressing elegance.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
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 harmony with body and moderately broad and rounded.

CRANIAL REGION

SKULL: Rear part of skull broadest.
STOP: Defined.

FACIAL REGION

The forehead moderately developed.
NOSE: Small, round and black.
MUZZLE: Pointed, the tip slightly round, and well balanced. Lips tight and preferably black.
TEETH: White and strong with scissors bite.
EYES: Moderately large, almond-shaped, set slightly oblique, dark in colour. Black eye-rims.
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 drawn 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: Quick and active

COAT

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

COLOUR:
Pure white.

SIZE:
Height at withers: Dog 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.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
Drop ears; tail not carried on back.

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