Japanese Spitz puppies

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Japanese Spitz puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Patellar luxation, which a vet can test for on an orthopaedic exam
• Muscular dystrophy, a rare inherited musculoskeletal disorder in the breed
• Factor VII deficiency, an inherited clotting disorder detectable by DNA test
• Dental calculus and gingivitis from an early age, kept down by regular tooth brushing

From Japanese Spitz breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/japanese-spitz/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Japanese Spitz puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Japanese Spitz.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 4.5 to 11.3 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other small breeds

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