Other names: Silky-Haired Spitz, Silky Spitz
The Silky Spitz was a result of crossing White Pomeranians with Maltese. [1]
Robert Leighton wrote a similar story about the Silk Spitz in 1907. He is a not very common German dwarf breed, in general appearance something between a Maltese and a Pomeranian. As its name suggests, it is actually a Pomeranian, identical in all respects to the Pomeranian except that its paws are finer and longer, and that its coat is not fluffy, but of soft, silky curls of about 15 cm length consists . The hair, which is always white, is shaved from the muzzle to the eyes, although a mustache is occasionally left, as in the Poodle. The legs, from the feet to the knees, are also shaved and the hair on the ears is shaved short. But the less it needs trimming, the better. The nose must be black and the eyes dark. The average weight is 5 pounds (about 2.26 kg). The example in the photo is Pussl-Erdmannsheim, owned by Fran Ilgner, from Bad Soden. At an exhibition in Frankfurt, he won first prize in his class. [2]
Ludwig Beckmann 1895 about the Seidenspitz
Breed sign (official): The Seidenspitz was probably created by crossing the Pomeranian with the Maltese and differs from the former only in its magnificent, long, fine, silky coat.
However, as with all other tips, the hair must stand out as straight and loosely as possible, not appear wavy, curled or shaggy. Color white with black nose and black eyes. In more recent times, single-colored black silk lace has also appeared, which, if it otherwise corresponds to the breed characteristics, cannot be rejected. Apart from the long, silky coat, all points, including size and weight, are the same as the Pomeranian, but the Pomeranian has narrower, finer paws (rabbit's feet). With regard to hair, the paws, muzzle and ears usually have to be trimmed to reproduce the outer appearance of the real Spitz as faithfully as possible. However, the less these artificial adjustments are necessary, the greater the value of the silk lace.
These beautiful little dogs, like the Pomeranian, are a special German breed and have only recently become more widely known. The former main breeder of this breed, Dr. I am indebted to Richard Fischer, now living in Bromberg, for the following information regarding this silk lace, which he has bred and refined for 15 years:
Regarding the origin of the silk lace, there is a certain obscurity, but it may very well be that perhaps small, particularly delicately built laces were crossed with Maltese horses and are the progenitors of our present-day silk lace. In any case, the silk lace is present as a constant Although I have met individual Seidenspitz in France, as well as in Russia earlier - I have also been informed of the occurrence of the same in America from a reliable source, but on closer examination it turns out almost everywhere that the Seidenspitz is associated with German families immigrated or imported there in some other way.- The fact is, by the way, that the Seidenspitz had become such a rare phenomenon in Germany before 1881 that it was declared extinct by many and, for example, in Berlin only by It was not until my wife regularly sent her beautiful Seindenspitz to the larger exhibitions that the attention of the public and breeders turned to this breed again. However, raising these puppies is troublesome and not very rewarding as they breed slowly and are very delicate in their first few lifetimes. On average, a female Silky Spitz gives birth to at most four pups in a year, even if she is allowed to mate at every rutting season. The special characteristics of the Seidenspitz appear earlier in the young. The ears soon erect, later the nose turns black and the eyes dark or black-brown. The former initially appears pink and only gradually becomes darker black, the eyes are blue at first but soon turn dark. The blackening of the eyelids, lips and palate lasts longer. Sometimes the latter parts do not take on the black coloration until the second year. Likewise, the hair of the silk lace does not reach its full length and beauty until the second year.
The character of the silk lace first shows: great attachment to its master or mistress, and a very conspicuous alertness. An inconvenience occurs with individual specimens through their frequent, cheerful barking.
The most exquisite silk spitz that probably ever saw the light of day was Blitz I.; he has won numerous prizes, cups and medals at the larger exhibitions and left a famous offspring. His skeleton is owned by the Royal Thierarzneischule zu Berlin.
So far Dr. fisherman. I would just like to add that in our modern silk lace a complete fusion of the two parent forms (Spitz and Maltese) does not yet appear in all specimens. <...>
After the resignation of Mr. and Mrs. As far as I know, only Mr. Rothals-Biebesheim and Mr. Ritoff-Munich were the fishermen involved in the breeding of the Seidenspitze. [3]
Seidenspitz Oil painting from 1880 from a private collection (Essex)
with the following inscription on the back:
Silk Point.
Lightning" by Bosco a. i.e. Mush
Owner: Mrs. Dr. fisherman
Breeder: M. Wachsmuth
Prize Berlin 1880
1. Prize Magdeburg
1. Price Elberfeld
1. Price Harlem
Gallery with ladies dogs
This wood engraving "Women's Dogs" after Emil Ilgner, a judge at German, Russian, Austrian, Swedish, English, Danish, Belgian and Dutch dog shows, adopts the classic classification of dwarf dog breeds customary at shows. The Seidenspitz is also included here.
From one of the prospectuses from the great pedigree dog breeder and seller Arthur Seyfarth (read more here) he describes 1905 the Seidenspitz with the following words:
This species is endowed with long, rich hair, a drapey face, a rich mane, a beautiful flagged curling tail, and is a distinguished parlor dog for its elegance. [4]
Dr. Fitzinger wrote the following about this dog breed in 1876:
The silk pointed
(Canis domesticus, pomeranus sericeus)
Even a superficial glance is enough to recognize a mongrel form in this breed, which as the result of crossing the Spitz (Canis domesticus, pomeranus audax) with the small silky dog (Canis extrarius, hispanicus) therefore as a simple hybrid of pure crossing to look at.
Like the former form (Spitz), it is also one of the smallest breeds in the domestic dog group, as it is completely identical in size.
Even in her physical forms, she shows very little difference; for only with a very careful comparison one notices that the structure as a whole is more delicate, the snout is hardly noticeably longer and blunter, the forehead is less flat, the ears are relatively longer and also broader, and the hip bones are stronger, which is why they also stand out more.
The main feature that distinguishes this breed from the Spitz is the longer, finer and softer, almost silky hair.
The coloring is usually white or black, more rarely Isabella yellow or brown. White variations with yellow-brown or black spots are extremely rare. [6]
Artist and Professor Carl Steffeck (1818-1890)
He was a German painter and graphic artist who traveled through Europe to study.
For several years he was a student in the studio of Franz Krüger, with Carl Begas in Paris and with the history painter Paul Delaroche in Italy. In 1842 he returned to Berlin and deepened his work, especially portraits, depictions of horses and dogs.
A private student studio (teacher of Max Liebermann) was opened in 1853.
In 1859 Carl Steffeck became a professor at the Prussian Academy of Arts and a year later became chairman of the Berlin Artists' Association. He later became director of the art academy in Königsberg (1880). [7]
The portrait of him from around 1880 "Sitting Spitz" which is very similar to a silk Spitz:
The Seidenspitz only in Germany?
It is not known when the breeding of the Silky Spitz began. The written, German-language documents go back to the 1850s and also come exclusively from Germany.
Sources:
[1] Encyclopedia of Purebred Dogs. Vol. 1, Hans Räber, Franckh-Kosmos, 2014, p. 524
[2] The new book of the dog; a comprehensive natural history of British dogs and their foreign relatives, with chapters on law, breeding, kennel management, and veterinary treatment, 1907, author: Leighton, Robert, 1859-1934
[3]"History and description of the breeds of the dog" - Ludwig Beckmann (1895)
[4] Album of noble breed dogs. German edition, self-published by Arthur Seyfarth in 1905
[5] Useful and luxury dogs", Emil Ilgner, 1902
[6] "The Dog and Its Races", Dr. Leopold Joseph Franz Johann Fitzinger, Tübingen 1876
[7] Academy of Arts: Carl Steffeck Archive, Association of Berlin Artists