How long does a Japanese Spitz live?

The listed lifespan for a Japanese Spitz is 10–14 years.

How tall is a Japanese Spitz?

The listed height for a Japanese Spitz is 12–15 in.

Is a Japanese Spitz good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Japanese Spitz is 5 out of 5.

When is a Japanese Spitz full grown?

The growth size band for a Japanese Spitz is 8–12 months.

Foundation Stock Service

Japanese Spitz

Japanese Spitz is a small dog in the Foundation Stock Service. Adult weight is 10–25 lb, height is 12–15 in, and the listed lifespan is 10–14 years. AKC describes the temperament as Loyal, playful, smart.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Japanese Spitz dog — Photo: artie yoon · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan10–14 years

Weight10–25 lb

SizeSmall

GroupFoundation Stock Service

Height

12–15 in

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

3 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 12 years is about 1.6 years shorter than the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 17.5 lb is about 1.5 lb heavier than the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is Japan. The coat is described as double, medium. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.6 points below the group average of 3.6 for the Foundation Stock Service. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 3 out of 5. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 5 out of 5.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months).

Frequently asked