What is Spitz (dog)?
[[File:Mittelspitz_-_Rüde_04.jpg|thumb|German Spitz]] '''Spitz'''-type [[breed]]s of [[dog]] have a long thick [[coat (dog)|coat]] of [[fur]] that is often [[white]], and pointed [[ear]]s and [[nose]]s. Many times, the [[tail]] is over the dog's back. ==Origins== No one knows where Spitz-type dogs came from, though most seen today live in the [[Arctic]]. There is no [[archaeology|archaeological]] signs showing stages between the [[wolf]] and Spitz-type dogs, but Spitz-like [[skeleton]]s have been found up to 5,000 [[year]]s old. Though it is not certain for how long wolves have [[breed|bred]] with Spitz-type dogs, it is known that [[human]]s have bred Spitz types with wolves in more recent times to get wolf-like breeds such as the [[Alaskan Malamute]]. About 3000 years ago, dogs began to [[migrate]] from the Arctic into [[temperate climate|temperate]] [[Europe]], [[North America]], [[Asia]], and sometimes [[Africa]]. Skeletons from around 2,000 years ago in [[Switzerland]] show that Spitz-type dogs have lived in central Europe for thousands of years. These dogs are the [[ancestor]]s of the European Spitz-types, such as the [[German Spitz]] and [[Schipperke]]. Many Spitz-types also migrated into [[Korea]] and [[China]]. Later, many of these dogs were moved by humans to [[Japan]], most likely from Korea. These Asian Spitz types are the ancestors of today's breeds such as the [[Chow Chow]] and the [[Akita Inu]]. ==Uses== [[File:Spitz Alemão Anão - Canil Love Blue REFON 10.jpg|thumb|left|Pomeranian Spitz]] Through special breeding, Spitz types have [[evolution|evolved]] to help humans in three ways: [[hunting dog|hunting]], [[herding dog|herding]], and [[sled dog|pulling sled]]s. Smaller breeds such as the [[Finnish Spitz]] and the [[Lundehund]] were used in [[Scandinavia]] to hunt [[bird]]s and smaller [[mammal]]s. Larger breeds such as the [[Karelian Bear Dog]] and the [[Norwegian Elkhound]] were used for hunting large animals like [[moose]] and [[elk]]. The largest of all the Spitz types, notably the [[Canadia