News

It has been brought to the attention of the Club that the Kennel Club is making an announcement as to their agreement in principle to the removal of the regulation which demands a German Spitz must be measured before receiving a class award. The intention is to replace the regulation by the statement that the dog may be measured at the discretion of the judge, and that if the judge wishes to measure they must provide their own measures (no definition of type of measure is included). The Club has concerns as to these proposals and has prepared a Ballot Form for issue with normal Judges Ballot form in order to seeks the views of the membership before we repsond formally to the Kennel Club.

In addition the Club has already made it's views known to Dog World - stating -The Announcement appears to infer that the changes are proposed purely on health and welfare grounds. The height of an animal has nothing to do with either of those factors in general animal wellbeing; but in our breed it is the very important differentiation between the Klein and Mittel German Spitz, as the breed standard for both is identical, other than height. The maximum height for Kleins and the minimum height for Mittels differs by only 1 cm. Without compulsory measuring the integrity of the Klein and Mittel Spitz could be seriously compromised, negating the previous work of breeders and judges to stabilize the two sizes. Club members are already expressing their concern and objection to any suggestion that the need for compulsory measurement be removed.

For further information and for non-Club members to give their views please e-mail The Secretary