Training a Japanese Spitz: what works and what to expect
How the Japanese Spitz learns, common training challenges and what motivates it.
The Japanese Spitz is one of the more trainable spitz breeds. It is eager to please its own people and responds quickly to praise, play and food rewards. Keep sessions light and varied. Five minutes before breakfast, a few recalls on a walk and a new trick in the evening beat a single long lesson.
The main goals are calm alone time and managing alert barking. Start alone-time practice early with absences of a few minutes, building up gradually and pairing departures with a chew or puzzle. Socialize puppies with plenty of friendly strangers between 8 and 16 weeks so that the breed's natural reserve stays polite rather than suspicious.
Japanese Spitz training in numbers
Easy to train
Barking
5 means very vocal
Copes with alone time
Open with strangers
Good with other dogs
Good with children