Additonal Breeds Starting
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COUNTRY:
Italy
WEIGHT: Less than
10 pounds
HEIGHT: 11-12 inches
COAT: Long, thick
spitz coat
COLOR: Pure white
or sable (rare)
OTHER NAMES: Florentine
Spitz, Cane de Quirinale
REGISTRY: FCI
GROUP: Northern
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Spitz types were found throughout the ancient world. Specimens from this
group have been found preserved in European peat bogs which anthropologists
trace to 4000 BC. The remains—with curly tails, foxy heads and small erect
ears—have been found, dating back over 5,000
years. These little pets wore decorative ivory bracelets and collars. Engravings
of similar dogs were found in Greece, and these have been determined to
date about 400 BC.
The Volpino
has been known and loved by Italian royalty for centuries, being an especial
favorite of the ladies. Although bearing a strong resemblance to the Pomeranian,
the breed is much older and thus has a different background. The northern
dogs found their way south very early in canine history. The Italian word
for wolf is lupo, and the Keeshond is called both Lupino and Volpino
in Italian, so Volpino may be an old term for wolfdog or wolf spitz. Despite
his long history, the Volpino is unknown outside of Italy and is now quite
rare even in his homeland.
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