The Japanese Spitz, as a companion dog, is identified and ideally described through the following distinctive characteristics :

General
Forebody kept high, neck of moderate length firmly supporting a relatively small head held in high position.
Long, pure white coat, in harmony with the body, which adds beauty and elegance, and　gives a look of neatness.
Movement with quick and light gait lending the long-haired dog distinctive beauty. This　particular kind of movement and the beautiful coat depict together a particularly graceful　figure.
Temperament mild but wary, also clever, bright and faithful.

Coat
Long outer hair of main coat, frill, apron and breeches straight and slightly stiff, and supported　by soft, dense and short undercoat. Outer hair in harmony with feathering and body as to　create a beautiful body figure.
Shorter and smooth coat on front of fore- and hindlegs and below hocks. Abounding feathering on back of forearms between carpal pad and elbow.

Hair pure white, and lustrous hair much desirable, coloured, coiled or
wavy coat not desirable. Just fine waving on tail permissible.

Head
Skull slightly rounded and in harmony with the size of the body. Excessively round skull not desirable. Muzzle wedge shaped like that of a fox, length and thickness of the muzzle in proportion with the size of the head.
Lips black, firm and tightly closed, not hanging down. Stop gently defined, forehead above stop short haired. Hair on face short and smooth.
Teeth white, strong, placed in correct position. Jaws closing in a regular scissor bite.

Ears
In proportion to the size of the head, standing mighty erect on the head. Too wide apart, too close together, or hanging forward ears are not desirable.

Eves
Gingko-nut shaped or almond-nut shaped. Eye-rims black, iris dark coloured.
Round shaped eyes spoil dog's elegance. Prominent eyes are not acceptable for the spitz.

Nose
Round shaped, glossy black. Too large or squarish nose not desirable.
Nose line straight. Bent nose line not acceptable.

Back
Straight and short, slightly sloping from withers towards the tail.

Loins
Firm, well developed, and powerful.
Not higher than forebody

Chest
Properly broad and deep, ribs well sprung.

Belly (abdomen)
Well drawn up and tapered from the brisket.
Sexual organ normal and sound.

Forelegs
Straight, relatively slender, but strong. Elbows well tight, pasterns slightly sloping.
Both forelegs parallel to each other viewed from front. Feet well cushioned and cat like.
Pads firm and thick, preferably black in colour.
Forelegs neither too wide nor narrow viewed from front.

Hindlegs
Thighs muscular, stifles and hocks bent. Metatarsi vertical viewed from side, both hindlegs parallel to each other viewed from rear. Feet and pads same as seen for forelegs.
Hindlegs neither too wide nor narrow viewed from rear.

Tail
Of moderate length, set high on the ridge of the back, curled over and aligned with the center line of the back. Profusely feathered with beautiful hair plume.
Tail tightly curled on back not desirable.

Height (at withers)
Preferably 33-38 cm for dogs and 30-35 cm for bitches.

Length (between point of shoulder and point of hip-bone/ischial bone)
Nearly "square-outline", viewed from side, recommended.
Ideal ratio of height to length are 10 : 10.5 for dogs and 10 : 11 for bitches

Weight
Fine condition corresponds to weight figures (in Kg) obtained from height (in cm) × 0.20-0.23 for both dogs and bitches.

Reference
Any faults refer to the Judge standard of NSC