Spitz-type dogs(the correct German plural is Spitze, though spitzes is commonly used in English) are a type of dog characterized by long, thick, and often white fur, and pointed ears and muzzles. The tail is usually curled over the dog's back. The exact origins of spitz-type dogs are not known, though most of the spitz-types seen today originate from the Arctic or East Asian regions. The type was described as Canis pomeranus by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revision of Systema naturae in 1788.