A formally dressed couple pose for their portrait at the studio of Alfred Hirrlinger in Stutgart, Germany. Also appearing in the portrait is the couple’s family dog.The small long haired white pooch is possibly a young Samoyed or Spitz. Perhaps a visitor to the cabinet card gallery can give a more informed opinion in regard to the dog’s breed. Regardless of the dog’s pedigree, the canine seems to be having a lot more fun than its masters. The couple certainly seem to be quite intense. The husband has a terrific mustache which curls at its ends. He is wearing a pocket watch which can be seen behind his open jacket. The woman is wearing a necklace and collar pin. This photograph was taken after the turn of the century. The reverse of the photograph has a printed telephone number and displays four medals won by the studio between 1897 and 1902.
STATELY COUPLE AND THEIR SAMOYED IN STUTTGART, GERMANY

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I do not believe the dog is large enough to be a Samoyed, but is certainly in the Spitz family.
It appears to be an American Eskimo Dog. History from Wikipedia: Despite its name and appearance, the American Eskimo dog is not from Alaska; the dog’s heritage is traced back to Northern Europe. The breed’s progenitors were German Spitz, but due to anti-German prejudice during the First World War, it was renamed “American Eskimo Dog”. Although modern American Eskimos have been exported as German Spitz Gross (or Mittel, depending on the dog’s height), the breed standards are actually significantly different. In addition to serving as a watchdog and companion, the American Eskimo dog also achieved a high degree of popularity in the 1930s and 1940s United States as a circus performer.
Believe it or not, it’s a Pomeranian. They used to be this size. You can see more photos at my website of this type of Pom http://doctorbarkman.blogspot.com/2012/02/pomeranian-today-and-yesterday.html