Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison

Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is originated from Switzerland but German Spitz (Klein) is originated from Germany. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher may grow 20 cm / 8 inches higher than German Spitz (Klein). Both Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher and German Spitz (Klein) are having almost same weight. Both Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher and German Spitz (Klein) has almost same life span. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher may have more litter size than German Spitz (Klein). Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher requires Low maintenance. But German Spitz (Klein) requires Moderate maintenance

History

The Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is an ancient dog breed and dates back to 1780. It is believed that this dog breed is extinct, but that the German Pinscher of today is family of this dog breed. The dog used to be good on the farm as an all-purpose working dog.

When you look at the history of dogs, there are so many that have come and gone, never to be seen or heard of again. Other animals become extinct because of environmental factors, but with dogs it’s a bit different and most, like the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher, died out simply because it became unfashionable.

Maybe the jobs that this dog was designed to do no longer existed and he died out because he was no longer needed.

german spitz klein - historyAlso referred to as the Miniature Spitz, the German Spitz is believed to have descended from the Nordic Samoyed and Lapphund. Some dog experts say they were developed from the larger European Spitz, and that they were once referred to as Pomeranians.

It is also thought that these dogs were in all likelihood brought over to Germany during the Middle Ages. This gives you an idea as to how ancient the breed is. There are actually 4 different Spitz breeds, divided by their sizes.

The dogs were originally used as herding and guard dogs, but today you could say that this toy breed is essentially a companion dog.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Toy dog
Origin:
Switzerland
Germany
Height Male:
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
23 - 28 cm
9 - 12 inches
Height Female:
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
23 - 28 cm
9 - 12 inches
Weight Male:
11 - 15 kg
24 - 34 pounds
5 - 10 kg
11 - 23 pounds
Weight Female:
11 - 15 kg
24 - 34 pounds
5 - 10 kg
11 - 23 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
1 - 5
Size:
Medium dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Glattharidge
Deutscher Spitz Klein
Colors Available:
Black and tan
black or mixture of these, Fawn, reddish, brown, cream
Coat:
Short and smooth
Long, dense and straight
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

Described as a medium sized dog, the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is an extinct variety of the German Pinscher. Like that dog, the Swiss Shorthaired had a muscular, strong square build.

Possibly he also had his ears and tail docked at that time. It is thought that he stood between 40 – 48cm in height and weighed in the region of 11 to 15kg.

He had the typical looks of the Doberman Pinscher with short smooth hair in black and tan, short erect ears and a tail that was traditionally cropped. He was lean and muscular with brown eyes. They were working dogs in their day and were not considered the best dogs to have for the first time dog owner.

Tempeament

These dogs have always been hardworking, brave and fearless. They make good family pets too and get on well with children. They would have been adaptable too to life in the city or the countryside, so long as he got his exercise.

A well bred Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher was alert and a good guard dog, and one wonders why this dog with its good qualities died out.

german spitz klein puppy - descriptionClassified as a toy breed, the German Spitz Klein looks like a small fox with his thick fur. He stands at between 23 – 28cm in height and he weighs 5 to 10kg.

He has a sharp foxy face with small pointed upright ears and dark, bright eyes.

The double coat of the dog which can be fawn, cream, reddish, brown or black or a mixture of these colors, is straight, vibrant and off-standing to look at. He has a soft woolly undercoat. The tail of the dog curls up over the back.

Temperament:

The German Spitz Klein has got such a bright little face. He is a social, friendly dog, forming a strong bond with his human family. He is a smart dog too and can be easily trained.

Lively and independent, he is bold and adventurous. Even with a small dog like this, he will do well to be trained and socialized as he just becomes a better dog -obedient and relaxed around strange people and dogs.

Because of his size, he adapts well to life in the city or in the countryside. This is also because he doesn’t require a lot of exercise. The litter size for the German Spitz Klein is between 1 and 5 puppies.

Characteristics

The Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is no longer around but he would no doubt have made a good family pet. He would have wanted to protect his human family.

He was a stubborn, bold dog, and maybe socialization and training didn’t exist then, but he would have benefited from it.

He’s the kind of dog that would have adapted well to life in the city or the countryside, but you could never neglect his exercise needs. In the right environment, this Pinscher would have made a loving, loyal pet.

german spitz klein dog - characteristicsThis litle dog is seriously a case of ‘dynamite in a small package’. Bold, daring, brave, spunky, clever, playful and friendly, your confident little German Spitz Klein makes most families the perfect pet and companion.

Give him the love and attention he deserves, especially because he is undemanding and low maintenance, and with good care you’re going to have a most adoring companion for more than a decade.

Health Problems

It is not too sure about the health status of this extinct dog but we can assume that he would have been prone to some of the typical dog illnesses there are.

Hypothyroidismd, bloat, cancer, cataracts, infections and obesity were just some of the diseases this dog would have had to contend with.

Hypothyroidism:

The thyroid glands in the neck produce hormones. These hormones affect the functioning of the body. Hypothyroidism in dogs is usually caused by shrinkage of the thyroid gland or inflammation.The disease occurs more often in Pinscher dogs.

You may notice a dulling or thinning of your dog’s hair, weight gain and reduced activity. Hypothyroid dogs also tend to battle more with ear- and skin infections. Veterinary treatment will become necessary.

Catarats:

It causes a whiteness,cloudiness or opacity on the lens of the eye. It's not painful for a dog but it can cause loss of vision. Surgery can improve vision for the dog.

german spitz klein puppies - health problemsYou’ve got a pretty healthy little dog breed but be that as it may, it doesn’t make him totally immune to some of the common dog diseases there are. With him, you might want to look out for eye disease and epilepsy.

Glaucoma:

Glaucoma occurs when there is pressure in the eye. Your dog will have pain, red eyes, dilated pupils, increased tear production and corneal cloudiness. You want to have him at the vet for this because putting off treatment can lead to blindness.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

This is a condition that can gradually lead to blindness even though the eyes look normal. Difficulty with seeing at night is one symptom. Fortunately the condition is painless and your dog finds ways to cope with the problem.

It is always a good idea when you suspect anything wrong with your pet, to get him to the vet as soon as possible.

Caring The Pet

Diet:

In those days of the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher, maybe commercially manufactured dog foods weren’t available. If the dog were still around today, you would feed him dry kibble for medium sized dogs.

Probably the owners of these dogs fed them from the food they ate. It can be a good idea to feed any dog you have with some homemade food.

This can include things such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This is the kind of simple food that dogs love.

Being a farm dog in his day, he was probably tossed raw meat occasionally and this would have done him the world of good.

General Care:

Although the short, smooth hair of the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is looked upon as low maintenance, the dog would have needed a good brush twice a week just to keep it shiny and healthy.

After a hard day of work on the farm, the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher would have required a nice warm, dry spot to sleep.

Diet:

german spitz klein dogs - caringAs a feisty small-sized dog breed, your foxy little German Spitz Klein needs to get the very best food there is. If you are going to feed him a high-quality commercial dog food, make sure to read the ingredients on the packaging and buy him food according to his size and age. Mix in some home-made food from time to time and always ensure he has constant access to cool, fresh drinking water.

Grooming:

He has a fairly long, thick coat, so a good brush twice a week will be adequate. While you’re brushing him, check him over for fleas and ticks too.

Always check his teeth and brush them a couple of times a week too. Bad teeth can cause a host of problems, not only with the teeth, but other parts of the body too.

Exercise:

He is an active, jaunty little dog that loves all kinds of games. Being a small breed, he isn’t going to be the kind of dog that you need to include in your jogging or cycling trips, but he is no couch potato, and he will love to go on a walk with you, and it also does him good to get out and about for a change of scenery.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  3. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Sakhalin Husky - Breed Comparison
  4. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  5. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  6. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  7. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Portuguese Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  9. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Puli - Breed Comparison
  10. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Griffon Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  11. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Borador - Breed Comparison
  12. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs German Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  13. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Canadian Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  14. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs McNab - Breed Comparison
  15. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Porcelaine - Breed Comparison
  16. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Finnish Lapphund - Breed Comparison
  17. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Berger Blanc Suisse - Breed Comparison
  18. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Griffon Nivernais - Breed Comparison
  19. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Hokkaido - Breed Comparison
  20. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Petit Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  21. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Pumi - Breed Comparison
  22. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  23. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Griffon Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  24. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  25. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  26. Pomeranian vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  27. Maltese vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  28. Pug vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  29. Maltipoo vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  30. Papillon vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  31. Japanese Chin vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  32. Miniature English Bulldog vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  33. Italian Greyhound vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  34. Jug vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  35. Miniature Pinscher vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  36. German Spitz (Klein) vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  37. German Spitz (Klein) vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  38. German Spitz (Klein) vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  39. German Spitz (Klein) vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  40. German Spitz (Klein) vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  41. German Spitz (Klein) vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. German Spitz (Klein) vs Dorgi - Breed Comparison
  43. German Spitz (Klein) vs Belgian Griffon - Breed Comparison
  44. German Spitz (Klein) vs Carlin Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  45. German Spitz (Klein) vs Dorkie - Breed Comparison
  46. German Spitz (Klein) vs Doxiepoo - Breed Comparison
  47. German Spitz (Klein) vs Bospin - Breed Comparison
  48. German Spitz (Klein) vs Bantam Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  49. German Spitz (Klein) vs Damchi - Breed Comparison
  50. German Spitz (Klein) vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds