Finnish Spitz vs Central Asian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Finnish Spitz vs Central Asian Shepherd - Breed ComparisonCentral Asian Shepherd is originated from Russia but Finnish Spitz is originated from Finland. Central Asian Shepherd may grow 20 cm / 8 inches higher than Finnish Spitz. Central Asian Shepherd may weigh 35 kg / 78 pounds more than Finnish Spitz. Central Asian Shepherd may live 4 years more than Finnish Spitz. Central Asian Shepherd may have more litter size than Finnish Spitz. Both Central Asian Shepherd and Finnish Spitz requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Sporting dog
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Russia
Finland
Height Male:
62 - 70 cm
24 - 28 inches
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
Height Female:
62 - 70 cm
24 - 28 inches
39 - 45 cm
15 - 18 inches
Weight Male:
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
12 - 15 kg
26 - 34 pounds
Weight Female:
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
10 - 13 kg
22 - 29 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
9 - 11 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
3 - 6
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Central Asian Ovtcharka
Finnish Hunting Dog Finnish Spets Finsk Spets Loulou Finois Suomalainen pystykorva Suomenpystykorva
Colors Available:
brindle, flecked and bi-colored, grey, black, White, tan
golden-red with variations from pale honey to dark chestnut
Coat:
Short hair and long haired
double
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Alert, Cheerful, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

central asian shepherdThis large dog breed is a native to the wilds of Central Asia, where it has been guarding and protecting livestock for thousands of years. In fact the Central Asian Shepherd is one of the oldest dog breeds of the world.

Early records as to the precise origin of the breed aren’t available. There are suggestions that the breed descended from ancient Middle Eastern livestock guarding breeds, while the other suggests the dog is descended from the Tibetan Mastiff. It is almost certain that the dog was domesticated from the Wolf.

finnish spitzThe “barking Bird Dog” or Finnish Spitz was Developed in Finland. The breed is fearless and small with a different style than many other hunting dogs. He style of tracking is unusual and he indicated his quarry by barking. He was bred to hunt all sizes of prey from as large as bears to as small as squirrels. He was called the “Barking Bird Dig” because he pointed at the prey by barking and giving the hunter knowledge of the prey and an easy approach to it. In Finland, the Spitz is still a hunting dog. In 1979 The Finnish Spitz became the national dog of Finland.

Spitz-like dogs have been present in Finland for over 8000 years. It is believed that dogs living in higher latitudes had more in common with the Taymyr Wolf od North Asia than with the gray wolf. Tests indicate that the chance of the Spitz being related to the Taymyr is between 1.4&a and 27.3%. The Taymyr is extinct today. This shows that the present day dog descends from more than one type of wolf and more than one area. The Spitz was a favorite of the Finno-Ugrian tribes as he helped them find food. These tribes were pretty isolated until 1880. Then the Spitz were mated with other dogs and were almost extinct as a breed separate from all the other local dogs.

However, like many other breeds the Finnish Spitz found a savior. A Finnish huntsman, named Hugo Roos, noticed the native Finnish Spitz while he was hunting up North. He decided to breed dogs that were genuine Finnish Spitz without the blood of other breeds mixed in. After thirty years the current day Finnish Spitz was born.The latest breed standard was confirmed by the Love Finnish Kennel Club in 1996.

Description

central asian shepherd puppy - descriptionThe Central Asian Shepherd is a large dog, standing at up to 70cm in height and weighing in the region of 50kg. The dog is powerfully built and muscular, with the tail being traditionally docked to a short bob. Undocked, the tail is naturally long, thick at the base and tapering down. When relaxed, the tail is carried low, but when he becomes alert and excited, the tail is up and curved.

The ears of this dog are also traditionally cropped close to the head so that the dog almost appears to have no visible ears. This practice is also falling away and the natural ears of this breed are small and set at- or below eye level.

The brown eyes are small to medium size and are deep set. The Central Asian Shepherd Dog is double-coated with short to medium length hair and can be found in quite a few different colors such as tan, white, black, grey, brindle, ticked or a blend of these colors.

Temperament:

You have to be careful about where you buy your Asian Shepherd from as these dogs can be prone to aggression. With good breeding however, the dog is evenly tempered. As a first time dog owner, this shouldn’t be your first choice as it is a dominant, wilful, territorial, independent dog who will require a tough, firm, strong owner. Training and socialization are imperative to ensure he becomes obedient. He is then capable of forming close and strong bonds with his master, becoming a loyal and devoted pet. He also makes an excellent guard dog.

He is a protective dog breed, and once trained can get on well with children and other pets. He is the kind of dog that you will want to supervise around small children.

finnish spitz puppy - descriptionThe Finnish Spitz is balanced and symmetrical in body and females are longer than males. They have a very distinguishable prick, foxy ears and face. They have a smiling expression and a curved tail. They are a golden-red color with a double coat. The under coat is dense and soft While the top coat is stiff. Puppies often look like little red fox cubs. When born they are black, grey or brown with a lot of black. As an adult the pups grow up to be a mix of fawn and dark black. Lips, nose and rims of the eyes should be black.

Characteristics

central asian shepherd dog - characteristicsIt is important for those interested in the Central Asian Shepherd Dog as a pet to do some research on the breed. For instance this is a large dog that has been used for fighting.

While he can’t be described as being overly aggressive, you do need to be aware of his history, especially when you have small children in the home.

This dog is intelligent and confident too while also being exceptionally protective, and therefore he makes a good watchdog.

It is essential to have your Central Asian trained and socialized, and then he becomes far more relaxed and obedient, making him a loyal, loving guardian and friend.

Children friendliness

finnish spitz dog - characteristicsVery child friendly – loves to play with children as long as the children pay attention to them. If not, the Spitz will go elsewhere.

Special talents

They are independent thinkers and close to family but not strangers. They often “yodel” instead of howl.

Adaptability

Needs to be with people, bonds deeply with his humans. Most get along well with other dogs but because of their hunting instinct they are not good with small pets or birds.

Learning ability

They are smart and learn easily. They are great athletes and learn games and competition well.

Health Problems

central asian shepherd puppies - health problemsThe Central Asian Shepherd doesn't have any hereditary ailments and he is generally a healthy, robust breed.

Large breeds are always prone to hip- and elbow dysplasia, an abnormal development of hip and elbow, brought about by a number of factors such as genetics, the wrong diet and rapid growth with some large puppies.

A dysplastic hip or elbow doesn’t move smoothly as it should, and this results in joint inflammation and pain. Symptoms can include loss of muscle mass, pain when moving around and difficulty with standing up again once your pet lies down.

finnish spitz puppies - health problemsTypically, a somewhat healthy breed, the Finnish Spitz does struggle with a few genetic concerns. They have been known to suffer from:

  • Elbow dysplasia – Can cause arthritis
  • Patellar luxation – movement in the knee joints can cause lameness
  • Epilepsy – seizures can be controlled with medication
  • Hip dysplasia – Just like elbow dysplasia can cause arthritis

Caring The Pet

central asian shepherd dogs - caringCentral Asians are large dogs and when he is looked after well he can reach up to 15 years of age.

Diet:

It is important to see that he receives top quality, size-specific food, of which he eats a lot, and that it has all the vitamins and minerals he needs for his size.

A puppy will need high energy foods because of their energy. As he grows bigger, protein will become imperative. It is always a treat for your pet to add in some brown rice, vegetables and cooked chicken into his kibble from time to time.

Raw meat can be expensive, but if you can, it is important to ensure that your large pet gets some raw meat into his diet too, to keep his skin and coat healthy and to ward off disease. Make sure he has non-stop access to a bowl of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

As previously mentioned, the coat of the Central Asian Shepherd can be fairly short but it can also be medium length. He isn't going to require any exceptional grooming but you will certainly need to give him a good brush twice a week, more so in his shedding periods. This will rid him of loose hair and keep his coat free of tangles and matting.

Feeding the puppy

finnish spitz dogs - caringDon’t overfeed the little guy. The Spitz had a good appetite for a dog its size and can gain weight quickly . Feed twice a day about 1/8th of a cup.

Feeding the adult

The same advice hold for the adult dog. Feed 1/4th of a cub of high quality dry food twice a day.

Points for Good Health

When the Spitz is a puppy you should limit strenuous exercise and jumping. Don’t spay neuter at too young an age. Wait until they are mature at 3-5 years of age.

Games and Exercises

Again do not exercise vigorously at too young an age. When older the Finnish Spitz will need a yard to run in and exercise to satisfy his hunting instincts. A long walk every day is a must.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Finnish Spitz vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Finnish Spitz vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Finnish Spitz vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Finnish Spitz vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Finnish Spitz vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Finnish Spitz vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Finnish Spitz vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Finnish Spitz vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Finnish Spitz vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Finnish Spitz vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Finnish Spitz vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Finnish Spitz vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Finnish Spitz vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Finnish Spitz vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Finnish Spitz vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Finnish Spitz vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Finnish Spitz vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Finnish Spitz vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Finnish Spitz vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Finnish Spitz vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Finnish Spitz vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Finnish Spitz vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Finnish Spitz vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Finnish Spitz vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Finnish Spitz vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Central Asian Shepherd vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Central Asian Shepherd vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Central Asian Shepherd vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Central Asian Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Central Asian Shepherd vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Central Asian Shepherd vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Central Asian Shepherd vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Central Asian Shepherd vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Central Asian Shepherd vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Central Asian Shepherd vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Central Asian Shepherd vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Central Asian Shepherd vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Central Asian Shepherd vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Central Asian Shepherd vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Central Asian Shepherd vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Central Asian Shepherd vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Central Asian Shepherd vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Central Asian Shepherd vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Central Asian Shepherd vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Central Asian Shepherd vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Central Asian Shepherd vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Central Asian Shepherd vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Central Asian Shepherd vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Central Asian Shepherd vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Central Asian Shepherd vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison