German Spitz (Mittel) vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison

German Spitz (Mittel) vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed ComparisonBraque du Bourbonnais is originated from France but German Spitz (Mittel) is originated from Germany. Braque du Bourbonnais may grow 19 cm / 8 inches higher than German Spitz (Mittel). Braque du Bourbonnais may weigh 14 kg / 31 pounds more than German Spitz (Mittel). Braque du Bourbonnais may live 3 years less than German Spitz (Mittel). Both Braque du Bourbonnais and German Spitz (Mittel) has almost same litter size. Braque du Bourbonnais requires Low Maintenance. But German Spitz (Mittel) requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Companion dog
undefined
France
Germany
Height Male:
51 - 57 cm
20 - 23 inches
30 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
Height Female:
49 - 56 cm
19 - 23 inches
30 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
18 - 25 kg
39 - 56 pounds
7 - 11 kg
15 - 25 pounds
Weight Female:
16 - 22 kg
35 - 49 pounds
7 - 11 kg
15 - 25 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 6
3 - 5
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Bourbonnais Pointer • Bourbonnais Pointing Dog • French Pointing Dog • French Pointer • Braques Francaises • Braque Bourbonnais
Deutscher Spitz Mittel
Colors Available:
White, with fine brown or fawn ticking
liver, Tan, black - mixed colors, fawn, white
Coat:
fine, short, dense
Long, dense
Shedding:
Constant
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Gentle, Intelligent, Quiet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

braque du bourbonnaisThe Braque du Bourbonnais is an ancient breed, seen in the 15th century in France in the province of Bourbonnais. He became extremely popular with hunters by the 1800’s as a good pointer. He has become very popular in the United States and all of North America. There are often more puppies born in the U.S. than in France. The British call this breed the Bourbonnais Pointing Dog.

As with so many European hunting and working dogs, the Braque du Bourbonnais almost disappeared following World War I but was saved by the first breed club, established in 1925. Then following World War II, they were again in danger as the club dissolved and birth rates among the breed decreased drastically.

Actually, there were no dogs at all in the French registry between 1963 and 1973. This was attributed to the fact that the registry put more emphasis on the secondary characteristics such as color, length of tail) instead of the hunting characteristics. Because of this some hunter-breeders vowed to bring the real Braque du Bourbonnais back.

Michel Comte took on this task in 1970 but could not find any dogs with pure Bourbonnais blood. So, he took missed breed with characteristics like the Bourbonnais and inbred several litters until he had a dog he was satisfied with. He registered this dog with the LOF in 1973-75. Seeing this several other breeders got into the act and they successfully brought the breed back.

Michel became president of the new Club du Braque du Bourbonnais in 1981 and remained so until 2001. During this time the breed excelled at field trials and was first sent to the U.S. in 1988. The breed is now thriving in both Europe and North America.

german spitz mittelOriginating in Germany, the German Spitz Mittel is an alert, vigilant dog and it is these qualities that made him sought after for working on farms.

He is no new breed and is the 3rd largest of the five German Spitz varieties. It is believed that the German Spitz descended from the Northern sled and herding dogs which arrived with the Vikings into Europe. When you do research you see that the dogs are mentioned in German literature which dates way back to to 1450 already.

Description

braque du bourbonnais puppy - descriptionThis is an elegant breed with a medium sized, muscular bod and a round head. The nose will be the color of the coat and the muzzle is cone shaped with a wide base. He has large dark or hazel eyes, again depending on the color of the coat. The ears can drop below the throat and the neck is very muscular. He has a deep, wide chest and straight, muscular legs. The coat can come in two colors – liver and fawn – and ticked or spotted. They have a typical short pointer type tail.

german spitz mittel puppy - descriptionThe German Spitz Mittel is similar in looks to the other sizes of German Spitz. The Mittel is a medium sized dog and stands between 30 and 38cm in height and weighs between 7 and 11kg. You’ll find him in solid colors such as tan, liver, white, fawn, black or a mix of these colors.

He has a soft woolly undercoat and a long outercoat with a mane-like ruff at the neck. He has a fairly long muzzle, dark eyes, sharp erect ears and a bushy tail which curls over his back.

Temperament:

Affectionate, faithful, and always happy by nature, the German Spitz Mittel is a family companion that wants to be part of everything his human family is up to. He makes a good watchdog. He is alert and has a distrust of strangers.

He gets on well with children in the home and he can also live in peace with other dogs. Because he is an intelligent dog, you won’t have much trouble with training- and socializing him, although he will require a firm, consistent owner and trainer.

Training and socialization are important as there are always some important commands such as sit, stay, come and lie down that you will want him to respond to immediately.

Characteristics

braque du bourbonnais dog - characteristicsThe Braque du Bourbonnais is a gentle, calm dog. He is affectionate and kind when off the job but intelligent, adaptable and serious when hunting. They are intense when learning or hunting and they will learn quickly. They are good with other dogs.

german spitz mittel dog - characteristicsPeople who have owned a German Spitz Mittel are delighted with him, saying that he is such an easy-going, happy dog. He is social and thrives on the interaction he has with his human family.

He won’t do well if you simply put him in your backyard and forget about him, using him merely as a watchdog.

The German Spitz Mittel dog is one dog that definitely lives up to the title of man’s best friend. He is social, happy, loving, loyal, playful, entertaining and smart too, and when you treat him the way he deserves, you’ve got the most awesome friend.

Health Problems

This medium sized pointer can suffer from:

Hip Dysplasia – can be tested

braque du bourbonnais puppies - health problemsEntropion - both of these are issues with eyelashes turning inward or outward and both can

Ectropion - injure the eye

Pulmonic Stenosis of the heart – valve doesn’t open

german spitz mittel puppies - health problemsGerman Spitz dogs are healthy, and when you shower him with love and attention and good food, you can expect to have him around for up to 15 years of age.

Of course, as with any other healthy dog breeds, there are always one or two common dog illnesses that your dog may get. These include hip dysplasia and eye diseases. If you notice symptoms that indicate possible joint issues with your pet, get him to the vet immediately.

Patellar Luxation for instance occurs when your dog’s kneecap is dislocated. It is more common in toy breeds like the German Spitz. It can be painful for your pet and lead to lameness. If your dog has problems with his hip, it can actually force the patella out of its groove, which is a secondary condition.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

braque du bourbonnais dogs - caringThis breed is prone to weight gain and obesity. Be careful not to overfeed them. Don’t free feed them but give them 2-3 smaller meals per day.

Health issues

Hip Dysplasia – can cause lameness and arthritis

Entropion - both of these are issues with eyelashes turning inward or outward and both can

Ectropion - injure the eye

Pulmonic Stenosis of the heart- minor will have no symptoms but eventually the heart will not be able to function efficiently and could lead to congestive heart failure.

Exercise and games

The Braque du Bourbonnais needs at least a minimum amount of exercise daily , especially if he is not used for hunting. A fenced backyard for playtime would be perfect but long walks will work. He likes to learn tricks, play ball or hide and seek. Outside activities could include hiking, swimming, agility, retrieving, rally and obedience trials, along with the usual field trials.

Grooming:

german spitz mittel dogs - caringYou can help reduce loose hairs with your German Spitz by brushing his thick coat twice a week. It’s a good time to also inspect your dog for ticks and fleas.

Exercise:

Your German Spitz Mittel isn’t the most active dog, but he will still need regular exercise. Going on a walk is good for both you and him. He is a mentally sharp dog too and these walks keep him both physically- and mentally fit. He also loves ball games.

Diet:

Every dog deserves the best food, and if you feed your German Spitz Mittel with a commercially manufactured dog food, make sure its one of the top quality ones. You want to avoid foods packed with preservatives, colorants and fillers. You want dog foods with minerals and vitamins with high protein and ingredients such as Omega 3 and 6 to promote health skin.

There are also some dog foods which have ingredients in them such as polyphosphates. Ingredients like this keep your dog’s teeth clean.

Try and also give him some cooked rice, vegetables and chicken mixed into his kibble from time to time as well as raw meat. He should never be without fresh, cool water.

Comparison with other breeds

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