Japanese Spitz vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison

Japanese Spitz vs Cretan Hound - Breed ComparisonCretan Hound is originated from Greece but Japanese Spitz is originated from Japan. Cretan Hound may grow 34 cm / 14 inches higher than Japanese Spitz. Cretan Hound may weigh 20 kg / 45 pounds more than Japanese Spitz. Both Cretan Hound and Japanese Spitz has almost same life span. Both Cretan Hound and Japanese Spitz has almost same litter size. Cretan Hound requires Moderate Maintenance. But Japanese Spitz requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Companion dog
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Greece
Japan
Height Male:
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
25 - 34 cm
9 - 14 inches
Height Female:
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
25 - 34 cm
9 - 14 inches
Weight Male:
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
5 - 10 kg
11 - 23 pounds
Weight Female:
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
5 - 10 kg
11 - 23 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
10 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 7
1 - 6
Size:
Medium
Small
Other Names:
Kritikos Lagonikos, Kressa Kyon, Ntopio
Nihon Supittsu
Colors Available:
grey, Fawn, sandy, tri-colored , white, black or brindle
White
Coat:
Short and smooth
Longish and fluffy
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

cretan houndAlthough the Cretan Hound or the Kritikos Lagonikos is recognized in both Greece and Germany, the hunting dog breed is from the island of Crete, Greece. The dog’s history goes back thousands of years. It is an ancient breed and some believe it is one of the oldest hunting breeds in Europe.

The Cretan Hound has been bred as a working dog, combining sight and scent to track down their prey. Today it is still a rare dog breed that you won’t easily find outside of Crete.

Greece kennels recognize this dog as well as some European kennels, but it isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club.

japanese spitzSpitz dogs include quite a few dog breeds and these dogs all have similar characteristics – pointed, erect ears, slanted type eyes with thick fur.

The Japanese Spitz was developed by Japanese breeders at the time of the 1920s, and bringing in quite a number of dog breeds to do so. The breeders started with the white German Spitz dogs but later other white Spitz breeds were imported and crossed into this developing breed.

The final standard for the breed after World War 11 was accepted by the Japan Kennel Club. The dog became recognized by other kennel clubs of the world.

Description

cretan hound puppy - descriptionKnown for its extraordinary scent abilities as well as its speed, this dog has always been used as a hare hunter because of these skills.

It’s a slender dog of medium to large size and stands at about 60-68cm in height and weighs between 20 – 30kg. It is lean, strong, muscular and swift with a body that is inclined to be longer than tall.

He is slightly heavier than other scenthounds and his ribs aren’t seen. The head is wedge-shaped and the ears drop down, are folded back or can be semi-erect. The eyes are dark and the tail is long and curves upwards with longer hair being found on the tail.

The coat is short and smooth, and coat colors of the dog are varied and can be fawn, sandy, grey, white, black or brindle, and it can be tri-colored too.

Temperament:

The Cretan Hound is alert to sight, sound and scent and when it senses prey, the tail moves in a circular way and the dog becomes rigid for a while before he is off on the hunt.

He is a gentle, intelligent dog, reserved around strangers but making an excellent family pet as he gets on well with all his human family members as well as pets in the house. With good training and socialization, the dog becomes more relaxed around strangers.

He isn’t an aggressive dog, and while he is alert to sounds and smells, he doesn’t make a particularly good watchdog.

japanese spitz puppy - descriptionThe Japanese Spitz is a small to medium sized dog, being somewhat larger than the Pomeranian. The dog stands at 25 – 38cm, both male and female and weighs anything between 5 to 10kg.

The double coat of the dog is thick and white and the puppies look like large snowball.s He has a pointed muzzle with erect ears and a tail that curls up over the back.

Temperament:

The pure-bred Japanese Spitz, just like other Spitz dogs are smart, inquisitive dogs who show loyalty to their owners, getting on well with children in the home and making a good family pet.

They can be quite stubborn, so training and socialization becomes important if you want him to be obedient. Training is easy as he is an intelligent, bright little dog.

They’re able to adapt to life in the city or in the country, but if you live in the city, you will need to meet his exercise needs.

He can tolerate cold weather quite well but as a companion dog, he prefers being indoors with his human family.

Even though they are small dogs, they are protective and make good watchdogs. They were bred to be companion dogs and they take this role seriously, being loyal, entertaining, fun, friendly and loving with their human family.

It is why they are becoming such a popular breed as they have an amicable nature, getting on well with other pets as well as children.

Characteristics

cretan hound dog - characteristicsThe Cretan Hound is an energetic, curious dog, but when it comes to being a family pet, he is affectionate and gentle.

He is a reserved dog around strangers. He likes to be busy and will love his walks and games with his human family members. He is smart so is readily trained and he likes to be obedient and to please.

The Cretan Hound will live in harmony with other dogs in the home and they’re also patient and good around disciplined children who have learned to respect animals.

Provide your Cretan Hound with his fair share of love and attention and he will go out of his way to be a loyal and loving family friend.

japanese spitz dog - characteristicsYour Japanese Spitz is going to make you a superb companion and you want to ensure that you are well prepared for him when he arrives. He is feisty, charming, social, bright, alert, active, loyal and loving and you want to be sure that he has everything laid on as a 4-legged family member.

He isn't a high maintenance dog, he isn't demanding and if you love and care for him, you'll find that he fills a vacancy in your life that you'll never want to be without again.

Health Problems

cretan hound puppies - health problemsThe Cretan Hound is a healthy, robust dog breed, but even so, he can suffer from some common health problems that other dogs are also susceptible to. Some of these are hip dysplasia , cancer, ear infections, bloat and cherry eye.

Remember that if you don’t want your dog to have puppies, they can actually benefit health-wise from being spayed or neutered. Doing this for your pet can prevent a number of health issues later on down the line.

Make sure too, that your puppy receives his vaccinations in a timely fashion so as to avoid terrible, life threatening illnesses such as parvo and rabies.

japanese spitz puppies - health problemsLife expectancy for the Japanese Spitz is about 10–16 years. They are a healthy breed with few genetic problems. Nothing is set in stone though, and your healthy dog can fall prey to some of the many common dog illnesses there are.

They're so sweet, you're tempted to feed him treats all the time, but obesity is a common Japanese Spitz health issue and obesity can lead to many problems with the heart, kidney, diabetes and even joint pain.

Also, eye problems such as ingrown eyelashes and a lower eyelid that rolls inward are problems that are known to trouble these Spitz type dogs. It leads to terrible irritation and damage to the eye. It's definitely time to see the vet to avoid infections and injury.

Caring The Pet

cretan hound dogs - caringYou’re certainly not going to have to do too much grooming with the Cretan Hound as he is a low maintenance breed.

The dog is a short haired breed and an average shedder, so a good brush twice a week will keep the coat free of loose hairs and maintain the condition of the hair.

As with all dogs, the nails as well as the ears must be checked and attended to. The veterinarian can advise you on how to keep his ears clean and free of infection, as prodding around without knowing can damage his ears.

Exercise:

This Cretan Hound has high activity needs. He is energetic and also hard-working, and you’ll need to be taking him on long walks and providing him with some highly energetic playing sessions. Throw ball for him and take him with you when you go jogging or cycling.

Exercise:

japanese spitz dogs - caringThe Japanese Spitz is an active dog and he will require at least one walk a day to keep him happy. He is full of beans and wants to go with you on all your outings.

Diet:

The diet of your Japanese Spitz is basic to his good health. If you feed him low quality foods deplete of vitamins and minerals, you'll end up with a sick dog who is always at the vet. Puppies need 4 small meals a day while an adult dog can have 1 or 2 meals a day.

He can benefit from the top quality commercially manufactured foods and sometimes you can add in some cooked chicken, rice and vegetables into his dry kibble. Add in a little bit of raw meat too from time to time and ensure that he can always reach his bowl of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

The beautiful white fur of your Japanese Spitz will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep it free from loose hair and to keep the fur bright and vibrant.

Check his nails and avoid them getting too long as they can hook on things and cause injury. Check his ears inside and out, keeping them clean and free of debris. Very importantly, keep his teeth clean as dental disease can play havoc with a dog's health.

Comparison with other breeds

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