Spitz vs Latvian Hound - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Spitz vs Latvian Hound - Breed ComparisonBoth Latvian Hound and Spitz are originated from Russia. Latvian Hound may grow 22 cm / 8 inches shorter than Spitz. Latvian Hound may weigh 20 kg / 44 pounds lesser than Spitz. Both Latvian Hound and Spitz has almost same life span. Latvian Hound may have less litter size than Spitz. Latvian Hound requires Low Maintenance. But Spitz requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Miscellaneous dogs
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Russia
Russia
Height Male:
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
21 - 70 cm
8 - 28 inches
Height Female:
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
20 - 65 cm
7 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
2 - 40 kg
4 - 89 pounds
Weight Female:
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
2 - 37 kg
4 - 82 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
7 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 12
4 - 19
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Latvijas Dzinejsuns
numeroud breeds
Colors Available:
Black, tan, brown
all
Coat:
Short and dense
double coated undercoat is coarser
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Cheerful, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

latvian houndThe Latvian Hound is a medium sized Russian or Latvian hunting hound. The dog was bred in Latvia, Russia.

He was developed from a number of English and Polish dogs as well as Lucernese breeds.

It is by no means a new breed and records of it go way back to the 1600s. A certain Duke Courland developed the dog so that it was also known as the Courland Hound. In 1922 the Latvian Association of Hunters' Associations was formed.

It was in 1971 that the Latvian Hound was was approved with it's name and a new standard was developed and approved. It isn't recognized by the AKC or the FCI.

spitzA spitz is not a breed of dog, but rather a “group or family” of dogs that has its roots in Germany. Within this family there are a variety of breeds that were bred for very specific purposes by people in many different parts of the world. The spitz family can be toy dog size up to vey large. Examples run from the Pomeranian to the Canadian Eskimo Dog.

The Spitz family dogs share the look of thick, long fur and pointed muzzles, ears and curly tail. Despite their German name, they are thought to originally be of East Asia or Artic descent. Most of today’s spitz are from Siberia’s Artic region, first described in 1788 and in English in 1792. Spitz have been bred for three types of jobs depending upon where they were developed. These jobs included pulling, herding and hunting.

There are very powerful and large Spitz breeds that pull or hunt large game. Examples of these breeds are the Swedish Elkhound, the Akita Inu, the Norwegian Elkhound and the Karelian Bear Dog. The smaller sized breeds like the Samoyed hunted small mammals and birds, while the Finnish Lapphund, Lapponian Herder, and Swedish Lapphund herded, hunted and pulled small sleds.

The three largest spitz also pulled sleds throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. In most places the Canadian Eskimo Dog, the Alakan Malamute and the Greenland dog were used in sled racing and fur trapping while in Canada and Alaska the Siberian Husky was used for the same things.

Recently there have been genetic tests that show a large number of dogs that are considered Spitz type so share many strong ancestral ties and DNA similarities with wild wolves. It is now believed that a lot of these breeds were intentionally mated with wolves and some were accidental. Both domestic and wild dogs are included in this history.

Most spitz are made for cold weather, even today’s lapdogs, like the Pomeranian, do not do well in hot climates.

Description

latvian hound puppy - descriptionThe Latvian Hound is a medium sized dog standing at between 40 to 48cm in height and weighing about 15 to 20kg.

He has a deep chest, fairly long, floppy ears, a long tail with strong legs. The coat is double and is short, shiny and dense. He is an average shedder. He is essentially black with tan markings, with tan spots above the eyes. The eyes are dark brown and the nose is black.

Temperament:

The Latvian Hound may well be an exceptional hunter but he also makes a great family pet. He is looked upon as being a friendly, amicable, sweet dog.

Because he has been a working dog, he likes to be busy and will happily join in with all your hikes and swimming. He will also run with you while you cycle.

It’s a dog that doesn’t like to be left alone for long periods of time, being inclined to suffer with separation anxiety. He doesn’t take kindly to strangers either, but a dog which has been socialized and trained becomes more amicable.

Your Latvian is intelligent so you won’t have any trouble teaching him some simply commands. He is a friendly, lively dog and just having him in your home brings in a joyous atmosphere. He is an easy-going dog, but even so, if you don’t have a fair sized garden and you don’t have the time to exercise him, he is better off living on a farm or where there is a fair sized garden.

spitz puppy - descriptionMost of the spitz breeds share a “look” that includes erect ears, stocky heavy, usually double coats, a pointed muzzle, thick, fluffy ruffs and a heavy curled tail carried high over the body. Build for northern climates they are insulated by a undercoat that is waterproof and dense and a less dense topcoat. Their ears are small to prevent frostbite and their paws have thick fur to protect them in the frigid, icy terrain.

Many still have wolf-like looks and tendencies. Some are very difficult to train to be companions – the Akita, Chow and especially the Karelian Bear Dog – fall into this category. Many mixed breed dogs are also considered members of the Spitz family. These dogs are easy to recognize as spitz because of these physical characteristics

Characteristics

latvian hound dog - characteristicsThe Latvian Hound is an outgoing, fun dog to have around and a great dog for first-time dog owners too. He has always been a working dog, so he has developed skills such as being focused and tenacious.

As a companion and family dog, you will have a true friend as he is sweet, loving and loyal and thrives on the attention of his human family. He is a playful dog, feisty and energetic, and will be protective too. Bring him into your home and you'll see what a bright place it becomes just having him there as pet and friend.

Characteristics

spitz dog - characteristics1.Children friendliness excellent with almost all the breeds. Be careful of size. Smaller breeds may not be as friendly and larger may knock down small children.

2.Special talents stamina

3.Adaptability excellent

4.Learning ability excellent

Health Problems

latvian hound puppies - health problemsThe life span of the Latvian Hound is 12 to 14 years, and while there are no reported major health issues, all dogs face some kind of medical issues during their lives. The Latvian Hound can face things like hip dysplasia, eye problems, bloat and ear infections.

Vaccinations:

Vaccines can protect your dog from contracting some illnesses which can be fatal.

There is controversy over pet vaccines but the problem is more about HOW the dog is vaccinated.

There was a time when puppies were vaccinated many times, but newer guidelines were updated in 2017, stating that core vaccines be given to adult dogs in intervals of 3 years or more, rather than every year.

Puppy vaccines still need to be done about every 3 weeks between the ages of 6 and 16 weeks against the likes of parvovirus and distemper. Get yourself a good vet who is skilled and safe with vaccines.

spitz puppies - health problemsIt is a little harder to characterize the health issues of a family of dogs than it is a .will overheat in hot climates due to their double coats. Here are some propensities of dogs in the Spitz family.

  • Haemolytic anemia – heritary anemia can be mild to life threatening.

• Thrombopathia bleeding disorder with the risk of a hemorrhage, platets don’t clot.

  • Epilepsy – medication can manage this well.
  • Cancers for different types.

• Larger breeds are affected by Elbow and Hip dysplasia that can cause arthritis and lameness.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

latvian hound dogs - caringThe Latvian Hound has a short coat that is easy to groom. He is a moderate shedder and brushing him twice a week will take care of all that loose hair. He’ll thrive on the attention this grooming session gives him and its the time to check him over for ticks and fleas too.

Check the inside of his ears. Without even realizing it, dirt and wax can build up and result in an ear infection. His ear may be red and you’ll notice him shaking his head and scratching at his ears. Be very careful about cleaning his ears as going to deep can damage the ear.

Any grooming of your dog that you can’t manage can be attended to by professional dog groomers.

spitz dogs - caring1Feeding the puppy The Spitz family has high energy needs but in a slow-release so they need protein more than grain. Puppies should be fed 3-4x a day in small meals. Don’t overfeed them.

2.Feeding the adult – The Spitz type dog stores their energy to use in extended periods when working or playing. They will become obese if overfed or if they don’t get enough exercise. Feed 2-3X a day in small or medium sized meals, even the larger breeds because of their storage of calories.

3.Points for Good Health endurance and stamina

4. Games and Exercises – Having been bred for endurance and stamina most Spritz breed need plenty of exercise, lots of space and lots of play. They love to run, jog, or play games. They are outdoors types who love to hike, and run or walk for long times over long distances. They are great in cold, wet weather but not so good in the heat. How much exercise they need depends on the size and history of the specific breeds. Most love to play with other dogs, so dog parks and dog day care can both be good choices for most of them. Agility, barnhunt, field trials, pulling games are all good choices.

Comparison with other breeds

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