Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison

Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed ComparisonGerman Spitz (Mittel) is originated from Germany but Grand Bleu de Gascogne is originated from France. German Spitz (Mittel) may grow 34 cm / 13 inches shorter than Grand Bleu de Gascogne. German Spitz (Mittel) may weigh 31 kg / 68 pounds lesser than Grand Bleu de Gascogne. German Spitz (Mittel) may live 3 years more than Grand Bleu de Gascogne. Both German Spitz (Mittel) and Grand Bleu de Gascogne has almost same litter size. German Spitz (Mittel) requires Moderate Maintenance. But Grand Bleu de Gascogne requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Companion dog
Hound dog
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Germany
France
Height Male:
30 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
65 - 72 cm
25 - 29 inches
Height Female:
30 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
62 - 68 cm
24 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
7 - 11 kg
15 - 25 pounds
36 - 42 kg
79 - 93 pounds
Weight Female:
7 - 11 kg
15 - 25 pounds
34 - 42 kg
74 - 93 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
4 - 7
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Deutscher Spitz Mittel
Grand Bleu, GB de G
Colors Available:
liver, Tan, black - mixed colors, fawn, white
White and black mottled, black patches
Coat:
Long, dense
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Minimal, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

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.

grand bleu de gascogneThe Grande Bleu de Gascogne is a dog which has descended from a line of French hounds. Originating in France, the dog is actually more common in the United States than in France.

They were bred to hunt, and today they continue to be used for hunting, but they double up as loyal pets too.

It is believed that they descended from dogs such as the St. Hubert Hound and the English Southern Hound. The dog itself has had an influence on the development of several scent-hound breeds.

In the United States, the Grande Bleu de Gascogne was bred in the 18th century already, displaying typical pack hound behavior.The dog isn't recognized by the AKC but he is recognized by other kennel clubs as a scenthound.

Description

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.

grand bleu de gascogne puppy - descriptionThe Grand Bleu de Gascogne is a large dog, standing at 65–72cm with the female usually being slightly smaller at 62–68cm. The dog weighs about 36 to 42kg.

He has a lean, muscular body with long legs, long ears and with a strong, noble appearance. The coat is short and smooth and the color of the coat is white and black mottled. In some instances, there'll be large patches of black over the back of the dog. The head and neck area can also be black. There are tan markings above each eye.

Temperament:

This is a gentle dog, not aggressive at all, and he just wants to get on with hunting. He is a social dog and loves to be around other familiar dogs and his human family. He essentially wants to live in the country where he can be busy and active with tasks to do.

If you leave him alone for too long, he becomes frustrated and resorts to baying. He can get on well with adults and children in the home, but tends to be aloof around strangers. He is an intelligent animal, and training and socialization will be important for him, especially since he is independent and likes doing things his way.

The training will make him obedient and he'll always know how to behave well around strangers.

Characteristics

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.

grand bleu de gascogne dog - characteristicsYour beautiful hunting dog is active and social and just loves to be out and about following a scent with other hunting dogs. This is what he absolutely loves to do.

These days, apart from just hunting, he is also kept as a pet. He makes a good family companion because he is a non aggressive, gentle, even-tempered pet. Some of these dogs tend to be more reserved in nature. However your dog turns out, he can be your special friend when you give him all the exercise, nutrition and love that such a loyal dog deserves.

Health Problems

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.

grand bleu de gascogne puppies - health problemsAs a dog not known for inherited health problems, the Grande Bleu de Gascogne, with good care, can live to be 12 years of age.

Just like with other dog breeds, there are some conditions to which this dog may also be prone, and hip dysplasia is one.

The average litter size for the Grande Bleu de Gascogne is 4 to 7 puppies. It is important to prevent your puppy growing too quickly because this is precisely what leads to musculoskeletal problems as an adult.

If you're concerned about this, speak to your vet, as you want to do your best to prevent hip problems in the future.

Caring The Pet

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.

grand bleu de gascogne dogs - caringKnown for his hunting skills, the Grande Bleu de Gascogne has high exercise requirements. Although a walk is wonderful for him, it won't be enough. If you have a large garden, which will be ideal for him, throw the ball so he can fetch it. If you go cycling or jogging, he'll thank you for including him in these.

Grooming:

The Grand Bleu’s short coat is conveniently low maintenance too so you aren't going to be spending anything on professional grooming. Give him a brush twice a week to remove loose hairs and to keep his coat silky and shiny.

Their long ears should be checked regularly for a build up of wax and dirt. Dampness can also be a problem if he loves to go swimming. You can buy special ear-cleaning-for-dog products. Never probe deep in the ears as you can damage them. Rather get advice from your vet or professional groomers on how to keep the inside of his ears clean and free from infection.

Diet:

An energetic hunting scentdog like this requires high quality food with some raw meat added in from time to time. He must always have access to fresh, cool water.

Comparison with other breeds

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  29. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
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  50. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison