Norwegian Lundehund vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison

Norwegian Lundehund vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed ComparisonGerman Spitz (Mittel) is originated from Germany but Norwegian Lundehund is originated from Norway. Both German Spitz (Mittel) and Norwegian Lundehund are having almost same height. Both German Spitz (Mittel) and Norwegian Lundehund are having almost same weight. Both German Spitz (Mittel) and Norwegian Lundehund has almost same life span. German Spitz (Mittel) may have less litter size than Norwegian Lundehund. Both German Spitz (Mittel) and Norwegian Lundehund requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Companion dog
Non sporting dog
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Germany
Norway
Height Male:
30 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
30 - 40 cm
11 - 16 inches
Height Female:
30 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
30 - 40 cm
11 - 16 inches
Weight Male:
7 - 11 kg
15 - 25 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
7 - 11 kg
15 - 25 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
3 - 8
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Deutscher Spitz Mittel
The Puffin Dog, Norsk Lundehund
Colors Available:
liver, Tan, black - mixed colors, fawn, white
Reddish/tan markings, black tips, white
Coat:
Long, dense
Medium length, double coat
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Constant
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, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

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.

norwegian lundehundThe Norwegian Lundehund hails from the island of Vaeroy, Norway and was created for the purpose of puffin hunting.

Now that these puffins are a protected species, the dog is no longer used for hunting and has become a companion dog.

The breed decreased in numbers during- and after World War II because the islands where he came from had an outbreak of distemper. It was in 1963 that another outbreak occurred and the dogs were almost wiped out. A breeding program saw their numbers being built up.

It was in 2011 that the dog was recognized by the American Kennel Club.

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.

norwegian lundehund puppy - descriptionAs a spitz-type dog, with the Lundehund you’ll recognize the typical spitz-dog characteristics – the erect ears and the tail that curves over the back.

He is a small to medium sized dog standing at 30 – 40cm and weighing 6 – 9kg. He is an active dog and is as agile as a fox.

He has a dense double coat which is white, reddish/tan with some black tips. He is a dog which sheds constantly.

Strangely this dog has 6 toes and his rear pads have elongated foot pads which have helped the dog be able to climb over rocks. He also has a flexible type of neck that is capable of craning back so that the head touches the spine. The dog has some unique features and wriggling in and out of small spaces is another of his characteristics. In fact he can do things that you would not imagine a dog could do.

Temperament:

When you have a Lundehund in your life you’ll agree he has a happy, amicable personality. He is non-aggressive.

He will require training and socialization as he is an independent dog who can be obstinate. He is quite aloof with strangers too and once he starts barking at them he tends to want to continue. Training him will put an end to that irritating behavior. He is a loving, loyal dog, enjoying the company of his human family.

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.

norwegian lundehund dog - characteristicsThe Norwegian Lundehund isn’t your everyday dog and in fact he is known as a primitive breed. Perhaps he wouldn’t be the best dog to have if you’re a first-time dog owners as training is quite difficult too.

People who are willing to take a chance on him say that with training and socialization he can become a loving canine companion.

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.

norwegian lundehund puppies - health problemsThe Lundehund is prone to digestive disorders but even so he has got a good chance of living to be 11, 12, 13 or 14 years of age with good care.

He is however, one of these dogs prone to health problems of which chronic intestinal disease is one. Its the kind of illness that can recur because it is resistant to treatment.

Experts on these dogs say that they should have a fecal test done every 6 months or so, saying that one thing a bit negative with this dog breed is that you may well be forking out quite a bit on chronic veterinary care.

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.

Diet:

norwegian lundehund dogs - caringLike any other dog, the Norwegian Lundehund will do well on the best quality food. If you buy him commercially manufactured food, check the ingredients on the packaging. Lots of these lower quality foods are made from ingredients that are toxic for your pet, so buy a good quality one.

Buy food according to your dog’s age and activity levels. To make his meals more interesting, add in some delicious home prepared food for him. Stay away from spicy, exotic foods and go for something like boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Some raw meat added to the kibble from time to time can also do wonders for your pet as he requires a high-protein diet. Make sure he always has access to fresh, cool water.

Other ‘caring’ things to do to make sure your pet has a quality lifestyle is -

Brush his hair twice a week as he is a fairly heavy shedder. Not only does it keep the coat nice and shiny, it builds up a bond between you and your pet.

Check his ears and eyes regularly to make sure they are free from infection.

Clip his nails when they get long as your pet can hurt himself if the nails hook onto things.

Whenever he is ill, get him to the vet for a check-up.

Make sure he has a nice safe, dry, warm, snug place to sleep.

Keep him well exercised. A dog that is put into the backyard and more or less forgotten will be most miserable. Why get a pet if you don’t want to make him a 100% part of the family?

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