Spitz vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison

Spitz vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed ComparisonGerman Spitz (Mittel) is originated from Germany but Spitz is originated from Russia. German Spitz (Mittel) may grow 32 cm / 12 inches shorter than Spitz. German Spitz (Mittel) may weigh 29 kg / 63 pounds lesser than Spitz. Both German Spitz (Mittel) and Spitz has almost same life span. German Spitz (Mittel) may have less litter size than Spitz. Both German Spitz (Mittel) and Spitz requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Companion dog
Miscellaneous dogs
undefined
Germany
Russia
Height Male:
30 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
21 - 70 cm
8 - 28 inches
Height Female:
30 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
20 - 65 cm
7 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
7 - 11 kg
15 - 25 pounds
2 - 40 kg
4 - 89 pounds
Weight Female:
7 - 11 kg
15 - 25 pounds
2 - 37 kg
4 - 82 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
7 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
4 - 19
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Deutscher Spitz Mittel
numeroud breeds
Colors Available:
liver, Tan, black - mixed colors, fawn, white
all
Coat:
Long, dense
double coated undercoat is coarser
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate, Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Cheerful, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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:

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.

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

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