Toy Mi-Ki vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison

Toy Mi-Ki vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed ComparisonBelgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) is originated from Belgium but Toy Mi-Ki is originated from United States. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may grow 36 cm / 15 inches higher than Toy Mi-Ki. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may weigh 25 kg / 56 pounds more than Toy Mi-Ki. Both Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) and Toy Mi-Ki has same life span. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may have more litter size than Toy Mi-Ki. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) requires High Maintenance. But Toy Mi-Ki requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Toy dog
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Belgium
United States
Height Male:
60 - 66 cm
23 - 26 inches
20 - 30 cm
7 - 12 inches
Height Female:
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
20 - 30 cm
7 - 12 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
2 - 5 kg
4 - 12 pounds
Weight Female:
23 - 30 kg
50 - 67 pounds
2 - 5 kg
4 - 12 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 10
2 - 4
Size:
Large
Toy
Other Names:
Belgian Groenendael, Belgian Shepherd, AKC: Belgian Sheepdog
Mikki, Mi-ki
Colors Available:
Black
white, apricot, Cream, brown, fawn, black - mixed, bi-colors
Coat:
Dense double coat
Long haired or short haired
Shedding:
Constant, Seasonal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
High Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

belgian shepherd dog groenendaelLooking much like a pitch black German Shepherd dog, the Belgian Shepherd is a beautiful looking dog. Their roots go back to the 1800s to Groenendael, Belgium. This is where they were bred by a certain Nicolas Rose in 1910. The Groenendael is one of four different Belgian Sheepdog varieties but the Groenendael is sometimes treated as a distinct breed.

They have always been used for their intelligence, serving for instance in the police force and being message carriers in war situations. Originally, Belgian Shepherds were used to herd livestock. It was in 1911 that the Groenendael was registered in the United States, and not much later the first Belgian Sheepdog Club of America formed. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1912.

toy mi kiThe Toy Mi-Ki is a sociable companion dog. He hasn’t got a long history, and the little bit of history there is, isn’t clear.

It is believed that the breed was bought about by Maureen Westburg. It was in the 1980s that she crossed several toy breeds to develop the Mi-Ki. It is thought that she gave the dog the name Mi-Ki because her name was Mikkie. It seems whe wanted a dog that came close to looking like a gremlin.

Some of the dogs used in the breeding program were the Japanese Chin, the Maltese, and the Papillon. The International Miki Registry is trying to get recognition with the United Kennel Club for this dog. There are other canine clubs and organizations that recognize the Mi-Ki Dog as a breed.

Description

Large, Strong and Well Proportioned

belgian shepherd dog groenendael puppy - descriptionWith his alert, bright brown eyes, the Groenendael, referred to often as the Belgian Sheepdog, has erect ears with a long, feathered tail. The straight, strong legs are also feathered. He is well proportioned, athletic and strong. He has a dense double coat, and this working dog’s coat is black, but you sometimes find some small white markings around his paws and muzzle. The size of the Groenendael is roughly 60-66cm at the withers with the females sometimes being slightly smaller. The weight of the dog is roughly 25–30 kilograms.

He’s a Social Dog who Craves Companionship

The Groenendael is an active, intelligent breed and training and socializing will be necessary to ensure he knows how to behave around his human family. He is a big, social dog and won’t do well when left alone day after day in the back yard. In fact he may even show signs of separation anxiety if you leave him indefinitely. He makes for an excellent family dog, just loving their companionship and he becomes very protective of them.

An Intelligent, Alert Breed

He is used to making use of his intelligence and therefore he will need mental stimulation as opposed to lying around all day. He gets on well with adults, children and other pets, but he needs to grow up with children and not be put among children when he is already an adult. He is loyal and loving to his human family, forming a deep bond, especially with just one member of the family.

toy mi ki puppy - descriptionThe small Toy Miki stands at between 25 cm – 30 cm in height and weighs between 2 – 5kg. You get two different coat types – long and short and the long-haired variety also has quite a bit of hair around the face.

His longish coat is low-shedding which makes him popular for people who battle with allergies. The Miki Dog will produce about 2 – 4 puppies.

As a toy dog, he has a domed head with large eyes. Their ears are feathered and are carried erect and the tail is long and feathered.

Temperament:

These little dogs are popular companion dogs and they’re intelligent and loving, making the ideal pet for anyone.

It’s a friendly dog and yet he will bark to alert you of an intruder. Youll take notice because he isn’t the kind of dog that just yaps away.

Children love them and they make great playmates for children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

Their small size and their adaptable nature make them suitable for city or country living. Sweet and amicable, the social purebred Toy Mi-Ki is everything you want in a companion.

He is loyal and devoted, calm and adaptable. They’re not the kind of dogs to go jogging with you, but nonetheless, he will still need his exercise – walks every day as well as ball games.

Characteristics

belgian shepherd dog groenendael dog - characteristicsYour Belgian Shepherd is an intelligent, active, loyal companion for you. He is highly intelligent too, and will need the right owner who can meet his energetic needs. He therefore wouldn’t do well with in a small place where the owners are couch potatoes. He is a working dog and will require being kept busy.

Provide him with good food, look after that thick, lustrous coat of his, provide him with a warm, dry place to sleep and plenty of exercise, love and attention and he will turn out to be the wonderful pet that makes him such a popular breed.

toy mi ki dog - characteristicsThe Mi-Ki is calm and good-natured, and because of his cuteness, he can’t help but become a lap dog, if you allow him.

He is social and just loves human companionship. He is friendly too and will quite happily be friends with children and pets in the home.

Make sure he is trained and socialized so that you become one of the many people who have nothing but good things to say about this sweet little dog.

Health Problems

belgian shepherd dog groenendael puppies - health problemsThe Belgian Groenendael is a healthy, strong breed with no major health problems and with an average lifespan of 12-14 years.

As with every dog breed, there will be some health issues to be aware of. Skin allergies, epilepsy, eye problems and hip- and joint dysplasia are some areas to look out for

Dental disease for instance, is a common problem with pets, and your Belgian Shepherd can have serious problems with their teeth. Tartar build-up on the teeth ca take you down a trail of infections and gum disease. If you don’t want to make use of a special canine toothbrush and toothpaste, your vet will do it for you.

Your Groenendael will also be susceptible to ticks, fleas and bacterial and viral infections. As a puppy of 6 – 8 weeks, vaccinations for parvo, rabies, and distemper will be necessary. You’ll also need to be generally watching your pet’s health and to get him to the vet when he shows signs of being run-down and ill.

With good care, your Toy Mi-ki can reach 14 years of age, maybe older.

toy mi ki puppies - health problemsYou just have to bear in mind, that because of his short muzzle, he is prone to respiratory problems. Too much exercise and you may find him huffing and puffing. Be careful on a hot day.

Also, little dogs like this often have all kinds of dental problems. When you brush him, check his teeth because he can’t tell you if he has a rotten tooth causing him a lot of pain and misery.

Check his eyes too that they are bright and clear and check the inside of his ears. Hypothyroidism and eye issues can also bother the Mi-ki.

Caring The Pet

belgian shepherd dog groenendael dogs - caringThe Groenendael has a double coat and because it is also fairly long, his black coat may well be high maintenance and brushing every 2nd day will be necessary to keep the coat unmatted and to also get rid of those loose hairs. In fact, heavy shedding is part of this breed’s life and while heavy shedding happens twice a year, light shedding continues throughout the year. Sometimes is may be necessary to send him to a dog grooming parlour to snip his hair and to wash it.

Other care routines to watch for -

A healthy, quality diet it absolutely imperative. Speak to your vet about the best kind of wet- or dry food suited to an energetic breed like this and appropriate to his age. You need to include raw meat into your pets diet every day now and then to avoid skin problems. Always ensure a bowl of clean, cool water is available, The bowl will need to be washed out every other day.

make sure his ears are cleaned. Once again you have to be careful when prodding in a dog’s ear and your veterinarian will show you how.

keep him well exercised with long walks and ball games.

toy mi ki dogs - caringConsidered to be low-shedding, the Mi-Ki will benefit from a brush once or twice a week.

Some people take their Mi-Ki’s to have their hair professionally cut. This is a good move because then the ears, teeth, and nails are attended to as well.

You can do all of these things at home yourself, but sometimes, particularly with the long-haired Miki, the matting of the hair can make it that you rather send him to professional groomers.

Diet:

Like all dogs, the Mi-Ki dog will need nutritious food if he is to stay healthy. He isn’t a big eater and you will find the perfect food for your small canine pet.

Read on the packaging to make sure you get high-quality dry food for small dogs. You want the ingredients to be as natural as possible without any toxic colorants and additives.

Meat and protein must always be the top ingredients. Try to provide some home-made food too. Boiled chicken, brown rice, spinach, and sweet potatoes can be chopped up finely and a small portion added occasionally to the dry kibble as a tasty treat.

Comparison with other breeds

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