What Is The Difference Between Japanese Spitz And German Spitz?

[Thundersbeard]

Off topic but just what is a puppy farmer?

[poodlefan]

Off topic but just what is a puppy farmer?

Someone who is a large scale breeder of puppies for profit - and that generally means they don't treat their breeding dogs or the pups very well.

[Bjelkier]

I was looking awhile back at both breeds before my OH decided our next dog was to be a Bullmastiff and I found it very difficult to choose between them.

They both can be yappers, both require a good amount of grooming, both can be very sweet and friendly, neither seems to be a breed that instantly runs up and starts jumping all a stranger as though they where a long lost best friend but that's only the dogs I met and that wasn't enough to make a generalised assessment of each breed.

In the end I went with colour, I already have Samoyeds so I thought why not a JS as well.

I think you should head out to a dog show and meet some of each breed and make your decision from there.

[W Sibs]

Ok, I have a Japanese Spitz. I don't know much about German Spitz though, although I've met a few and they are very cute but more aloof.

Yappy - Emmy doesn't bark for no reason. She is a great alarm dog though... since we got Em, no one has ever used my doorbell. Emmy barks and then find me to let me know someone is at the front door.

Coat - Grass seeds and bindi are hell for their coat. I went camping with Emmy and spend hours afterward brushing her and pulling out grass seeds and bindi out of her coat... luckily she loves cuddles and will just lay on top of me while I do this.

Kids - You have to really research your dog and talk to a good breeder about it's temperament when it comes to kids. Emmy isn't a fan of kids, but now learned to tolerate them. She loves the kids she sees all the time but with kids she doesn't know, she will keep a distance till she works up the courage to go over to say hello.

Like all dogs, they need to be socialised.

Not sure about other JS, but I know that my JS has a high prey drive. It will hunt and kill small animals and bugs. Also, they are too intelligent and willful, so training them is a must. They are bred to be companion dogs, but they are still dogs. JS are a busy breed, so they have the need to always do something (or else they will keep themselves entertained by destroying your house )

[Loving my Oldies]

So both breeds of spitzes can be yappy; is one breed more yappy then the other do you think? And if we had 2 dogs would the extra company keep the noise down or increase it!

Increase it I'd say.

Only at first and be trained out of it. Many dogs will be bark when others do; not sure that breed would be a large factor. I have been having a couple of practice wolf choirs in the last week or so, because Jeune had become a bit vocal - LOL.

[poodlefan]

So both breeds of spitzes can be yappy; is one breed more yappy then the other do you think? And if we had 2 dogs would the extra company keep the noise down or increase it!

Increase it I'd say.

Only at first and be trained out of it. Many dogs will be bark when others do; not sure that breed would be a large factor. I have been having a couple of practice wolf choirs in the last week or so, because Jeune had become a bit vocal - LOL.

It definitely plays its part. Vocal breeds create a serious challenge for owners to keep quiet. At least one Spitz breed (the Finnish) was selectively bred for barking - its how the hunter finds it when its located game.

[pebbles]

Hi Thundersbeard, I see you are in Victoria. I have a friend who has the German Spitz, both sizes, just imported the Klein.

You wont see many at shows so if you would like to contact my friend, web site - 'Mibuddi German Spitz and Shiba Inu' she would be able to give you some info.

[corvus]

Someone with German Spitzes recommended them to me one time, when I was looking for a dog that would be a little independent, but still want to play games like tug and frisbee with me. I ended up getting a Swedish Vallhund instead, because my OH didn't like the degree of fluffyness a GS possesses. I don't think I'd ever want a JS. They seem a bit reactive to me. It may be that GS are the same and I just wasn't aware of it. I've met a few and they seemed noisy, but friendly. Maybe it was just the context I saw them in?

I like my Vall, he's fiesty and tough, but he's full of self-confidence as well. He likes to chase things, but it's not hard to distract him from chasing animals, usually. I find him to be very biddable, but impossible to take for granted. The moment he doesn't want to do something he lets me know about it. I adore my Lappie's big coat, but it's a lot of work. The Vall's coat is dead easy. He goes weak at the knees for a brushing, but he doesn't need one, really.

[SpikesPuppy]

Personally, I prefer the Germans :D the ones I have met seem to be a bit more chilled out than the Japs I've seen around. Plus, they are a little larger & sturdier in build.

[Sandra777]

At least one Spitz breed (the Finnish) was selectively bred for barking

Or as some call them - the Finished Spitz :D

Love the look of them, but the barking ;) they'd be finished if they lived here!

[poodlefan]

At least one Spitz breed (the Finnish) was selectively bred for barking

Or as some call them - the Finished Spitz :D

Love the look of them, but the barking ;) they'd be finished if they lived here!

Friend of mine had one.. lets just say she was a good representative of the breed.

[dancinbcs]

Personally, I prefer the Germans :D the ones I have met seem to be a bit more chilled out than the Japs I've seen around. Plus, they are a little larger & sturdier in build.

That depends on the size of the Germans. The smallest are much smaller than a Jap. The Japs are very "busy" dogs and definitely not the type to lie around doing nothing, unless of course they happen to be lying on your lap getting spoilt. Then they are more than happy to stay still.

[W Sibs]

Personally, I prefer the Germans ;) the ones I have met seem to be a bit more chilled out than the Japs I've seen around. Plus, they are a little larger & sturdier in build.

That depends on the size of the Germans. The smallest are much smaller than a Jap. The Japs are very "busy" dogs and definitely not the type to lie around doing nothing, unless of course they happen to be lying on your lap getting spoilt. Then they are more than happy to stay still.

This is true. They can lay in your arms or be cuddles for hours if you let them :D

[SpikesPuppy]

Personally, I prefer the Germans :D the ones I have met seem to be a bit more chilled out than the Japs I've seen around. Plus, they are a little larger & sturdier in build.

That depends on the size of the Germans. The smallest are much smaller than a Jap. The Japs are very "busy" dogs and definitely not the type to lie around doing nothing, unless of course they happen to be lying on your lap getting spoilt. Then they are more than happy to stay still.

Sorry should have clarified I was talking about the Mittel ;)

Although I prefer the bone on the Klein too.

I like all 3 breeds being discussed here but if I were to get one it would be a Mittel- the Japanese are incredibly pretty though but my style is stronger and more workman like, which I think the German Mittel fits into.

I guess I'm also thinking about dog shows- go past a trolley of Japanese Spitz and it's yap yap yap go past a trolley of German and it's still yap but more sedate and a slightly lower pitch. My experience but either way it's gonna bark lol.

[Rysup]

In my experience Germans are very big yappers. All the ones I know like to talk, and talk lots. I have lived with a Japanese Spitz and at home, not much noise, but yes at shows they can be a bit "possessive" of their trolleys.

Spikespuppy I would suggest the lower pitched Germans are debarked!

Coat wise not much difference apart from the colours and then you can get white Germans.

ANY dog will bark when bored or lonely. I find my own spitz bark LESS when together, than apart. The only time it may increase is when they are young and are playing, however, this is a much easier on the ear bark, than a lonely barker.

I think as long as you put in the hard yards in training and grooming practice (so they dont become the princesses we see in the grooming salon who cannot be brushed) then I think either breed would be ok.

[Blakbelgian]

There are a couple of people on here that own either breed.

ANNADORA (SP?) has Ikon the German Spitz perhaps ask her what he is like to live with.

Also a SCHIPPERKE may suit you. Short coat, don't bark much, no health problems, no doggy odour when wet.

Only needs a brush when moulting which is for about two weeks once a year.

BB

[SpikesPuppy]

In my experience Germans are very big yappers. All the ones I know like to talk, and talk lots. I have lived with a Japanese Spitz and at home, not much noise, but yes at shows they can be a bit "possessive" of their trolleys.

Spikespuppy I would suggest the lower pitched Germans are debarked!

Coat wise not much difference apart from the colours and then you can get white Germans.

ANY dog will bark when bored or lonely. I find my own spitz bark LESS when together, than apart. The only time it may increase is when they are young and are playing, however, this is a much easier on the ear bark, than a lonely barker.

I think as long as you put in the hard yards in training and grooming practice (so they dont become the princesses we see in the grooming salon who cannot be brushed) then I think either breed would be ok.

Not debarked - it doesn't sound like it anyway. It's only a slight lower pitch than the Japanese, more of a yup than a yip. Most people possibly wouldn't even notice!! Maybe it's jut the ones here in Vic lol. Please don't take what I said as being prejudice against either breed- merely sharing my personal experiences. And I do admire both breeds very much, just being honest in my observations as well as from what I have seen when dogs of both breeds have mixed with my own.

Lots of Japanese Spitz in pet stores down here :D they seem to be very popular ATM so not sure if that will make it better or worse for finding a high quality animal.

[Thundersbeard]

thanks guys. sometimes listening to a conversation is the best way to pick up information, especially when it's inside information!

[Miss B]

I have two Japs, one is very noisy (barks at anything and everything... birds, trees, cars etc) and the other is not (she will bark to alert when someone arrives at the house but that's about it). We live on acreage and I have a terrible time keeping the twigs, leaves and cobblers pegs out of my boys coat. Not trying to put you off, just some things to consider :D

[Kavik]

Japanese Spitz were not bred to guard, they are simply companion dogs bred to be beautiful. Some of them are extreme barkers but others only bark briefly when there is a reason to bark. They will all bark when confined if they see something interesting because they are very brave when they feel safe but when out loose or on a lead, are far less likely to bark. I find them amusing at shows when they bark frantically at a big dog standing near their trolley, but if you take them out of the trolley, they go instantly silent. They are not stupid enough to bark at bigger dogs if there is not a solid barrier between them.

The few German Spitz I have seen do seem to bark a lot and are not as friendly as the Japs I know, but they are still a very rare breed here so it is hard to make any overall assumptions about the breed as a whole. I find it hard to believe that such a rare breed would turn up in rescue. The puppy farmers don't seem to have discovered the Germans yet but sadly there are plenty of them with Japs.

The temperament varies a lot in Jap Spitz as well and anyone not breeding with temperament as a high priority will have nervous yappy dogs. The only way to make a decision on temperament is to meet dogs owned by breeders and then decide if these particular dogs are what you are after. I love Jap Spitz but only some of them. Even among my friends outstanding quality dogs, there are only some that I would consider owning a puppy from.

I agree with this. I know someone who breeds Jap Spitzes, and there is one of her dogs I really like as he is drivey and outgoing and fun, but others of hers are more nervous. Met one at training the other night who I also really liked - he looked like lots of fun! From what I have seen of both breeds they can be reserved with strangers (though I have noticed the Germans moreso) and especially the Germans can be VERY noisy!