Serbian Mountain Hound vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison

Also referred to as the Miniature Spitz, the German Spitz is believed to have descended from the Nordic Samoyed and Lapphund. Some dog experts say they were developed from the larger European Spitz, and that they were once referred to as Pomeranians.

It is also thought that these dogs were in all likelihood brought over to Germany during the Middle Ages. This gives you an idea as to how ancient the breed is. There are actually 4 different Spitz breeds, divided by their sizes.

The dogs were originally used as herding and guard dogs, but today you could say that this toy breed is essentially a companion dog.

Known as the Srpski Planinski Gonic dog and coming from Yugoslavia, the Serbian Mountain Hound is one of two modern hounds that was once known as the Yugoslavian Mountain Hound or Jugoslovenski Planinski Gonic.

There isn't much information on the origins of the dogs. These two dogs are considered similar breeds, only varying in region. Its a hunting dog thought to have descended from Asian search dogs.

Classified as a toy breed, the German Spitz Klein looks like a small fox with his thick fur. He stands at between 23 – 28cm in height and he weighs 5 to 10kg.

He has a sharp foxy face with small pointed upright ears and dark, bright eyes.

The double coat of the dog which can be fawn, cream, reddish, brown or black or a mixture of these colors, is straight, vibrant and off-standing to look at. He has a soft woolly undercoat. The tail of the dog curls up over the back.

Temperament:

The German Spitz Klein has got such a bright little face. He is a social, friendly dog, forming a strong bond with his human family. He is a smart dog too and can be easily trained.

Lively and independent, he is bold and adventurous. Even with a small dog like this, he will do well to be trained and socialized as he just becomes a better dog -obedient and relaxed around strange people and dogs.

Because of his size, he adapts well to life in the city or in the countryside. This is also because he doesn’t require a lot of exercise. The litter size for the German Spitz Klein is between 1 and 5 puppies.

The Serbian Mountain Hound is about 46 to 50cm in height and weighs around 18 to 22 kilograms. This Yugoslavian hound breed has been used in Serbia as a hunting dog and they are thought to be rare outside of Serbia.

The coat of the newer Mountain Hound is fairly short and thick and mainly black with some tan marks around the paws and muzzle. The dog has floppy ears and a long tail.

Temperament:

This is a hardy scent hound that is confident and bold. They are used to hunting on rough terrain in the Balkan region. They are independent dogs and training and socialization will refine them, making the dog obedient and well mannered.

When he isn’t outdoors, he becomes a good-natured, gentle amiable dog that is good with children in the home.

This litle dog is seriously a case of ‘dynamite in a small package’. Bold, daring, brave, spunky, clever, playful and friendly, your confident little German Spitz Klein makes most families the perfect pet and companion.

Give him the love and attention he deserves, especially because he is undemanding and low maintenance, and with good care you’re going to have a most adoring companion for more than a decade.

The Serbian Mountain Hound is such a social, happy, friendly kind of dog that he makes a wonderful family pet.

He learns well, he likes to please, he gets on well with children and dogs in the home, he is independent and not a noisy barker. He is also fairly low maintenance.

Take good care of him and you’re guaranteed to have a wonderful pet and companion.

You’ve got a pretty healthy little dog breed but be that as it may, it doesn’t make him totally immune to some of the common dog diseases there are. With him, you might want to look out for eye disease and epilepsy.

Glaucoma:

Glaucoma occurs when there is pressure in the eye. Your dog will have pain, red eyes, dilated pupils, increased tear production and corneal cloudiness. You want to have him at the vet for this because putting off treatment can lead to blindness.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

This is a condition that can gradually lead to blindness even though the eyes look normal. Difficulty with seeing at night is one symptom. Fortunately the condition is painless and your dog finds ways to cope with the problem.

It is always a good idea when you suspect anything wrong with your pet, to get him to the vet as soon as possible.

Nobody wants their dog to be sick and lethargic, after all they are our best friend’s. Some ways to check the status of your dog’s health -

Breath:

Check his breath, as a bad breath, just like as with a human being, can be a sign of illness. It can also be indicative of dental problems, digestive or kidney problems.

Skin and coat:

Spread his fur and check that the skin is a healthy color – pink, grey or black. Make sure there is no crusting or itching with red, inflamed areas. Make sure the coat is thick and lustrous – not falling out and thinning.

Paws and Nails:

Make sure the nails aren’t split, flaking and broken and that the paws aren’t cut so that the dog is constantly licking them.

Super thirsty:

Every dog drinks a lot of water after hectic exercise, but if your dog suddenly becomes very thirsty more than usual, it could be indicating a medical problem, and you will need to discuss it with your vet.

Diet:

As a feisty small-sized dog breed, your foxy little German Spitz Klein needs to get the very best food there is. If you are going to feed him a high-quality commercial dog food, make sure to read the ingredients on the packaging and buy him food according to his size and age. Mix in some home-made food from time to time and always ensure he has constant access to cool, fresh drinking water.

Grooming:

He has a fairly long, thick coat, so a good brush twice a week will be adequate. While you’re brushing him, check him over for fleas and ticks too.

Always check his teeth and brush them a couple of times a week too. Bad teeth can cause a host of problems, not only with the teeth, but other parts of the body too.

Exercise:

He is an active, jaunty little dog that loves all kinds of games. Being a small breed, he isn’t going to be the kind of dog that you need to include in your jogging or cycling trips, but he is no couch potato, and he will love to go on a walk with you, and it also does him good to get out and about for a change of scenery.