Indian Spitz vs Curly Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison

There isn’t much on the origin of the Curly-Coated Retriever and his history hasn’t been well documented.

The dog originated some time ago in the early 19th century, with some believing that the dog was in England during the late 1700s already.

It is thought that this dog, which is identical to the Labrador but with a tight, curly coat, descended from the Old English Water Dog, the Irish Water Spaniel and the smaller Newfoundland. This mix was later crossed with the Poodle and this is where the curls come into the picture.

The Curly-Coated Retriever gained substantial recognition in England during the mid-1800s and exported to the United States in 1907. The dog was also later exported to Australia and New Zealand and has been recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1924.

The Indian Spitz is a working dog and has always been used for hunting and tracking small game. It is a popular dog breed in India.

There isn't too much information on the exact origin of the dog but dog experts tell us the dogs have descended from different Spitz breeds and wild wolves, and that they date back thousands of years.

People often mix them up with the Pomeranian, but they're different, being introduced in India by the British. The British began breeding them from a stock of German Spitz's and years of breeding produced the ideal dog type which could cope with the tempestuous weather conditions in India.

They aren't recognized by any major kennel clubs but the Kennel Club of India is working to establish the Indian Spitz as a separate breed.

The Curly Coated Retriever is a medium sized dog standing at about 58–69cm and weighing anything between 25 – 40kg. The dog, mainly black or chocolate brown, is active and muscled and was used for hunting and retrieving waterfowl.

The coat has small, tight curls over the body except for the face and the legs. He has floppy ears and they eyes of the black dog are brown while in the liver-colored dogs, the eyes are amber or gold.

The tail is long. He has a wedge shaped head, and its the fact that the face is more long than wide which makes him easily distinguishable from other retriever breeds. Of course, it is the curly coat which is the dog’s most distinguishing feature.

Temperament:

The Curly Coated Retriever has been used as a gun dog, and today, like most retrievers, they make superb pets and are a lively, social and fun-loving breed. He becomes loyal and devoted to his human family members, making a splendid pet, but then he must be exercised.

Have him trained and socialized and he becomes an obedient, relaxed dog, eager to please. He is intelligent and self-confident and gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

He fits in easily to city and country life, but if he could have large grounds to run, play and swim, which he loves, he would be at his happiest.

The Indian Spitz is an attractive, fluffy looking dog breed thought to have been domesticated thousands of years ago.

The dog comes in two sizes – the smaller- and larger size. The Smaller Indian Spitz stands at between 20 - 25 cm and weighs between 5 – 7kg while the Greater Indian Spitz stands at 35-45cm and weighs between 12 – 20kg.

The dog has a long-haired coat, with the hair on the head being shorter than the rest of the body. The color of the coat can be white, brown or black and white.

Temperament:

The Indian Spitz is an easy-going dog which adapts to all kinds of living conditions in India. They therefore adapt easily to life in the city or in the countryside.

The Indian Spitz is a social, friendly dog who is loyal towards his human family, showing his joy at being with them with high-pitched barking. He gets on well with children in the home and because he isn't aggressive, he gets on well with pets in the home too.

He is intelligent which means that he is able to be trained and socialized, turning him into an obedient pet who takes his job as guardian and protector seriously.

Curly Coated Retrievers are such fun dogs, full of personality, robust and active. He makes such a wonderful pet and is loving, loyal and protective. He is brave, courageous, independent and confident as well. He gets on well with children and loves to be part of all their games. He is capable of getting on well with other animals in the home.

He is an active dog and won’t fit in well with those who like to sit around all day. He wants to be active, and then loves to settle down with his human family at night. He is an excellent all-rounder and makes a loving, loyal pet.

Playful, feisty, intelligent, loving and loyal, the Indian Spitz is full of character and just loves being in a loving family home.

Easy to train, he becomes a wonderfully obedient canine friend who loves nothing more than to spend time with you, especially when it is outdoors going for a walk or playing ball.

He is an entertaining little dog too, and anyone wishing to buy a dog like this won't regret it as he brings in a joyful dimension to any home.

With good care, the average life expectancy of the Curly-Coated Retriever can reach between 10 and 12 years. However, there are some health concerns that your dog may have to contend with and which are common in most other dog breeds too.

Ear Infections:

Apart from hip dysplasia, bloat, dental decay and eye diseases such as cataracts, ear infections are a common canine health problem, particular when your dog has floppy ears and loves the water.

Ear infections can also be caused because of bacteria, ear mites, allergies and hair growth in the ear canal. Your pet will shake his head, maybe off balance and be scratching his ear. You might notice his ears are red and oozing. Get him to the vet immediately.

Parasites and Worms:

When you brush your dog, check for fleas and ticks. Worms too, can make your dog ill, and can actually be the death of a puppy. Worms can cause weight loss, a rough, dull coat and a generally run-down appearance. Your vet will be able to guide you as to what medications are available.

These feisty little dogs can reach 14 years of age if looked after well.

Your Indian Spitz will need to see a vet when he is 6 weeks of age for his first vaccinations and also whenever he is sick.

He is a dog breed that doesn't get sick very easily, but still it is wise to know about some of the more common dog diseases that could plague your little pet, and these are among others, hip dysplasia, epilepsy, cancer and vision- and dental problems.

Dental Disease:

It is important to be keeping an eye on your dog's oral health. Infected teeth can have a bad impact on his health and can actually contribute to heart- and kidney disease for instance.

One of the major causes of dental disease in dogs is none other than diet. Always try to feed your pet the best quality food there is. Certainly if you feel your pet isn't getting the best food, try a probiotic supplement as this can create a healthy bacterial environment in your dog’s mouth.

Check your pet's mouth regularly so you can attend to any dental problem before it gets out of hand.

Grooming:

The Curly Coated Retriever is a single-coated dog breed and this makes him a low maintenance dog. He doesn’t shed much and a good brush twice a week will keep the curly coat in good condition. There are some dog owners that trim the feathering around the legs, feet, tail and belly.

Diet:

The Curly Coated Retriever is an attractively low maintenance breed. Therefore he doesn’t require any special diet. He does well on a top quality manufactured dog food where protein is listed at the top.

These dogs are inclined to put on weight easily so you want to be sure to follow the directions on the packaging and not overfeed him. With his kibble, sometimes add in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken.

Raw meat can be expensive but if you can, try and include it into your pet’s diet to avoid nasty skin rashes and allergies. Always make sure that cool, fresh water is available to your dog and make sure the food and water bowls are regularly washed.

Diet:

These dogs have been used to a diet of milk and rice, but if possible it can be beneficial to the dog to include some cooked chicken and vegetables too. Raw meat is also important, but it is expensive, so just adding it in from time to time can still be beneficial. Water which is cool and clean should be available to the dog day and night, non-stop.

Grooming:

Your Spitz dog will simply require a brush twice a week to keep it clean and vibrant and free from loose hairs. While brushing him, make a point of checking him for fleas and ticks as well.

Exercise:

This is a busy little dog that wants to involved in everything you're busy with. He will love to join you in your long walks each day or if you take him to the park, he will love the chance to run off his leash.