Spitz vs Samoyed - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Spitz vs Samoyed - Breed ComparisonBoth Samoyed and Spitz are originated from Russia. Samoyed may grow 10 cm / 3 inches shorter than Spitz. Samoyed may weigh 10 kg / 22 pounds lesser than Spitz. Both Samoyed and Spitz has almost same life span. Samoyed may have less litter size than Spitz. Both Samoyed and Spitz requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Miscellaneous dogs
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Russia
Russia
Height Male:
48 - 60 cm
18 - 24 inches
21 - 70 cm
8 - 28 inches
Height Female:
48 - 60 cm
18 - 24 inches
20 - 65 cm
7 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
16 - 30 kg
35 - 67 pounds
2 - 40 kg
4 - 89 pounds
Weight Female:
16 - 30 kg
35 - 67 pounds
2 - 37 kg
4 - 82 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
7 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 8
4 - 19
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Sammy, Bjelkier, Smiley
numeroud breeds
Colors Available:
White
all
Coat:
Medium length, thick
double coated undercoat is coarser
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Cheerful, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

samoyedThe Samoyed is a large breed of dog; a spitz-type dog, with a thick, double-layer coat. The dog was used to help with herding and to also haul sledges for the Siberian Samoyede people.

The Samoyed has been used in polar expeditions, including Sir Ernest Shackleton's journey to the Antarctic. They’ve put up with a lot of hardships on these journeys and some of them have lost their lives on these expeditions.

The first standard for the breed was adopted in England in 1909, and in 1923 the original Samoyed Club of America was established.

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

samoyed puppy - descriptionThe Samoyed is a large herding dog standing at between 48 to 60cm in height and weighing 16 – 30kg. He has a thick, double layer coat that is silvery white.

The top layer is fairly long and coarse. The dog sheds heavily once or twice a year, but the dog is described as being hypoallergenic.

The ears of the dog are typical spitz-like – erect. The eyes of the dog are almond in shape and while they are usually brown, they can sometimes be blue too. The tail is long and curls over the dog’s back. When these dogs sleep in the snow, you might notice the tail is folded so that it covers the dog’s nose.

Temperament:

The Samoyed is a friendly dog, to such an extent that you wouldn’t call him a good watchdog. They’re friendly dogs with happy expressions on their faces. They make great family pets and will get on well with children as well as other dogs in the home.

Like all dogs, the Samoyed will need early training and socialization to make him obedient and well rounded. He is intelligent and can easily learn a few basic commands.

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

samoyed dog - characteristicsThe Samoyed is a gentle, easy going dog that gets on well with everyone, loving children and being prepared to be friendly towards other dogs too.

His friendliness makes it that he doesn’t make a good watchdog. He is intelligent and can be trained to obey basic commands.

He loves plenty of exercise, after all he has always been a working dog. Apart from the coat which will require quite a bit of upkeep, the Samoyed is prepared to come into your home and make you a splendid pet and companion.

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

Some of the common canine diseases your Samoyed can succumb to -

Diabetes:

samoyed puppies - health problemsDogs can get diabetes just like people can. Diabetes is becoming more common in dogs as people try and feed their dogs ‘treats’ such as chocolates, biscuits and ice-cream.

Fortunately diabetes is manageable. Certainly, if you discover signs of diabetes in your pet, get him to the vet. The typical symptoms of diabetes in dogs are increased urination, increased thirst and weight loss. Cataracts and blindness can also occur.

Glaucoma: 

Glaucoma is when there is increased pressure in the eye. It can be hereditary or secondary where there is decreased fluid in the eye because of other eye diseases. Symptoms include pain and even vision loss. It can be treated surgically or with eye drops.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is an inherited condition in dogs where the thighbone doesn't fit properly into the hip joint. Some dogs will even have lameness in both rear legs. The vet will want x-rays to diagnose hip dysplasia. Unfortunately arthritis can also develop.

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:

samoyed dogs - caringThe coat of the dog is super thick and in the Spring, the dog sheds a lot. Samoyed dog owners will need to be regular with their brushing routine with these dogs as the coat can easily tangle. Some people just prefer to get their Samoyed to a professional groomer.

Exercise:

This is a working dog, used to working hard in all kinds of conditions. He doesn’t take kindly to being bored with nothing to do and he howls and barks till you take him on a walk. He requires regular exercise such as hiking, ball games, running and swimming. It is why this dog isn’t suited to life on a small property in the city. He requires a large garden or farm and lots of exercise.

Diet:

If you want your Samoyed to be healthy so that you’re not constantly at the vet, provide him with top quality food. It is always useful and convenient having commercially manufactured food but you want to vary the diet just a bit by providing some homemade food too.

If you boil chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots in a pot you can chop it all up and freeze it and feed portions twice a week to your dog. Warmed up it can be added to his dry kibble and be a wonderful tasty treat for him. Every now and then you can also include some raw meat which can be beneficial for his skin. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.

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

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  5. Samoyed vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Samoyed vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Samoyed vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Samoyed vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Samoyed vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Samoyed vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Samoyed vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Samoyed vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Samoyed vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Samoyed vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Samoyed vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Samoyed vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Samoyed vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Samoyed vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Samoyed vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
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  22. Samoyed vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Samoyed vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Samoyed vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Samoyed 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