German Spitz (Klein) vs Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie - 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.

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is one of the oldest scent hunting dogs around. A crossbreed between the French Hounds and the English hunting dogs, the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is believed to be an offspring of several famous dogs such as the Beagles, the Poitevins, and the Petit Gascon-Sainttongeois.

Although the genesis of this dog breed is somewhat unclear, a majority of the sources believe that it was developed in the 16th century at a time when written records of dog breeding never existed. Throughout the 16th to the 17th centuries, the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie became a treasured dog breed thanks to the rise of hunting games among European nobles. As the sport thrived in England and especially in France, the need to own the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie became paramount leading to this dog breed’s popularity. Formerly known as the Petit Anglo-Francais, this dog breed was changed to its current name in 1978 before being admitted to the United Kennel Club in 1996.

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 Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is a dog breed that resembles a Beagle. Developed in France, this scent hound has served as a hunting dog for centuries making it an athletic breed with unusual characteristics. Their chests are narrow and deep while the heads are smaller as compared to the rest of the body. The eyes are brown and dark while the tails are medium in size. The limbs are tall, straight, and muscular while their steady necks and broad muzzles are an indication that these dogs are surely bred for hunting purposes.

Since Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie are athletic dogs, you will, of course, expect their overall weight to be lesser as compared to most other breeds. These dogs have a short, dense coat that’s easy to groom. With a life expectancy of about 13 years, these breeds are generally healthy and quite easy to maintain. The only major problem these scent hounds experience is a hip and elbow dysplasia which will require you to inspect them for injuries upon returning home from their line of duty.

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.

Children friendliness

Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie are non-aggressive, stubborn but tolerable dogs that work well with kids. However, proper training and socialization must be conducted to ensure that these dogs don’t cause harm to your kids.

Special talents

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is not a shy pet. These dog breeds do make a perfect companion especially due to their hunting characteristics. They can get along well with new owners and should be kept with a same-breed companion to reduce nervousness.

Adaptability

When it comes to their adaptability, Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie are better suited to be working dogs over being kept indoors. They are therefore suited to farm settings or rural areas where there’s vast track of lands to play and exercise.

Learning ability

Finally, the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is not suited to everyone. This is because this dog breed is quite stubborn and unable to follow orders like most indoor pets do.

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.

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is known to be a generally healthy dog with very few health concerns. We think the reason why it’s a healthy dog is due to its athletic characteristic and medium-sized body which is not prone to problems as compared to its large-sized contemporaries. However, since this scent hound is a cross-breed between two well-known breeds, there are chances that it might suffer from several health problems that mostly affect closely related breeds. Some of these health issues include;

Hip and elbow dysplasia

The hip and elbow dysplasia is a skeletal condition that occurs when the hip or elbow joints fail to develop properly. This condition is very painful and is most common in large breeds such as the St. Bernard, Great Dane, and the German Shepherd. Although the main causes of this condition include; poor nutrition, obesity, lack of exercise, and excessive growth, hereditary issues are very common and can’t be ruled out.

Demodectic mange

Another health condition you need to watch out for is the demodectic mange. An inflammatory disease caused by various types of mites, the mange can become intolerable in case the number of mites inhabiting your dog’s hair follicles become exorbitant. Among the common signs you’ll expect to see include; redness on the skin, alopecia, and problems with the immune system. To tackle this problem, pet owners will need to groom their dogs more often by digging deep into the skin to identify the mites.

Cataracts

Cataract is a normal eye condition that affects the eye lens causing it to lose its transparency resulting in impaired vision and later blindness. Although this condition is viewed as a byproduct of aging, some dog breeds such as the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie are most likely to suffer from this health condition. A common treatment for this condition may include; applying eye drops to help prevent inflammation, surgery or treatment of the underlying factor.

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.

Feeding the puppy

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie puppies need to be fed with excellent-quality dog food to provide a balanced nutrition for precise growth. For puppies between 8 and 12 months, 4 bowls of food a day will be enough. Puppies ranging from 3 to 6 months old should be given at list 3 meals in 24 hours period. Always feed your puppies with top quality puppy foods to avoid any possible nutritional defects. Dry food mixed with canned food, broth, or water is perfect for puppies.

Feeding the adult

When your Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie has reached maturity, it will be best that you feed him once in each day. Always go for the best dog food to ensure that you feed him with proper nutrition. Other meals you can incorporate (but in small quantities) are cooked eggs, fruits, veggies, and cottage cheese.

Points for good health

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie should be fed with excellent-quality food to avoid various health problems such as tooth and bone concerns. Since these breeds are prone to hip dysplasia, regular veterinary check-ups should be observed at all times.

Games and exercises

The Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie is an athletic dog breed that requires regular physical activity to stay in good shape. Following the footsteps of their ancestors, these dogs are hunting dogs despite the fact that some people prefer keeping them indoors as pets. To eliminate boredom, it’s wise that you set aside some time on a daily basis to exercise your dog as well as take a walk down the streets or around the park.