Greek Sheepdog vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison

Greek Sheepdog vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed ComparisonGreek Sheepdog is originated from Greece but German Spitz (Mittel) is originated from Germany. Greek Sheepdog may grow 37 cm / 15 inches higher than German Spitz (Mittel). Greek Sheepdog may weigh 39 kg / 86 pounds more than German Spitz (Mittel). Greek Sheepdog may live 3 years less than German Spitz (Mittel). Both Greek Sheepdog and German Spitz (Mittel) has almost same litter size. Both Greek Sheepdog and German Spitz (Mittel) requires Moderate maintenance.

History

greek sheepdog - historyKnown as the Olympus Dog or even simply as the Greek Shepherd, the Greek Sheepdog is a large to giant molosser dog from Greece. His purpose has always been to guard flocks and livestock from predators and he has been around for hundreds of years, looking much like the Great Pyrenees.

It is believed that the dog was likely bred with a number of breeds – both local and non-local dogs.

Unfortunately there were no records kept of the development of the breed but today the Greek Sheepdog remains a rare and fairly unknown breed outside of Greece.

It's numbers are dwindling in Greece too and since 1998 the Greek ARCTUROS has made attempts to save the breed, starting the Greek Shepherd Dog Breeding Program.

german spitz mittel - historyOriginating in Germany, the German Spitz Mittel is an alert, vigilant dog and it is these qualities that made him sought after for working on farms.

He is no new breed and is the 3rd largest of the five German Spitz varieties. It is believed that the German Spitz descended from the Northern sled and herding dogs which arrived with the Vikings into Europe. When you do research you see that the dogs are mentioned in German literature which dates way back to to 1450 already.

Description

greek sheepdog puppy - descriptionThe Greek Sheepdog is a large dog, standing at 65 – 75cm and weighing roughly between 32 to 50kg. He is a dog that displays physical strength. He has a large head with brown eyes and a serious expression on his face. He has a thick double coat which is essentially white with red, black or brown markings.

You will also see tri-color dogs. He has floppy ears today but there was a time when the right ear of the male dog was cut off or cropped. The tail is long and bushy and it can be held low but also held up so that it curls over the back.

Temperament:

Maybe because of his size and him being a strong-willed, independent thinker, the Greek Shepherd may not be the best choice for a first time dog owner. Having said that, if you're a strong, firm, patient, kind person, then you'll be able to raise any kind of dog, first time or not.

The Greek Shepherd is a brave, loyal, calm, protective dog and with socialization and training, can make an awesome pet. They are dogs who are a bit suspicious with strangers, not making friends too easily. He loves his human family and wants to be part of their activities. He can't be left on his own day after day as this can lead to excessive barking and destructive behavior.

They've been dogs used to working with livestock and they will certainly need to be taken on daily walks and involved in rough and tumble games as they thrive on activity. The dog won't fit easily into city life where there is just a handkerchief-sized garden as he needs space and activity.

german spitz mittel puppy - descriptionThe German Spitz Mittel is similar in looks to the other sizes of German Spitz. The Mittel is a medium sized dog and stands between 30 and 38cm in height and weighs between 7 and 11kg. You’ll find him in solid colors such as tan, liver, white, fawn, black or a mix of these colors.

He has a soft woolly undercoat and a long outercoat with a mane-like ruff at the neck. He has a fairly long muzzle, dark eyes, sharp erect ears and a bushy tail which curls over his back.

Temperament:

Affectionate, faithful, and always happy by nature, the German Spitz Mittel is a family companion that wants to be part of everything his human family is up to. He makes a good watchdog. He is alert and has a distrust of strangers.

He gets on well with children in the home and he can also live in peace with other dogs. Because he is an intelligent dog, you won’t have much trouble with training- and socializing him, although he will require a firm, consistent owner and trainer.

Training and socialization are important as there are always some important commands such as sit, stay, come and lie down that you will want him to respond to immediately.

Characteristics

greek sheepdog dog - characteristicsYour Greek Shepherd is an intelligent, independent dog who likes to show his loyalty and devotion to his owner.

He is a protective dog too and when trained and socialized makes an excellent family pet. These Molosser type dogs are formidable dogs known for their bravery and courage.

They're the type of dogs who like a strong leader-type of owner and when he gets someone who he can look up to as his leader, he becomes a loyal, devoted pet.

german spitz mittel dog - characteristicsPeople who have owned a German Spitz Mittel are delighted with him, saying that he is such an easy-going, happy dog. He is social and thrives on the interaction he has with his human family.

He won’t do well if you simply put him in your backyard and forget about him, using him merely as a watchdog.

The German Spitz Mittel dog is one dog that definitely lives up to the title of man’s best friend. He is social, happy, loving, loyal, playful, entertaining and smart too, and when you treat him the way he deserves, you’ve got the most awesome friend.

Health Problems

greek sheepdog puppies - health problemsWith good care and lots of love, this dog can live to be between 10 to 12 years of age. He is unlikely to get sick very often, but still it it wise to know of some of the health issues than can occur with large breed dogs like this.

Some diseases to look out for include -

Dilated cardiomyopathy:

This is a disease of the heart muscle. The heart is enlarged and unable to have the right heart rhythm. The distended muscle isn't able to push the blood through the heart chambers to where it is needed. Cause for this dilated heart can be genetic, nutritional, infectious or metabolic.

Because taurine and carnitine are involved in good heart function, and low levels of these amino acids can cause symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy, supplementation is useful, especially if you feel your dog isn't getting in the right kind of food.

Lyme Disease:

Borreliosis, a bacterial infection, causes Lyme disease, transmitted by the Ixodes tick. The tick bites the dog and the toxins gets into the dog's bloodstream, with the bacteria travelling to different parts of the body.

Typical symptoms in a dog includes loss of appetite, fever, no energy, swelling of joints and lameness, but symptoms can progress to kidney failure too or cardiac problems. Treatment will include antibiotics.

german spitz mittel puppies - health problemsGerman Spitz dogs are healthy, and when you shower him with love and attention and good food, you can expect to have him around for up to 15 years of age.

Of course, as with any other healthy dog breeds, there are always one or two common dog illnesses that your dog may get. These include hip dysplasia and eye diseases. If you notice symptoms that indicate possible joint issues with your pet, get him to the vet immediately.

Patellar Luxation for instance occurs when your dog’s kneecap is dislocated. It is more common in toy breeds like the German Spitz. It can be painful for your pet and lead to lameness. If your dog has problems with his hip, it can actually force the patella out of its groove, which is a secondary condition.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

greek sheepdog dogs - caringThe coat of the Greek Shepherd is fairly long so it will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep it free from matting and tangling. He is an average shedder and the brushing will remove all loose hairs, keeping the coat sleek and shiny.

Diet:

Feeding your Greek Sheepdog requires giving him top quality food as this will ensure he is healthy and can ward off common dog illnesses. If you're going to be feeding him kibble, make sure to go for the top quality brands, and as a treat for your pet you can add in some brown rice, pasta, brown bread, cooked chicken and vegetables.

Dogs are essentially carnivores and he will need to have some raw meat such as beef added into his kibble from time to time. He should never ever be without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

german spitz mittel dogs - caringYou can help reduce loose hairs with your German Spitz by brushing his thick coat twice a week. It’s a good time to also inspect your dog for ticks and fleas.

Exercise:

Your German Spitz Mittel isn’t the most active dog, but he will still need regular exercise. Going on a walk is good for both you and him. He is a mentally sharp dog too and these walks keep him both physically- and mentally fit. He also loves ball games.

Diet:

Every dog deserves the best food, and if you feed your German Spitz Mittel with a commercially manufactured dog food, make sure its one of the top quality ones. You want to avoid foods packed with preservatives, colorants and fillers. You want dog foods with minerals and vitamins with high protein and ingredients such as Omega 3 and 6 to promote health skin.

There are also some dog foods which have ingredients in them such as polyphosphates. Ingredients like this keep your dog’s teeth clean.

Try and also give him some cooked rice, vegetables and chicken mixed into his kibble from time to time as well as raw meat. He should never be without fresh, cool water.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Companion dog
Origin:
Greece
Germany
Height Male:
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
30 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
Height Female:
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
30 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
32 - 50 kg
70 - 111 pounds
7 - 11 kg
15 - 25 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 50 kg
70 - 111 pounds
7 - 11 kg
15 - 25 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
3 - 5
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Greek Shepherd, Olympus Dog
Deutscher Spitz Mittel
Colors Available:
White with red, black or brown markings
liver, Tan, black - mixed colors, fawn, white
Coat:
Thick, double-coat, long hair
Long, dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Samoyed vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  2. Presa Canario vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  3. Labrador Husky vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  4. Mackenzie River Husky vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  5. Pyredoodle vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  6. Lurcher vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  7. Maremma Sheepdog vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  8. Sarplaninac vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  9. Himalayan Mastiff vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  10. Mountain View Cur vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  11. Native American Indian Dog vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  12. Greenland Dog vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  13. Komondor vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  14. Polish Tatra Sheepdog vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  15. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  16. Greek Sheepdog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  17. Greek Sheepdog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  18. Greek Sheepdog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  19. Greek Sheepdog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  20. Greek Sheepdog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  21. Greek Sheepdog vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  22. Greek Sheepdog vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  23. Greek Sheepdog vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  24. Greek Sheepdog vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  25. Greek Sheepdog vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  26. Golden Doodle vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  27. Pomsky vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  28. Old English Bulldog vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  29. Puggle vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  30. Schnoodle vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  31. Irish Doodles vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  32. Sanshu vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  33. German Spitz (Mittel) vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  34. German Spitz (Mittel) vs Aussie Poo - Breed Comparison
  35. German Spitz (Mittel) vs Eurasier - Breed Comparison
  36. German Spitz (Mittel) vs Bordoodle - Breed Comparison
  37. German Spitz (Mittel) vs Dalmador - Breed Comparison
  38. German Spitz (Mittel) vs Elo - Breed Comparison
  39. German Spitz (Mittel) vs Dutch Smoushond - Breed Comparison
  40. Pandikona vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  41. Renascence Bulldogge vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  42. Hairless Khala vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  43. Jindo vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  44. Hermes Bulldogge vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  45. Serbian Tricolour Hound vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  46. Kromfohrlander vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  47. Valley Bulldog vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  48. Whoodles vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  49. Mini Sheepadoodles vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison
  50. Beabull vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds