Italian Greyhound vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed Comparison

Italian Greyhound vs German Spitz (Mittel) - Breed ComparisonItalian Greyhound is originated from Italy but German Spitz (Mittel) is originated from Germany. Both Italian Greyhound and German Spitz (Mittel) are of same height. Both Italian Greyhound and German Spitz (Mittel) are having almost same weight. Both Italian Greyhound and German Spitz (Mittel) has same life span. Both Italian Greyhound and German Spitz (Mittel) has almost same litter size. Italian Greyhound requires Low maintenance. But German Spitz (Mittel) requires Moderate maintenance

History

italian greyhound - historyThe Italian Greyhound is an ancient breed, a purebred originating in Italy but with evidence to suggest it was also to be found in Turkey and Greece.

It's a small breed dog that became popular with Italian royalty in the 16th century. Over the centuries, the dog's appearance has remain unchanged, although breeders tried to make it even smaller, leading to problems with the health of the dog.

Towards the end of the 1800s, it was fortunate that breed fanciers implemented breeding programs to restore the dog's look's and strength. The American Kennel Club registered the Italian Greyhound in 1886. Today the dog is a wonderful companion dog.

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

italian greyhound puppy - descriptionThe sweet Italian Greyhound is much like the regular Greyhound, just smaller but every bit as sleek, elegant and fine-boned. He stands at between 33 and 38cm at the withers and weighs just 3 to 7kg. He is slender and elegant.

He has long, fine-boned legs and his short, smooth coat makes him easy to groom too. The coat comes in a number of colors such as fawn, tan, grey, reddish, chocolate and black.

Temperament.

Described as sweet, intelligent and playful, the Italian Greyhound adapts easily to life in the city or to country life.

He is easy to train too, and even though he is small and amicable, it is still a good idea to have him trained and socialized as he is just a simple pleasure to have around then. He just loves the company of his human family and becomes a gentle friend to other dogs, to children in the home and to the elderly.

He is a frail toy dog, and he needs to be constantly watched over that he isn’t handled roughly by disrespectful children or from bigger pets. He is an active breed and will love to be played with and join you on your walks. Even though he is such a frail, fragile looking dog, he has a feisty, stubborn, defiant side to him and that is why training and socialization becomes important. He will be reserved around strangers.

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

italian greyhound dog - characteristicsIf you’re looking for a sweet, gentle canine friend, the Italian Greyhound promises to be just that. They just crave human companionship and are eager to please.

He isn’t the ideal playmate for children, simply because he is frail and can get hurt easily in rough play.

Small he may be, but he is intelligent and alert, and he will bark to warn you of strangers. They are essentially indoor dogs, and when you bring one of them into your home, you’ll be rewarded with a devoted, loving and loyal canine friend.

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

italian greyhound puppies - health problemsYour small Italian Greyhound isn’t a sickly dog breed, and in fact, with the right care, he can live to be between 10 to 14 years of age.

As with any dog breed however, there will be some more common conditions to watch for in the Italian Greyhound. Some of these are epilepsy, hyperthyroidism and periodontal disease.

Epilepsy:

There are different types and causes of seizures, and there are actually no definitive tests for epilepsy. One seizure isn’t enough to make a diagnosis and more than one seizure is usually recorded before a diagnosis can be made and treatment prescribed.

These treatments don’t cure Epilepsy but rather control the symptoms and keep the dog seizure-free so that they can have a normal life.

Seizures are not all the same – some are life-threatening and advice from the internet can’t be looked upon as adequate. With a dangerous disease such as epilepsy, excellent and qualified veterinary help will be required.

Periodontal Disease:

Gum disease can be terrible for your pet. Apart from bone loss and loss of teeth, your pet will experience pain. Periodontal disease may well be common in dogs, but it can be prevented.

Once an animal has eaten food, particles of food, saliva and bacteria form plaque over the teeth and this doesn’t only cause damage to the teeth but to the entire immune system.

This disease can cause inflamed gums and loss of teeth. It is important to brush your pet’s teeth with special canine toothbrush and toothpaste.

The truth is, periodontal disease can cause more problems than just tooth pain which is bad enough. Dogs with gum inflammation may be at higher risk for heart- and kidney disease too. If you’re worried about your dog, take him in to your vet for an oral examination and teeth cleaning.

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:

italian greyhound dogs - caringThe Italian Greyhound has a short, smooth, satin-type coat which is easy to maintain. Gently brush him once or twice a week, being careful not to press down hard as he has frail, bambi-like legs.

He also sheds little, making him a low maintenance breed. Because of the short coat, take particular care of him in the Winter and don’t allow him to become overly cold.

Diet:

Your Italian Greyhound will require a diet rich in nutritional value, and if your particular dog is quite active you will need to feed him about 450 calories a day and sometimes more.

Each dog is an individual and will have different dietary needs. If you feed your pet a top quality commercially manufactured food, read the packaging for guidance on food portion sizes.

Speak to your vet if you are unsure how to feed your dog so that his food and the amounts you feed him contribute to his good health. He must always have access to 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:
Toy dog
Companion dog
Origin:
Italy
Germany
Height Male:
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
30 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
Height Female:
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
30 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
7 - 11 kg
15 - 25 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
7 - 11 kg
15 - 25 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 4
3 - 5
Size:
Small dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
IG, Iggy
Deutscher Spitz Mittel
Colors Available:
grey, tan, Fawn, chocolate and black., reddish
liver, Tan, black - mixed colors, fawn, white
Coat:
Short and smooth
Long, dense
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pomeranian vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  2. Maltese vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  3. Pug vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  4. Maltipoo vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  5. Papillon vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  6. Japanese Chin vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  7. Miniature English Bulldog vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  8. Italian Greyhound vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  9. Italian Greyhound vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  10. Italian Greyhound vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  11. Italian Greyhound vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  12. Italian Greyhound vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  13. Italian Greyhound vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  14. Italian Greyhound vs Dorgi - Breed Comparison
  15. Italian Greyhound vs Belgian Griffon - Breed Comparison
  16. Italian Greyhound vs Carlin Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  17. Italian Greyhound vs Dorkie - Breed Comparison
  18. Italian Greyhound vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  19. Italian Greyhound vs Doxiepoo - Breed Comparison
  20. Italian Greyhound vs Bospin - Breed Comparison
  21. Italian Greyhound vs Bantam Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  22. Italian Greyhound vs Damchi - Breed Comparison
  23. Italian Greyhound vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  24. Italian Greyhound vs Doxiepom - Breed Comparison
  25. Jug vs Italian Greyhound - 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