Spitz vs Galgo Espanol - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Spitz vs Galgo Espanol - Breed ComparisonSpitz is originated from Russia but Galgo Espanol is originated from Spain. Both Spitz and Galgo Espanol are having almost same height. Spitz may weigh 11 kg / 25 pounds more than Galgo Espanol. Both Spitz and Galgo Espanol has almost same life span. Spitz may have more litter size than Galgo Espanol. Spitz requires Moderate maintenance. But Galgo Espanol requires Low maintenance

History

spitz - historyA 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.

galgo espanol - historyGalgo Espanol means Spanish with galgo meaning greyhound, thus a Spanish Greyhound. This breed is ancient with their roots in perhaps the English greyhound and others in the sighthound family. They are much like the greyhound in that they are laid back, calm, gentle and quiet, unless they are competing on the local track. Like the greyhound they are shy and reserved; great with kids and other pets. And of course, they love cats.

There are dogs like the Galgo referred to in writing by the ancient Celts and Romans. One author, Arrian, had his own Galgos and used them when hunting. The breed flourished in the second half of the Middle Ages in Spain and well into the 8th century. When the Christians regained control of the Iberian Peninsula, they did away with the hunter old forms of hunting and introduced a new form with hounds that made the Galgo the pride of the aristocracy and not in the homes of the ordinary people. Arrian claim to two types of dogs, the smooth and rough coated.

Muslim and Chrisitan Kings kept Galgo Espanols. In all probability the Saluke and Galgo were crossbred at this time. It was illegal to kill a Galgo and in 1081, the Mayor of Cartuario of Slonza left his Galgo in his will to Diego Citid. Dogs seen in painting from the 12th century look just like dogs of this breed who can be seen today.

It is believed that when the Galgo was developed, it was in the midsection of Spain or the Castillian plains. They ruled the interior of the country while the bloodhound ruled the exterior. The 18th and 19th centuries saw very little change in the breed. However, in the 20th century, there was cross breeding with the English greyhound that produced a leaner, faster and powerful track racing dog. The results was a faster dog without the long distance stamina of the pure Galgo. For this reason, the breeders returned to breeding the pure professional racing dog.

The sport of racing the Galgo earns Spain around sixty million dollars per year. They train anywhere from three to four thousand of the Galgos every year for Open Field Coursing Championships. Still, there no longer is any cross breeding between the Greyhound and the Galgo. The current coursing programs feature a hare that is much hardier and difficult to pursue so the stamina of the old Galgo Espanol is desired. In Castile, where these games are played, the landscape is open with large fields that requires that the hare travels far greater distances. This means that the stamina of the original Galgo Espanol is needed.

When not racing the Galgos have become great house pets. They have a reputation as gentle dogs that are docile and quiet, with good health. This reputation is well earned. They are also successful show dogs in Europe much more than the states. This is perhaps because they are really rare outside of Spain. They are not recognized by the United Kennel Club nor the American Kennel Club.

Description

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

galgo espanol puppy - descriptionObviously the Galgos looks a lot like the Greyhound, but in some very important ways they are very different. The rear of the Galgos is higher than the front and their muscle are flatter. They are built for endurance while the Greyhound is built for speed. The Galgos is a lighter, smaller dog with larger ear on a long head. They have long tails and their chests are not deep like the Greyhounds.

The Galgo comes in smooth and rough coats and a variety of colors. The rough coat protects dogs that are in climates colder than the ones in Spain and also keeps them from injuring their skin while running. The colors include brindle, black, golden, toasted, cinnamon, yellow, red, white, white with patches, or any color as long as they have a white forehead and muzzle.

Characteristics

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

Children friendliness

galgo espanol dog - characteristicsThey are good with children, but you need to be careful no one gets knocked down or hurt.

Special talents

Stamina for running and a good record in lure coursing.

Adaptability

Though they can be couch potatoes like greyhounds they are better off with a fenced yard and not an apartment.

Learning ability

They are smart and can learn anything you want to teach them if you can keep their attention.

Health Problems

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.

galgo espanol puppies - health problemsBeing a large dog, the Galgo Espanol would normally face a high probability of hip dysplasia. Fortunately for the breed this is not true. In this respect their lightness of weight, their history as a working dog and their anatomy have protected them from it. They are however susceptible to other issues.

Osteosarcoma

Bone Cancer

Malignant tumors that quickly spread throughout the body. Life threatening.

Anesthetics

As a sighthound, the Galgo Espanol is prone to have issues anytime with anesthetics. They don’t metabolize the anesthetics like other dogs do. They will take longer to revive, and they are susceptible to hypothermia while under an aesthetic.

Muscle/Toe Injuries

While running, they are prone to injuries

Caring The Pet

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.

Feeding the puppy

galgo espanol dogs - caringFeed your puppy a high quality dry food made for large breed dogs. Feed 3 meals a day 2.5 to 3 cups total for the day.

Feeding the adult

Feed your adult Galgo a high quality dry food made for large breed dogs. Feed 2 meals a day but don’t overfeed Give 4-5 cups total for the day.

Points for Good Health

They have amazing stamina and good speed. Generally good health as a breed.

Games and Exercises

He can be a couch potato indoors and runs forever outdoors. He does need daily exercise and bedrest both. The best would be if you could sprint him every day or have a small yard he can play in. They excel of course at agility and lure coursing. Keep them on a leash because if they run you will never catch them. The American Sighthound Field Association presents lure coursing events that they are eligible for. They have exceled at show competition in Europe but are not well known in the U.S.

Basic Information

Group:
Miscellaneous dogs
Hound dog
Origin:
Russia
Spain
Height Male:
21 - 70 cm
8 - 28 inches
66 - 67 cm
25 - 27 inches
Height Female:
20 - 65 cm
7 - 26 inches
65 - 66 cm
25 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
2 - 40 kg
4 - 89 pounds
27 - 29 kg
59 - 64 pounds
Weight Female:
2 - 37 kg
4 - 82 pounds
23 - 25 kg
50 - 56 pounds
Life Span:
7 - 16 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 19
6 - 8
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
numeroud breeds
Spanish Galgo, Galgo, Spanish Greyhound
Colors Available:
all
(brindle),
Coat:
double coated undercoat is coarser
Smooth or Rough
Shedding:
Moderate, Constant
Moderate
Temperament:
Cheerful, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Stubborn
Affectionate, Gentle, Intelligent, Quiet, Sweet
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Spitz vs Other - Breed Comparison
  2. Spitz vs Olde English Bulldogge - Breed Comparison
  3. Spitz vs Aussie Doodles - Breed Comparison
  4. Spitz vs Indian Pariah Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Spitz vs Dingo - Breed Comparison
  6. Spitz vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  7. Spitz vs Sapsali - Breed Comparison
  8. Spitz vs Peruvian Hairless - Breed Comparison
  9. Spitz vs New Guinea Singing Dog - Breed Comparison
  10. Spitz vs Lottatore Brindisino - Breed Comparison
  11. Spitz vs Carolina Dog - Breed Comparison
  12. Spitz vs Mountain Feist - Breed Comparison
  13. Spitz vs Jonangi - Breed Comparison
  14. Spitz vs Kuri - Breed Comparison
  15. Spitz vs Perro de Presa Mallorquin - Breed Comparison
  16. Spitz vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  17. Spitz vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  18. Spitz vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Spitz vs Chow Chow - Breed Comparison
  20. Spitz vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  21. Spitz vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi - Breed Comparison
  22. Spitz vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  23. Spitz vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  24. Spitz vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Spitz vs Dalmatian - Breed Comparison
  26. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Galgo Espanol - Breed Comparison
  27. Saluki vs Galgo Espanol - Breed Comparison
  28. Mountain Cur vs Galgo Espanol - Breed Comparison
  29. Rajapalayam vs Galgo Espanol - Breed Comparison
  30. Plott Hound vs Galgo Espanol - Breed Comparison
  31. Petit Gascon Saintongeois vs Galgo Espanol - Breed Comparison
  32. Otterhound vs Galgo Espanol - Breed Comparison
  33. Mudhol Hound vs Galgo Espanol - Breed Comparison
  34. Ibizan Hound vs Galgo Espanol - Breed Comparison
  35. Rampur Greyhound vs Galgo Espanol - Breed Comparison
  36. Galgo Espanol vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  37. Galgo Espanol vs Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  38. Galgo Espanol vs Francais Blanc et Noir - Breed Comparison
  39. Galgo Espanol vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  40. Galgo Espanol vs Borzoi - Breed Comparison
  41. Galgo Espanol vs Black and Tan Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  42. Galgo Espanol vs Black Mouth Cur - Breed Comparison
  43. Galgo Espanol vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  44. Galgo Espanol vs Austrian Black and Tan Hound - Breed Comparison
  45. Galgo Espanol vs Azawakh - Breed Comparison
  46. Galgo Espanol vs Chart Polski - Breed Comparison
  47. Galgo Espanol vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  48. Galgo Espanol vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  49. Hanover Hound vs Galgo Espanol - Breed Comparison
  50. Majestic Tree Hound vs Galgo Espanol - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds