German Spitz (Mittel) vs Dalmador - Breed Comparison

Originating 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.

The Dalmador is a cross-breed – a mix between a Dalmation and a Labrador, and because it is a a fairly new breed you won’t find much information about the dog’s origins.

We do know that the Labrador originated in Canada and that the Dalmation comes from Croatia. Both these dog breeds have their own interesting histories. The Dalmador is a hybrid dog and isn’t a member of the American Kennel Club.

They started coming about from the 1980s when mixing one pure-breed dog with another became popular.

The 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.

The Dalmador is a cross breed dog which comes from crossing the Labrador Retriever with a Dalmatian. The result is a muscular, well proportioned body.He has floppy ears and a long tail.

He is medium to large sized dog and can stand up to 58cm in height and weigh between 25 and 32kg. No two dogs look the same and some dogs gravitate more towards the one breed while others toward the other.

Most Dalmadors have the spotted coat, although the coat could have very visible spots or maybe just a few dots on the fur. Then again there are some Dalmadors where the coat is more of a solid color in brown or black or cream with some white patches. The double coat is short and dense and he is quite a heavy shedder.

Temperament:

The Dalmador is a gentle, friendly dog, making him a great family pet. You can’t really say exactly what temperament your Dalmador will have as he could inherit either the Dalmatian’s more aloof nature or he could inherit the friendly character of the Labrador.

He is quite likely to be even-tempered and is amicable with other pets in the home. He is alert too and this makes him a good watchdog. Because the Dalmador is the hybrid of two active, alert, intelligent breeds you can expect a dog which for some will be quite a handful. It is why training and socialization can be excellent for the Dalmador as it will calm him down, turning him into an obedient dog who comes and sits when told.

If you’re looking for an energetic, active and highly social dog, the Dalmador will suit an active family that can join in with all his high jinks.

People 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.

The wonderful Dalmador is such a easy-going, cheerful dog full of surprises really, as you never know which dominant traits he will inherit from either of the two dogs involved in his making.

Friendly and social, he loves his human family and is totally loyal and loving toward them. Even tempered and faithful, if you’re looking for a wonderful 4-legged friend and companion, the Dalmador promises to make you a splendid pet.

German 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.

The Dalmador is a hybrid dog and they don’t experience the same health issues that the pure bred dog contends with. The Dalmador has a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years and he can reach this age if you give him all the doggy care he deserves as a 4-legged member of your family.

Apart from a common dog ailment – hip dysplasia, bloat and obesity are also common problems for your dog.

Bloat is a serious health condition that can actually be fatal because its a twisted stomach where trapped gas puts pressure on the diaphragm.

You will notice the swollen stomach of your pet. Larger breeds are more prone to suffer from bloat because of being deep-chested. Also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus, a vet will need to intervene with this ailment as it can be life-threatening.

Grooming:

You 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.

The Dalmador is a medium to large dog so you want to be feeding him one or two bowls of food a day. You want to be giving your Dalmador top-quality food to ensure good health. The lower quality foods are inclined to have ingredients in them that aren’t good for your pet.

Always try to include some home-made food into your pet’s diet such as cooked brown rice, cooked chicken and vegetables. You can mix this into some of his dry kibble. It is important to include some raw meat into his diet from time to time as well.

Clean water must be constantly available. Without good quality food and water, you jeopardize the health of your pet.

He isn’t going to require much maintenance so a good brush twice a week will rid him of loose hairs and keep his coat shiny and glossy.

Other things to check regularly are his ears and to brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week. Don’t neglect giving him a good amount of exercise too.