Japanese Terrier vs Dalmatian - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

The Japanese Terrier is native to Japan and is a rare pure bred dog. It is believed that the dog comes from Smooth Fox Terriers who arrived way back in the 17th century.

Certainly he looks very much like a regular Fox Terrier. It is thought that these smooth Fox Terriers were then interbred with local, Japanese dogs and used to hunt rats. Gradually he became a lap dog and companion.

Planned breeding of the dog began in 1920, and it was in 1930 that the dog was admitted to the Japanese Kennel Club with a breeding program being started.

Today you will find the Japanese Terrier in his home country and small numbers elsewhere. He was admitted to the United Kennel Club in 2006.

The history of the Dalmatian dog is also fairly scant, and the information you get is often unclear.

The name Dalmatian wasn’t used until the end of the 18th century, although it seems as though, according to murals on ancient tombs, there were white hounds then with specks over the body.

It does seem firm that the modern Dalmatian is because of breeding of the English nobility. They used these dogs to accompany them on their carriages. The dogs were also bred with the purpose of getting an exquisite spotted pattern.

It was in 1890 that the first Dalmatian Club was established in England and the dog was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1888.

The Japanese Terrier is a small sized dog who stands at 20 – 33cm at the shoulders and weighs in at about 2 to 5kg.

He is a short, smooth haired dog with a tight skin and in colors of white and black. Sometimes you may find a little bit of tan color on the face too as well as 'freckles' around the neck area and legs. The black shading of the coat is essentially found around the head of the dog and also his ears.

His ears are set high on the head and are semi-erect, semi-floppy. The tail has always been traditionally docked, giving the dog a nice compact look but these days it is unfortunately often left long and then its a medium length tail which is thinly covered in short hair. The nose is black and the eye are brown, bright and alert.

Temperament:

Gentle, cheerful, intelligent, loving and loyal are some of the characteristics of the Japanese Terrier. People who have kept him as a pet will vouch for him being a wonderful companion.

He is an active dog, but he still loves to be petted and won’t do well if left alone and not part of his human family. Being a clever dog, he is easy to train, learning easily and quickly. He is quite amusing at times and you can even teach him some tricks.

He gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children. He is alert and will make a good watchdog, alerting you to an intruder.

Because of the Japanese Terrier’s small size and sensitive nature, this breed needs a calm owner and a quiet household. It is not recommended for boisterous households.

The Dalmatian is a medium sized dog with its beautiful white coat with black or liver spots being its main feature. The coat is short and dense and the Dalmatian pretty much sheds all year round.

It is notable that at birth, the puppies are pure white, with their spots starting to form about 4 weeks later.

Both the male and female stand at anything between 56–61cm in height and weigh between 22 to 35kg. He is a slender, muscular dogs with plenty of stamina. The ears of the dog are floppy, he has brown eyes and a long tail.

Temperament:

With his human family, the Dalmatian is an active, playful dog. He has the reputation of being somewhat unfriendly and aloof, but many who have kept him as a pet say this isn't so. He loves to take part in games and gets on well with children in the home.

He is intelligent, but when it comes to strangers, the Dalmatian is reserved and even aloof. If you want to get the best from your Dalmatian, make sure that he is trained and socialized as he then knows how to behave well around people. He makes a good watchdog too.

As a pet of yours, the Japanese Terrier is an animated, contented little dog. He loves playing games and gets on well with children who aren't rough and disrespectful of him.

He is smart and gentle and loves nothing more than to sit on your lap in the evenings and be your reading- or watching-TV companion. Give him the right amount of attention as any other family member receives and he is guaranteed to make you an excellent, low maintenance pet.

The Dalmatian is such a beautiful dog, energetic and playful and he is good with pets and children in the home.

He is intelligent too and training and socialization for him will be easy and promise to bring out all his good points.

The Dalmatian became popular in the 1800's when they were used as coach-dogs, and their popularity has been enhanced because of films from Hollywood such as ‘101 Dalmatians’.

Unfortunately many people receive Dalmatian puppies as gifts after seeing movies like this and then hand their dogs into rescue centers when they grow up and are no longer the cute little puppy they first met.

Be a responsible dog owner. A Dalmatian has feelings and you need to commit to caring for him for up to 15 years. You’ll be rewarded by having a wonderful, loyal canine friend.

The Japanese Terrier has no particular health issues and has a lifespan of 12 – 15 years if looked after well.

There are always one or two illnesses to watch out for such as eye- and ear infections. Some dogs also develop conditions such as Patella Luxation. This happens when your dog's kneecap is dislocated. It can only be returned to its normal position when certain muscles in the back legs are relaxed and lengthened.

With this condition, your dog holds up one of his hind legs. This condition is more prevalent in small dog breeds.

Dalmatians, with good care, can live to be about 10 to 15 years. However, just as with other breeds, the Dalmatian is prone to certain health problems that are more specific to their breed. Some of these problems are skin allergies, deafness and urinary stones.

Skin Allergies:

Dalmatians are known to have sensitive skin and they are prone to topical allergies. When you brush your dog, you should check his skin for redness and also check for fleas and ticks.

Red bumps on his skin could mean an allergy and can be distressing for your pet. Your pet may be scratching excessively and the skin may be red and moist with runny, itchy eyes. It is time to get your dog to the vet, who may prescribe an antihistamines to get the itching and allergies under control.

Urinary Stones:

Unfortunately, the Dalmatian is a dog which has a tendency to form stones in the kidneys and bladder. A genetic mutation causes the raised uric acid levels which is more prevalent with the male Dalmatian. Straining to urinate can be tremendously stressful for your dog and you will need to get him to the vet immediately.

The Japanese Terrier is an active dog and will require exercise every day. He’ll love to join you on your walks or have ball games in your garden. He can adapt to life in the city or in the country but will always need to have good exercise.

Grooming:

The Japanese Terrier is a medium shedder and you want to be sure then to brush him twice a week to get rid of all those loose hairs.

Diet:

The Japanese Terriers will require the best commercially manufactured dog food, and instead of one large meal a day, rather feed him 2 smaller meals. You can mix some tasty home-made food into his dry kibble from time to time. Excellent home-made food would be something like cooked chicken, brown rice or pasta and some vegetables.

If you can, try to also include some raw meat occasionally. If you’re in any doubt as to how to feed your Japanese Terrier so that he remains healthy, speak to your veterinarian.

Your dog should never ever be without a continuous supply of fresh, cool drinking water.

Grooming:

The Dalmatian is an easy dog to maintain and brushing twice a week will get rid of loose hairs. What is notable with the Dalmatian is that not only does he look like a well groomed dog, he also doesn’t have that typical dog smell around him.

Diet:

No matter what kind of dog you have, a high-quality dog food is always beneficial for your dog’s health. Home-made food is always good for your dog and wholesome food such as brown rice, vegetables and some cooked chicken will delight your pet and keep him interested in his food.

There are also excellent manufactured foods and kibble is a good food to have when you select it according to your dog’s age and energy levels.

These foods, especially the top quality ones, ensure your pet gets all the nutrients he needs. Adding some raw meat into the diet can be highly beneficial for your pet and will keep him bright eyed, bushy tailed and with a wet nose.