Scotch Collie vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison

The landrace breed, which started in the highlands of Scotland is known as the Scotch Collie. There were at the time two types of collies – the Rough or long haired collie and the smooth or short haired collie. The Scotch Collie is considered to be from a line of very ancient herding dogs. It might have existed in the days of the Roman Empire, these herding dogs might have included the Native Celtic Dogs, Roman Cattle Dogs, Gordon Setter, Viking Herding Spitzes and Irish Setters.

In its native land the Scotch Collie is often called the colley dogs, coaly and cooley. Collie comes from the Scottish words for black coal – or the Coaley Sheep they herded. In addition to herding, the Scotch Collie also acted as a hunter and guard dog for its family. A large group of these collies were exported to America to work on family farms. Soon they were so popular they became family pets. They were first shown in both England and America in in the mid to late 1800’s.

The Scotch Collie Club was formed in 1885 and the breed accepted into the AKC the same year. The Collie Club of America started the following year. The AKC eventually dropped the moniker Scotch in favor or Rough and Smooth Collie. This move also separated the show dogs from the still working/herding Scotch Collies.

Aa time went on and the collie became more prominent in conformation competitions, some breeders mixed in the Greyhound and perhaps the Borzoi to get the collie we see today. The Scotch Collie itself eventually lost its independent recognition in the UKC and the NKC. It was mixed in with the English Shepard, but it was an important element in the development of the Australian Shepard, Shetland Sheepdogs and Border Collies.

The breed had a revival of sorts in the early 2000’s as the Old Time Scotch Collie. Any type of farm collie in America and Canada can be registered in the OTSCA. They are more often referred to as Old Time Farm Shepherds to avoid confusion them with the very popular collies. In 2017 there were 174 of these OTSCA dogs. Collies today have less working instincts, and the heeling instinct seems to be gone.

Today the show version of the Scotch Collie is recognized by both the AKC and UKC in the herding group.

It has been said of the Scotch Collie that they have “the majesty of a lion, the pride of a great thoroughbred stallion, the confidence of a Winston Churchill.”

Also referred to as the Miniature Spitz, the German Spitz is believed to have descended from the Nordic Samoyed and Lapphund. Some dog experts say they were developed from the larger European Spitz, and that they were once referred to as Pomeranians.

It is also thought that these dogs were in all likelihood brought over to Germany during the Middle Ages. This gives you an idea as to how ancient the breed is. There are actually 4 different Spitz breeds, divided by their sizes.

The dogs were originally used as herding and guard dogs, but today you could say that this toy breed is essentially a companion dog.

This Scotch Collie is an athletic, intelligent, well-balanced and alert dog. This collie has no exaggerated features like the long nose/muzzle of the current collies. This Scotch Collie is sound in mind and body, a hard working dog. He is hearty and versatile. They are longer than they are tall. Their heads are moderate and the stoop is well defined. They have a wide, flat skull. Their lips are tight and they are fitted well.

Their ears are also moderate in size and pointed or partially erect. They should not have long or droopy ears. They have eyes that might be oblique, almond, and round. The eyes are usually brown and merles may have blue eyes. The breed has a deep chest, broad shoulders and a long tail. There are also some bobtails that occur naturally.

Classified as a toy breed, the German Spitz Klein looks like a small fox with his thick fur. He stands at between 23 – 28cm in height and he weighs 5 to 10kg.

He has a sharp foxy face with small pointed upright ears and dark, bright eyes.

The double coat of the dog which can be fawn, cream, reddish, brown or black or a mixture of these colors, is straight, vibrant and off-standing to look at. He has a soft woolly undercoat. The tail of the dog curls up over the back.

Temperament:

The German Spitz Klein has got such a bright little face. He is a social, friendly dog, forming a strong bond with his human family. He is a smart dog too and can be easily trained.

Lively and independent, he is bold and adventurous. Even with a small dog like this, he will do well to be trained and socialized as he just becomes a better dog -obedient and relaxed around strange people and dogs.

Because of his size, he adapts well to life in the city or in the countryside. This is also because he doesn’t require a lot of exercise. The litter size for the German Spitz Klein is between 1 and 5 puppies.

1.Children friendliness - they are great with children.

2.Special talents agility and speed.

3.Adaptability - Scotch Collies are versatile and adaptable. There is no need to crate them as they are not destructive. If you have a large run or kennel, they can live anywhere. However they are happiest on farms and open lands.

4.Learning ability - They are very intelligent and open to learning.

This litle dog is seriously a case of ‘dynamite in a small package’. Bold, daring, brave, spunky, clever, playful and friendly, your confident little German Spitz Klein makes most families the perfect pet and companion.

Give him the love and attention he deserves, especially because he is undemanding and low maintenance, and with good care you’re going to have a most adoring companion for more than a decade.

The old line breed was hearty with few health issues. The ones they did have included:

• Musculoskeletal problems - can cause weakness or even some lameness.

• Skin problems - can have skin diseases like mange that may or may not be acute, may have allergies or sensitivities.

• Bloat – can cause death if not treated quickly.

You’ve got a pretty healthy little dog breed but be that as it may, it doesn’t make him totally immune to some of the common dog diseases there are. With him, you might want to look out for eye disease and epilepsy.

Glaucoma:

Glaucoma occurs when there is pressure in the eye. Your dog will have pain, red eyes, dilated pupils, increased tear production and corneal cloudiness. You want to have him at the vet for this because putting off treatment can lead to blindness.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

This is a condition that can gradually lead to blindness even though the eyes look normal. Difficulty with seeing at night is one symptom. Fortunately the condition is painless and your dog finds ways to cope with the problem.

It is always a good idea when you suspect anything wrong with your pet, to get him to the vet as soon as possible.

1Feeding the puppy - The Scotch Collie is not a medium dog nor is it a large dog. It is somewhere in-between. Because of this there is some discretion in not only how much you feed your puppy, but also what you feed. Normally we would feed according to breed size but here you need a high quality formula that is made for working breeds. The puppy will need enough calories to meet their high energy needs. Feed at least 3-4 times a day.

2.Feeding the adult - you need a high quality formula that is made for working breeds. The adult will need enough calories to meet their high energy needs. Feed at least 2 times a day.

3.Points for Good Health - stamina and athleticism.

4. Games and Exercises

There is a high need for exercise starting with walks or jog but that is not going to be enough. The Scotch Collie is not a Border Collie or a Corgi in terms of energy, but they are not couch potaoes. They need more than access to a yard. They need a job or they need defined exercise and play. The daily walk or jog will do it but intense play is better.

Diet:

As a feisty small-sized dog breed, your foxy little German Spitz Klein needs to get the very best food there is. If you are going to feed him a high-quality commercial dog food, make sure to read the ingredients on the packaging and buy him food according to his size and age. Mix in some home-made food from time to time and always ensure he has constant access to cool, fresh drinking water.

Grooming:

He has a fairly long, thick coat, so a good brush twice a week will be adequate. While you’re brushing him, check him over for fleas and ticks too.

Always check his teeth and brush them a couple of times a week too. Bad teeth can cause a host of problems, not only with the teeth, but other parts of the body too.

Exercise:

He is an active, jaunty little dog that loves all kinds of games. Being a small breed, he isn’t going to be the kind of dog that you need to include in your jogging or cycling trips, but he is no couch potato, and he will love to go on a walk with you, and it also does him good to get out and about for a change of scenery.