Wheaten Terrier vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison

Wheaten Terrier vs Finnish Spitz - Breed ComparisonWheaten Terrier is originated from Ireland but Finnish Spitz is originated from Finland. Both Wheaten Terrier and Finnish Spitz are of same height. Both Wheaten Terrier and Finnish Spitz are having almost same weight. Both Wheaten Terrier and Finnish Spitz has almost same life span. Both Wheaten Terrier and Finnish Spitz has almost same litter size. Both Wheaten Terrier and Finnish Spitz requires Moderate maintenance.

History

The Wheaten Terrier hails from Ireland, some 200 years ago.

wheaten terrier - historyThe dog was bred to be a useful dog to have around the farm. He was needed to help with the guarding and herding of livestock and to keep the rat population down.

This little dog has a long history, but in spite of this, he wasn’t recognized as a breed in his home country by the Irish Kennel Club until 1937.

It was in 1943 that the Wheaten was recognized by the British Kennel Club. They were exported to the United States in the 1940s and recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973.

finnish spitz - historyThe “barking Bird Dog” or Finnish Spitz was Developed in Finland. The breed is fearless and small with a different style than many other hunting dogs. He style of tracking is unusual and he indicated his quarry by barking. He was bred to hunt all sizes of prey from as large as bears to as small as squirrels. He was called the “Barking Bird Dig” because he pointed at the prey by barking and giving the hunter knowledge of the prey and an easy approach to it. In Finland, the Spitz is still a hunting dog. In 1979 The Finnish Spitz became the national dog of Finland.

Spitz-like dogs have been present in Finland for over 8000 years. It is believed that dogs living in higher latitudes had more in common with the Taymyr Wolf od North Asia than with the gray wolf. Tests indicate that the chance of the Spitz being related to the Taymyr is between 1.4&a and 27.3%. The Taymyr is extinct today. This shows that the present day dog descends from more than one type of wolf and more than one area. The Spitz was a favorite of the Finno-Ugrian tribes as he helped them find food. These tribes were pretty isolated until 1880. Then the Spitz were mated with other dogs and were almost extinct as a breed separate from all the other local dogs.

However, like many other breeds the Finnish Spitz found a savior. A Finnish huntsman, named Hugo Roos, noticed the native Finnish Spitz while he was hunting up North. He decided to breed dogs that were genuine Finnish Spitz without the blood of other breeds mixed in. After thirty years the current day Finnish Spitz was born.The latest breed standard was confirmed by the Love Finnish Kennel Club in 1996.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Sporting dog
Origin:
Ireland
Finland
Height Male:
43 - 50 cm
16 - 20 inches
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
Height Female:
43 - 50 cm
16 - 20 inches
39 - 45 cm
15 - 18 inches
Weight Male:
13 - 20 kg
28 - 45 pounds
12 - 15 kg
26 - 34 pounds
Weight Female:
13 - 20 kg
28 - 45 pounds
10 - 13 kg
22 - 29 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
9 - 11 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
3 - 6
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
The Wheaten
Finnish Hunting Dog Finnish Spets Finsk Spets Loulou Finois Suomalainen pystykorva Suomenpystykorva
Colors Available:
Wheaten, gingery
golden-red with variations from pale honey to dark chestnut
Coat:
Soft single coat
double
Shedding:
Minimal
Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social
Alert, Cheerful, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

wheaten terrier puppy - descriptionThe Wheaten Terrier is a robustly built, medium-sized dog with males and females standing at between 43 to 50cm in height and weighing between 13 to 20kg.

The soft, single coat is a silky texture and a wheaten, gingery color. A bonus is that the coat doesn’t shed much. Puppies are born with darkish coats of a reddish-brown color but the coat lightens significantly as the puppy grows older.

Most Wheaten Terrier owners opt to have the dog professionally groomed. Their tails have always been docked.

Temperament:

Your Wheaten Terrier is a smart dog, albeit headstrong and stubborn. His intelligence makes it easy to have him trained.

They love their human family and aren’t known for any aggression issues. They’re energetic, playful dogs and are sometimes even looked upon as being hyperactive. They’re able to get along well with other dogs and cats in the house. They generally make great family pets.

These dogs are well suited to life in the city as well as the countryside just so long as he gets his daily walks and other forms of exercise.

finnish spitz puppy - descriptionThe Finnish Spitz is balanced and symmetrical in body and females are longer than males. They have a very distinguishable prick, foxy ears and face. They have a smiling expression and a curved tail. They are a golden-red color with a double coat. The under coat is dense and soft While the top coat is stiff. Puppies often look like little red fox cubs. When born they are black, grey or brown with a lot of black. As an adult the pups grow up to be a mix of fawn and dark black. Lips, nose and rims of the eyes should be black.

Characteristics

wheaten terrier dog - characteristicsThe Wheaten Terrier is such a bouncy, lively little dog that he brings joy into any home.

He is energetic, playful and full of the joys of living but you don’t want to take advantage of his good nature.

Don’t leave him stuck in your back yard but include him in all your family activities. He’s your best friend, providing you with unconditional love that few humans can equal.

Children friendliness

finnish spitz dog - characteristicsVery child friendly – loves to play with children as long as the children pay attention to them. If not, the Spitz will go elsewhere.

Special talents

They are independent thinkers and close to family but not strangers. They often “yodel” instead of howl.

Adaptability

Needs to be with people, bonds deeply with his humans. Most get along well with other dogs but because of their hunting instinct they are not good with small pets or birds.

Learning ability

They are smart and learn easily. They are great athletes and learn games and competition well.

Health Problems

wheaten terrier puppies - health problemsYour Wheaten Terrier is a dog breed that can live healthily with you for a good number of years.

Just like most other dogs, they are prone to some heritable diseases. Perhaps a condition to look out for with this particular dog is protein wasting conditions - protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) and protein-losing enteropathy (PLE).

Both of these diseases are actually fatal but if caught early enough, they can be managed with dietary changes and medication.

Your dog produces proteins known as enzymes, one group being digestive enzymes that help with the breakdown and digestion of food. When your pet battles with malabsorption, digestive enzymes don’t absorb protein and it passes through the large intestine into the faeces. Your dog will have inflammatory bowel disease.

Dogs with PLE for instance, will have vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss.

finnish spitz puppies - health problemsTypically, a somewhat healthy breed, the Finnish Spitz does struggle with a few genetic concerns. They have been known to suffer from:

  • Elbow dysplasia – Can cause arthritis
  • Patellar luxation – movement in the knee joints can cause lameness
  • Epilepsy – seizures can be controlled with medication
  • Hip dysplasia – Just like elbow dysplasia can cause arthritis

Caring The Pet

wheaten terrier dogs - caringBrush your pet’s coat twice a week to keep it healthy and have him professionally trimmed to keep him looking nice and groomed.

Dental disease is a common problem with dogs, and more specifically small dogs. Dental problems start with tartar build-up on the teeth and then infection of the gums and roots can set in too. The teeth have to be kept in good condition as rotten teeth can have a negative impact on other important body parts like the heart and kidneys.

Have your pet vaccinated against bacterial and viral infections such as rabies and parvo.

Speak to your vet about the many worms and other parasites that can invade your pet’s body.

Have your Wheaten spayed or neutered if you want to avoid unwanted puppies.

Provide your Wheaten with the best food there is to encourage good health and longevity. Keep his meals simple and consistent and always go for high-quality foods that are in keeping with your dog’s age, Kibble as well as home-made food are good choices. Never leave your pet without a constant source of fresh, cool water.

Provide your Wheaten Terrier with good exercise. Remember though that these dogs are sensitive to warm temperatures, and you don’t want to have him exercising in hot weather because of the fear of heat stress.

Feeding the puppy

finnish spitz dogs - caringDon’t overfeed the little guy. The Spitz had a good appetite for a dog its size and can gain weight quickly . Feed twice a day about 1/8th of a cup.

Feeding the adult

The same advice hold for the adult dog. Feed 1/4th of a cub of high quality dry food twice a day.

Points for Good Health

When the Spitz is a puppy you should limit strenuous exercise and jumping. Don’t spay neuter at too young an age. Wait until they are mature at 3-5 years of age.

Games and Exercises

Again do not exercise vigorously at too young an age. When older the Finnish Spitz will need a yard to run in and exercise to satisfy his hunting instincts. A long walk every day is a must.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Wheaten Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Wheaten Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  3. Wheaten Terrier vs Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  4. Wheaten Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  5. Wheaten Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Wheaten Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  7. Wheaten Terrier vs Bedlington Terrier - Breed Comparison
  8. Wheaten Terrier vs Irish Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Wheaten Terrier vs Fox Terrier (Smooth) - Breed Comparison
  10. Wheaten Terrier vs Kerry Blue Terrier - Breed Comparison
  11. Wheaten Terrier vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  12. Wheaten Terrier vs Lakeland Terrier - Breed Comparison
  13. Wheaten Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  14. Wheaten Terrier vs Jagdterrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Wheaten Terrier vs Blue Paul Terrier - Breed Comparison
  16. Wheaten Terrier vs Indian Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Wheaten Terrier vs Irish Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Wheaten Terrier vs Japanese Terrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Wheaten Terrier vs Brazilian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  20. Wheaten Terrier vs Old English Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Wheaten Terrier vs Scoland Terrier - Breed Comparison
  22. Wheaten Terrier vs Skye Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. Wheaten Terrier vs Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Wheaten Terrier vs Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Wheaten Terrier vs Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. French Spaniel vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  27. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  28. Finnish Spitz vs East Siberian Laika - Breed Comparison
  29. Finnish Spitz vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  30. Finnish Spitz vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison
  31. Finnish Spitz vs Beagador - Breed Comparison
  32. Finnish Spitz vs English Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  33. Finnish Spitz vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  34. Finnish Spitz vs Artois Hound - Breed Comparison
  35. Finnish Spitz vs Curly Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  36. Finnish Spitz vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  37. Finnish Spitz vs Braque Francais (Pyrenean Type) - Breed Comparison
  38. Finnish Spitz vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  39. Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  40. Lagotto Romagnolo vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  41. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  42. Shikoku vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  43. Slovakian Hound vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  44. Small Munsterlander vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  45. Sussex Spaniel vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  46. Kooikerhondje vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  47. Welsh Springer Spaniel vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  48. West Siberian Laika vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  49. Wetterhoun vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  50. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds