If you love white, fluffy, and smiling dogs, this Samoyed vs. Japanese Spitz article has the information you’re looking for. The Samoyed and Japanese Spitz are the most petted fluffy white dog because they are lovely.
Even though these two dog breeds have a lot in common, they have some notable differences you should know.
That’s if you’re planning to own either of them. This article has detailed information on this breed, how they differ, and which is the best.
Samoyed vs. Japanese Spitz
There are some biggest similarities and differences between the Samoyed and Japanese Spitz. Both dogs are fluffy, white, and adorable. However, their size, trainability, upkeep, exercise needs, and overall commitment to their care differ.
Samoyed Vs. Japanese Spitz Similarities
The Samoyed and Japanese Spitz aren’t members of the same breed group but have some notable similarities. These include;
1. Coat
The Samoyed and Japanese Spitz have lush and double coats. Their undercoats are dense and soft, while the guard coat is harsher. Both breeds tend to shed profusely year-round, but the shedding is usually intense twice yearly.
The Japanese Spitz has a slightly softer coat than Samoyed and thus drops hair more readily.
2. Energy Levels
The dogs have the same energy levels, but Samoyed is slightly more energetic. It’ll take more investment to train/ exercise the Samoyed because of their large size.
You can take both dogs for at least one walk daily in your neighborhood or offer them playtime outdoors or in the house. But the Japanese Spitz can get a lot of energy by running in the living room because of its small size.
3. Friendliness
Both the Samoyed and Japanese Spitz don’t make excellent guard dogs. The Samoyeds have an impressive mane, but their large size gives them an intimidating appearance.
Other things that make them appear intimidating are their wagging plume tails and their ear-to-ear grin.
Regardless Samoyed and Japanese Spitz are known to be gregarious and friendly dogs. They can live well with other dogs, but it’s best to ensure that other dogs are large as them. Some Samoyeds or Japanese Spitz do extend their prey drive to smaller dogs.
4. Lifespan
Both dog breeds can live up to 14 years. They’ll easily reach this age if fed high-quality food, given proper medication, and exercised regularly.
However, most Japanese Spitzes are usually more short-lived than Samoyeds. They die at 10 years, less than 12 years of the Samoyed.
5. Temperament
The Samoyed and Japanese Spitz have similar temperaments, but slight and noticeable inconsistencies exist.
They include the ability to get along with other dog breeds, affection for people/ family members, alertness, etc.
Like many other dog breeds, the Japanese Spitz is affectionate and shows steadfast love to its family.
But the Samoyed takes affections to another level; it tends to be clingier. Samoyeds were bred as companion pets, living much closer and curling up with their people.
Samoyeds are also more alert but aren’t good guard dogs because of their friendliness. They make excellent watchdogs and bark to notify you of mail carriers.
Lastly, some Samoyeds are dog-selective/ aren’t welcoming toward new dogs. On the other hand, the Japanese Spitz will treat another dog just like they do to humans. It’s a great trait that also comes with its challenges.
6. Ideal Climate
Both dog breeds evolved in freezing climates. Their beautiful but fluffy coats weren’t just developed to look adorable. The purpose of the coats is to keep the Samoyed and Japanese Spitz warm even in sub-zero temperatures.
Therefore, don’t be surprised when you learn these dog breeds don’t survive well in warm climates. They overheat quickly, and too much sunlight scorches the coats destroying their perfect cream or white skin.
If you plan to house either of these breeds in a warm climate region, you must provide ideal temperature from a temperature-controlled space. This makes them comfortable.
The Japanese Spitz are small-bodied and thus can get enough exercise in a small temperature-controlled space. Samoyeds, on the other hand, need more space to exercise. If the room is small, keeping them isn’t a great idea.
7. Grooming
The Samoyed and Japanese Spitz have light-colored fur that repels mud and dirt. You should wait for them to dry if they get muddy or wet before brushing most dirt out. Or you can allow them to roll in the snow and clean themselves.
These breeds don’t need regular bathing; if you do it often, it can make them lose natural oils and will also irritate their skins. Only bathe them a few times a year.
But you’ll have to brush the Samoyed and Japanese Spitz regularly. Prepare yourself to spend some hours weekly brushing either of these breeds. In addition, when the dogs are shedding off their coats, you’ll spend hours cleaning/ controlling their fur.
The Samoyed and Japanese Spitz furs are more prone to mating if they frequently get wet. Therefore, you need to brush them out from the skin regularly.
Use long-toothed combs as they quickly get down to the skin. The more frequently you brush these dogs’ furs, the easier it’ll be on you and the dog.
Samoyeds vs. Japanese Spitz Differences
In as much as the Samoyed and Japanese Spitz have a lot of similarities, some differences help you identify them quickly. These are;
Exercise
The Samoyed and the Japanese Spitz are both energetic but have different-sized bodies. The size difference means that each dog needs different experiences when it comes to exercise.
Generally, running inside the house or in the yard is enough exercise for a Japanese Spitz. You can also take your Japanese Spitz for a short walk when the temperature is cool. If it needs more training, you can provide dog toys to entertain itself.
The Samoyed is a powerful and large dog bred to drive livestock, pull sleds and protect homesteads.
Most Samoyeds can operate from a family living room without much trouble. However, they need a lot of exercises to be happy.
Barking Level
The Japanese Spitz is a moderate barker, while the Samoyed is incredibly vocal. Both breeds tend to develop problems in their barking behavior, but this is more common in Samoyeds.
You can control this barking problem by meeting your dog’s needs. For example, ensure your dog gets adequate exercise, grooming, and more.
The Samoyed is also prone to clinginess and thus might have separation anxiety. For this reason, you should train them how to stay alone when they’re young.
Do this using good experiences, and remember that Samoyeds don’t love long stretches alone in the house. They’ll do it better when with a family or when someone is home.
Diet
There are Samoyeds that suffer from obesity, but it can be hard to notice because of their plush coat. You need to closely monitor your Samoyed’s diet to be sure it’s not gaining excess weight. Most Samoyeds thrive well on the weight control diet.
Japanese Spitz is quite energetic; this little dog quickly burns fat from its active indoor lifestyle. You can manage the Japanese Spitz well using high-quality food and feeding it only twice daily.
Color
The Samoyed and Japanese Spitz are light-colored, with pure white standard color. Generally, the Japanese Spitz color is pure white, but Samoyeds can be biscuit, cream, or biscuit and white.
Training
The Japanese Spitz is an intelligent breed that enjoys interacting with and pleasing its owners. Therefore, this makes it so easy to train. You can quickly motivate a Japanese Spitz using toys or treats.
On the contrary, the Samoyed was bred to think independently. When not pulling a sled, Samoyeds forage for their food and use their intelligence to provide security to their people. The Samoyed love their family and will bravely protect their loved ones.
What Is The Best Home For A Samoyed?
The Samoyed is a unique and beautiful dog breed. But it’ll only enjoy certain activities and environments. You should keep a Samoyed if;
Your Home Has a Backyard
Samoyeds enjoy running freely, more so in the snow. However, never leave your Samoyed unsupervised in the backyard.
Plus, ensure your backyard is well secured since Samoyed are pros at escaping. If they find any small space, they’re gone.
You Don’t Have Much Time to Train a Dog
A Samoyed will love your entire family, but they won’t wait on your command. They have their minds and are so curious about everything happening around them.
What Is the Best Home for a Japanese Spitz?
You need to know some things before going for a Japanese Spitz. It is a great dog but quite demanding in terms of maintenance. It’s a great dog for someone who;
Doesn’t Mind Some Fur
The Japanese Spitz does shed a lot of furs and needs much brushing. If you can’t tolerate hair all over your home, it’s not the right breed.
You Stay in an Apartment
The Japanese Spitz has a small body and thus does well indoors. If you stay in an apartment, the Japanese Spitz will still get enough exercise from your living room. All you need to do is ensure your home has a comfortable temperature. You can also provide it with dog toys.
You Have Time to Spend with Your Dog
The Japanese Spitz won’t use a lot of your energy when it comes to exercising and training. But they do love to spend time with their people. It’ll surely complain if you intend to leave it at home most often.
Conclusion
This article compares the two breeds; Samoyed vs. Japanese Spitz. We hope the information has helped you choose the dog breed you think is best for you. Both breeds are desirable and notable but survive well in different conditions.
Therefore, you should ensure you can offer the dog’s needs before petting it. Remember that the Japanese Spitz is more demanding in maintenance than the Samoyed.
