Petzlover
English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) is originated from United Kingdom but German Spitz (Mittel) is originated from Germany. Both English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) and German Spitz (Mittel) are having almost same height. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) may weigh 7 kg / 15 pounds lesser than German Spitz (Mittel). Both English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) and German Spitz (Mittel) has almost same life span. Both English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) and German Spitz (Mittel) has almost same litter size. Both English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) and German Spitz (Mittel) requires Moderate Maintenance.
They English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) is closely related to the Manchester Terrier and the Old English Black and Tan Terrier. The English Toy Terrier was developed to entertain humans in the rat pit due to its speed and agility. This is a sport that was very popular in English cities during Victorian times. Terriers went into the pits with a large number of rats and the winner would be the dog that killed a certain number of rats the fastest. The watchers would take bets on their favorite dog.
The English Toy Terrier was developed to be smaller than the Manchester Terrier, because smaller dogs were desired for the pit. In 1848 a small 2.5 kg black and tan terrier took less than an hour to kill 300 rats. When the Kennel Club was formed the sport of rat killing was outlawed. Because it was such a good looking dog, the black and tan was soon excelling in the show ring. To begin with there was one breed of Black and Tan Terriers and two weight classes. In 1920, the two were divided into separate breeds – the Manchester Terrier and the Black and Tan Terrier. It wasn’t until 1962 that the name changed to the English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan).In 1959, the declining numbers of Manchester Terriers caused the AKC to combine them again into one breed with two kinds: Toy and Standard.
Today the English Toy Terrier is one of the most vulnerable of the native breeds and efforts are in place to increase the gene pool and popularity of the dog. The UKC has also re-registered the English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) in the stud book if it is a certified Toy. The breed is not AKC recognized.
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 English Toy Terrier is a small compact breed that resembles the Miniature Pinscher and the Manchester Terrier. The English Toy Terrier has a narrow but long head with a black nose, wedge muzzle and dark, almond shaped eyes. The ears are flame shaped and the chest is deep and narrow. He has thick legs and a tapered tail. The breed is of course black and tan – with the tan on the face, chest and legs.
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.
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 English Toy Terrier is a stubborn, strong willed little dog. It has a fearless disposition and its alertness make it a great candidate for a guard dog despite its size. They will chase small animals due to their innate prey drive. They are affectionate and loyal and need to be with people. They love to be cuddled and petted, but usually choose one person that they become very close to. He is more than a lap dog. He can be playful, or he can be a small working dog.
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.
Like many Toy dogs, the English Toy Terrier is susceptible to:
Dislocated kneecap – many small breeds are susceptible to this.
There has been a congenital line of deafness in the English Toy Terrier since it was developed with a cross from the English White Terrier. Unfortunately, some still breed these deaf dogs and continue to pass on the condition.
More painful than in the human eye, pressure builds up behind the eye ball. Dogs build up more pressure than humans and this can lead to blindness.
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.
As a high energy small dog feed a high quality dry food that is designed specifically for small dogs. Feed about ¼ of a cup of food split into 2 meals.
In addition to the health issues mentioned above:
This is an inherited blood disease in which a lack of protein has a negative effect of the platelets. This causes them not to form clots and so the dog has a bleeding issue.
Degeneration of the femur ball joint due to a blood deficiency issue. This can lead to arthritis.
Affects the lens by blocking the drainage from the eye creating a glaucoma like pressure.
The English Toy Terrier can develop skin issues so watch him closely.
The English Toy Terrier can be very energetic but that doesn’t actually mean she needs a ton of exercise. Because she is small she does not need as much as you might think. A half hour walk once a day is enough or just letting her run in your fenced yard.
He is an intelligent little dog who needs mental stimulation as much if not more than the solution. Play games like catch, hide and seek, frisbee, and performing tricks.
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.
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.
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.