Is the American Eskimo Dog Better than the Finnish Spitz as a Pet? Answer…

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American Eskimo Dog Versus Finnish Spitz: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the American Eskimo Dog and for the Finnish Spitz. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the American Eskimo Dog or the Finnish Spitz

American Eskimo Dog versus Finnish Spitz: Overview

A very important difference between the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The American Eskimo Dog is a small-sized dog while the Finnish Spitz is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the American Eskimo Dog belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, the Finnish Spitz belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

American Eskimo Dog versus Finnish Spitz: Comparison Table

The table below compares the American Eskimo Dog to the Finnish Spitz based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor American Eskimo Dog Finnish Spitz
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Height 15 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 2/5
General Health 5/5 4/5
Easy To Train 5/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight Starts at 30 pounds 20 to 35 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1220 $900
Price Range $750 – $1500 $600 – $1100
Temperament Score 82.6 percent 72.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 118 179

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the American Eskimo Dog in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Finnish Spitz. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a American Eskimo Dog is 87 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Finnish Spitz is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the American Eskimo Dog is a better pet than the Finnish Spitz. So, you should get the American Eskimo Dog!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Similarities Between the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz

    The American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz are most similar:

  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz are highly intelligent.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of American Eskimo Dog versus Finnish Spitz

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz.

    American Eskimo Dogs weigh Starts at 30 pounds when fully grown. American Eskimo Dogs are 15 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Finnish Spitzs weigh 20 to 35 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Spitzs are 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Finnish Spitz Versus the American Eskimo Dog

    The American Eskimo Dog has a better temperament than the Finnish Spitz.

    This is because the temperament score for the American Eskimo Dog is 82.6 percent while the temperament score for the Finnish Spitz is 72.7 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and they are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 82.6 percent, the American Eskimo Dog has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 72.7 percent, the Finnish Spitz has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz by measuring the temperaments of 86 American Eskimo Dogs and 11 Finnish Spitzs.

    Price of American Eskimo Dog versus Price of Finnish Spitz

    The average price of the American Eskimo Dog puppy is $1220. The price of the American Eskimo Dog typically ranges from $750 – $1500. However, the price of a American Eskimo Dog can be as low as $225 and as high as $4000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 211 American Eskimo Dog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Finnish Spitz puppy is $900. The price of the Finnish Spitz typically ranges from $600 – $1100. However, the price of a Finnish Spitz can be as low as $500 and as high as $1500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 3 Finnish Spitz puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The American Eskimo Dog is more expensive than the Finnish Spitz.

    American Eskimo Dog Finnish Spitz
    Average Price $1220 $900
    Price Range $750 to $1500 $600 to $1100

    The charts below show the price distribution for the American Eskimo Dog and Finnish Spitz. For different price points, the charts show how many American Eskimo Dog puppies or how many Finnish Spitz puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of American Eskimo Dogs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of American Eskimo Dogs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Finnish Spitzs

    A breakdown of the prices of Finnish Spitzs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the American Eskimo Dog puppy or the Finnish Spitz puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    The Popularity of American Eskimo Dog versus Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the American Eskimo Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Spitz. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the American Eskimo Dog is 118 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Spitz is 179 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of American Eskimo Dog

    Popularity of American Eskimo Dog

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Year American Eskimo Dog Popularity Rank Finnish Spitz Popularity Rank
    2013 110 170
    2014 120 174
    2015 118 178
    2016 122 179
    2017 118 177
    2018 122 184
    2019 120 183
    2020 119 187

    Which one drools more, the American Eskimo Dog or the Finnish Spitz

    American Eskimo Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Finnish Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: American Eskimo Dog versus Finnish Spitz

    American Eskimo Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Finnish Spitzs do not like to be left alone.

    Can American Eskimo Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    American Eskimo Dogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Finnish Spitzs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the American Eskimo Dog or the Finnish Spitz?

    American Eskimo Dogs are moderately easy to groom.

    Finnish Spitzs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the American Eskimo Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Finnish Spitz?

    American Eskimo Dogs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Finnish Spitzs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Wanderlust Potential: American Eskimo Dog vs. Finnish Spitz

    American Eskimo Dogs have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Finnish Spitzs have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the American Eskimo Dog or the Finnish Spitz?

    American Eskimo Dogs are very good for new dog owners.

    Finnish Spitzs are OK for new dog owners.

    Do American Eskimo Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Finnish Spitzs?

    American Eskimo Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Finnish Spitzs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Is the American Eskimo Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Finnish Spitz?

    American Eskimo Dogs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Finnish Spitzs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Can American Eskimo Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    American Eskimo Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Finnish Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Are American Eskimo Dogs good family dogs? What about Finnish Spitzs?

    American Eskimo Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Finnish Spitzs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are American Eskimo Dogs and Finnish Spitzs?

    American Eskimo Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Finnish Spitzs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the American Eskimo Dog or the Finnish Spitz?

    American Eskimo Dogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Finnish Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.

    Do American Eskimo Dogs shed more than Finnish Spitzs?

    American Eskimo Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Finnish Spitzs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Is the American Eskimo Dog Easier to Train than the Finnish Spitz?

    American Eskimo Dogs are very easy to train.

    Finnish Spitzs are fairly easy to train.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the American Eskimo Dog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the American Eskimo Dog that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the American Eskimo Dog:

  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with American Eskimo Dog). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Keeshond (82 percent match with American Eskimo Dog). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Keeshond.
  • West Highland White Terrier (81 percent match with American Eskimo Dog). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs West Highland White Terrier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Spitz

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Finnish Spitz that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Finnish Spitz:

  • Bearded Collie (78 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the American Eskimo Dog vs Bearded Collie.
  • West Highland White Terrier (79 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the American Eskimo Dog vs West Highland White Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the American Eskimo Dog and how the Finnish Spitz compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the American Eskimo Dog and of the Finnish Spitz to other breeds:

    American Eskimo Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    American Eskimo Dog versus Lowchen     American Eskimo Dog versus Belgian Tervuren     American Eskimo Dog versus Bernedoodle     American Eskimo Dog versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     American Eskimo Dog versus Icelandic Sheepdog     American Eskimo Dog versus Shihpoo     American Eskimo Dog versus Pyredoodle     American Eskimo Dog versus Yorkshire Terrier     American Eskimo Dog versus Irish Setter     American Eskimo Dog versus Dalmatian     

    Finnish Spitz Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Spitz versus King Shepherd     Finnish Spitz versus Dogo Argentino     Finnish Spitz versus Tibetan Terrier     Finnish Spitz versus American Bulldog     Finnish Spitz versus Shihpoo     Finnish Spitz versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Finnish Spitz versus Scottish Deerhound     Finnish Spitz versus Goldendoodle     Finnish Spitz versus German Longhaired Pointer     Finnish Spitz versus Labradoodle     

    Conclusion: American Eskimo Dog versus Finnish Spitz. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the American Eskimo Dog and the Finnish Spitz better suits you and your family.