Briard versus Japanese Spitz. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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Briard Versus Japanese Spitz: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Briard and the Japanese Spitz? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Briard and the Japanese 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 Briard and the Japanese Spitz.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Briard and the Japanese 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 Briard and for the Japanese Spitz. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Briard and the Japanese Spitz.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Briard or the Japanese Spitz.

Briard versus Japanese Spitz: Overview

A very important difference between the Briard and the Japanese Spitz is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Briard is a large-sized dog while the Japanese Spitz is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Briard belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Japanese Spitz 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.

Briard versus Japanese Spitz: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Briard to the Japanese 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Briard and the Japanese Spitz

Factor Briard Japanese Spitz
Does NOT Shed 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 4/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 10 to 16 years
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Height 22 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 10 to 16 inches
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
General Health 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 4/5
Weight 70 to 100 pounds 11 to 20 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.0 years
Average Price $2500 $2200
Price Range $2500 – $2500 $2200 – $2200
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination at least once between six (6) months and eight (8) years
  • Hip Dysplasia (min age 24 months for all tests)
  • Stationary Night Blindness
    		•  No Data

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Briard 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 Japanese 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 the Briard is 79 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Japanese Spitz is 90 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Japanese Spitz is a better pet than the Briard. So, you should get the Japanese Spitz!

    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 Briard and the Japanese Spitz so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Briard and the Japanese Spitz

    Below is a list of where the Briard and the Japanese Spitz are most different:

    • Briards require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Japanese Spitzs are very easy to groom.
    • Briards have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects. However, Japanese Spitzs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    The Similarities Between the Briard and the Japanese Spitz

    The Briard and the Japanese Spitz are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Briard and the Japanese Spitz are most similar:

    • Both the Briard and the Japanese Spitz do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Briard and the Japanese Spitz are not very friendly towards strangers.
    • Both the Briard and the Japanese Spitz are not prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Briard and the Japanese 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 Briard and the Japanese Spitz can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the Briard and the Japanese Spitz are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Briard and the Japanese Spitz are very easy to train.
    • Both the Briard and the Japanese Spitz are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Briard and the Japanese Spitz are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
    • Both the Briard and the Japanese Spitz have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Briard and the Japanese Spitz require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the Briard and the Japanese Spitz are very playful.
    • Both the Briard and the Japanese Spitz get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Briard and the Japanese Spitz get along well with other dogs.

    Size Comparison of Briard versus Japanese Spitz

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Briard and the Japanese Spitz.

    Briards weigh 70 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Briards are 22 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Japanese Spitzs weigh 11 to 20 pounds when fully grown. Japanese Spitzs are 10 to 16 inches when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Briard versus Japanese Spitz

    The lifespan of Briards is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Briards is 11.0 years.

    The lifespan of Japanese Spitzs is between 10 to 16 years. The average lifespan of Japanese Spitzs is 13.0 years.

    Japanese Spitzs live longer than Briards.

    Price of Briard versus Price of Japanese Spitz

    The average price of the Briard puppy is $2500. The price of the Briard typically ranges from $2500 – $2500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1 Briard puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Japanese Spitz puppy is $2200. The price of the Japanese Spitz typically ranges from $2200 – $2200. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1 Japanese Spitz puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Briard is more expensive than the Japanese Spitz.

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Briards. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Briards. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Japanese Spitzs

    A breakdown of the prices of Japanese Spitzs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Briard puppy or the Japanese 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 to buy 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 a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

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

    Tolerates Being Alone: Briard versus Japanese Spitz

    Briards can be left alone only for a short time.

    Japanese Spitzs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Briards shed more than Japanese Spitzs?

    Briards do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Japanese Spitzs shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Briard or the Japanese Spitz

    Briards do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Japanese Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Briard or the Japanese Spitz?

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

    Japanese Spitzs are very easy to groom.

    Does the Briard Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Japanese Spitz?

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

    Japanese Spitzs have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Briards Bark and Howl? What about Japanese Spitzs?

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

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

    Can Briards Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Japanese Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Briards can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Japanese Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Briard vs. Japanese Spitz

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

    Japanese Spitzs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Can Briards Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Japanese Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Briards can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Briard or the Japanese Spitz?

    Briards get along very well with other dogs.

    Japanese Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Briards good family dogs? What about Japanese Spitzs?

    Briards are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Briards and Japanese Spitzs?

    Briards get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Briard Easier to Train than the Japanese Spitz?

    Briards are very easy to train.

    Japanese Spitzs are very easy to train.

    Is the Briard Better for Apartment Owners than the Japanese Spitz?

    Briards adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Japanese Spitzs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Briard or the Japanese Spitz?

    Briards are OK for new dog owners.

    Japanese Spitzs are very good for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Briard versus Japanese 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 Briard and the Japanese Spitz better suits you and your family.