Is the Finnish Spitz Better than the Ibizan Hound as a Pet? Answer…

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Finnish Spitz Versus Ibizan Hound: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound? 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 Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound 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 Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound 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 Finnish Spitz and for the Ibizan Hound. 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 Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound.

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

Finnish Spitz versus Ibizan Hound: Overview

Both the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound are similar in size. The Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the Ibizan Hound belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

Finnish Spitz versus Ibizan Hound: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Finnish Spitz to the Ibizan Hound 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 Finnish Spitz Ibizan Hound
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 10 to 14 years
Height 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 22 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Easy To Groom 2/5 5/5
Weight 20 to 35 pounds 45 to 50 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 3/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 5/5
Easy To Train 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 12.0 years
Average Price $900 No Data
Price Range $600 – $1100 No Data
Temperament Score 72.7 percent 91.2 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 179 160
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 43 53

    *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 Finnish Spitz 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 Ibizan Hound. 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 Finnish Spitz is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Ibizan Hound is 84 out of 125.

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

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound

    Below is a list of where the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound are most different:

  • Finnish Spitzs require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Ibizan Hounds are very easy to groom.
  • Finnish Spitzs can tolerate cold weather. However, Ibizan Hounds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Finnish Spitzs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Ibizan Hounds are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.

    • The Similarities Between the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound

    The Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound are most similar:

  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Finnish Spitz versus Ibizan Hound

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound.

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

    On the other hand, Ibizan Hounds weigh 45 to 50 pounds when fully grown. Ibizan Hounds are 22 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Ibizan Hound Versus the Finnish Spitz

    The Ibizan Hound has a better temperament than the Finnish Spitz.

    This is because the temperament score for the Ibizan Hound is 91.2 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 72.7 percent, the Finnish Spitz has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 91.2 percent, the Ibizan Hound has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound by measuring the temperaments of 11 Finnish Spitzs and 34 Ibizan Hounds.

    The Intelligence of the Finnish Spitz versus the Intelligence of the Ibizan Hound

    Finnish Spitz Ibizan Hound
    Intelligence Rank 43 out of 130 dog breeds 53 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

    • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Finnish Spitz has an obedience intelligence rank of 43 out of 130 dog breeds. The Finnish Spitz belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Finnish Spitzs tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Ibizan Hound has an obedience intelligence rank of 53 out of 130 dog breeds. The Ibizan Hound belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Ibizan Hounds tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Finnish Spitz is more intelligent than the Ibizan Hound.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Finnish Spitz versus Popularity of Ibizan Hound

    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 Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Ibizan Hound is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Spitz. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Ibizan Hound is 160 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Spitz is 179 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Popularity of Ibizan Hound

    Popularity of Ibizan Hound

    Year Finnish Spitz Popularity Rank Ibizan Hound Popularity Rank
    2013 170 151
    2014 174 159
    2015 178 160
    2016 179 152
    2017 177 165
    2018 184 152
    2019 183 171
    2020 187 171

    Tolerates Being Alone: Finnish Spitz versus Ibizan Hound

    Finnish Spitzs do not like to be left alone.

    Ibizan Hounds do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the Finnish Spitz or the Ibizan Hound

    Finnish Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Ibizan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Finnish Spitz or the Ibizan Hound?

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

    Ibizan Hounds are very easy to groom.

    Is the Finnish Spitz Better for Apartment Owners than the Ibizan Hound?

    Finnish Spitzs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Ibizan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Finnish Spitz or the Ibizan Hound?

    Finnish Spitzs are OK for new dog owners.

    Ibizan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.

    Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Ibizan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Ibizan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Finnish Spitz Easier to Train than the Ibizan Hound?

    Finnish Spitzs are fairly easy to train.

    Ibizan Hounds are fairly easy to train.

    Does the Finnish Spitz Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Ibizan Hound?

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

    Ibizan Hounds have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Finnish Spitzs shed more than Ibizan Hounds?

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

    Ibizan Hounds shed moderately.

    Wanderlust Potential: Finnish Spitz vs. Ibizan Hound

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

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

    Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Ibizan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Finnish Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Ibizan Hounds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Are Finnish Spitzs good family dogs? What about Ibizan Hounds?

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

    Ibizan Hounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Finnish Spitzs and Ibizan Hounds?

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

    Ibizan Hounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Finnish Spitz or the Ibizan Hound?

    Finnish Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.

    Ibizan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Finnish Spitzs Bark and Howl? What about Ibizan Hounds?

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

    Ibizan Hounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    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 Ibizan Hound vs Bearded Collie.
  • West Highland White Terrier (79 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the Ibizan Hound vs West Highland White Terrier.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Ibizan Hound

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Ibizan Hound 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 Ibizan Hound:

  • Sloughi (79 percent match with Ibizan Hound). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Sloughi.
  • Whippet (86 percent match with Ibizan Hound). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Whippet.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Finnish Spitz Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Spitz versus Siberian Husky     Finnish Spitz versus Newfoundland     Finnish Spitz versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Finnish Spitz versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Finnish Spitz versus Australian Terrier     Finnish Spitz versus Havanese     Finnish Spitz versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Finnish Spitz versus Kooikerhondje     Finnish Spitz versus Miniature Schnauzer     Finnish Spitz versus Australian Shepherd     

    Ibizan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Ibizan Hound versus Swedish Vallhund     Ibizan Hound versus Belgian Malinois     Ibizan Hound versus Japanese Chin     Ibizan Hound versus Bouvier des Flandres     Ibizan Hound versus Bordoodle     Ibizan Hound versus Toy Poodle     Ibizan Hound versus Belgian Tervuren     Ibizan Hound versus Chorkie     Ibizan Hound versus Bull Terrier     Ibizan Hound versus Cockalier     

    Conclusion: Finnish Spitz versus Ibizan Hound. 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 Finnish Spitz and the Ibizan Hound better suits you and your family.