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

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Finnish Spitz Versus Mudi: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Finnish Spitz and the Mudi 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 Mudi. 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 Mudi.

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 Mudi

Finnish Spitz versus Mudi: Overview

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

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 Mudi 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.

Finnish Spitz versus Mudi: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Finnish Spitz to the Mudi 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 Mudi
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Height 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 14 to 20 inches
Easy To Groom 2/5 4/5
Weight 20 to 35 pounds 18 to 29 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 4/5
Easy To Train 3/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.0 years
Average Price $900 No Data
Price Range $600 – $1100 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • DNA Repository
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Patellar Luxation
  • WSU VCPL
    		•

    *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 Mudi. 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 Mudi is 76 out of 125.

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

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

  • Finnish Spitzs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Mudis do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • Finnish Spitzs get along well with other dogs. However, Mudis do not get along well with other dogs.

    • The Similarities Between the Finnish Spitz and the Mudi

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

  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Mudi do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Mudi do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Mudi shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Mudi are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Mudi are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Mudi have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Mudi are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Mudi are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Mudi have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Mudi require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Mudi are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Finnish Spitz versus Mudi

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

    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, Mudis weigh 18 to 29 pounds when fully grown. Mudis are 14 to 20 inches when fully grown.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Finnish Spitz versus Mudi

    Finnish Spitzs do not like to be left alone.

    Mudis do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the Finnish Spitz or the Mudi

    Finnish Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Mudis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Finnish Spitz or the Mudi?

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

    Mudis are very easy to groom.

    Is the Finnish Spitz Better for Apartment Owners than the Mudi?

    Finnish Spitzs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Mudis do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Finnish Spitzs are OK for new dog owners.

    Mudis are very good for new dog owners.

    Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Mudis Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

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

    Is the Finnish Spitz Easier to Train than the Mudi?

    Finnish Spitzs are fairly easy to train.

    Mudis are very easy to train.

    Does the Finnish Spitz Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Mudi?

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

    Mudis 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 Mudis?

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

    Mudis shed moderately.

    Wanderlust Potential: Finnish Spitz vs. Mudi

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

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

    Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Mudis Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Finnish Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Mudis can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Are Finnish Spitzs good family dogs? What about Mudis?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Finnish Spitzs and Mudis?

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

    Mudis do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

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

    Finnish Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.

    Mudis do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do Finnish Spitzs Bark and Howl? What about Mudis?

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

    Mudis are highly vocal. They have the tendency 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 Mudi vs Bearded Collie.
  • West Highland White Terrier (79 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the Mudi vs West Highland White Terrier.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Mudi

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

  • Alaskan Klee Kai (79 percent match with Mudi). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Alaskan Klee Kai.
  • Australian Kelpie (78 percent match with Mudi). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Australian Kelpie.
  • German Pinscher (79 percent match with Mudi). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs German Pinscher.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Finnish Spitz Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Spitz versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Finnish Spitz versus Bull Terrier     Finnish Spitz versus Canaan Dog     Finnish Spitz versus Bolognese     Finnish Spitz versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Finnish Spitz versus Schipperke     Finnish Spitz versus Cesky Terrier     Finnish Spitz versus Australian Terrier     Finnish Spitz versus Doberman Pinscher     Finnish Spitz versus Toy Fox Terrier     

    Mudi Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Mudi versus Black Mouth Cur     Mudi versus Black Russian Terrier     Mudi versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Mudi versus Chow Chow     Mudi versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Mudi versus Shihpoo     Mudi versus Samoyed     Mudi versus Shiba Inu     Mudi versus German Pinscher     Mudi versus Labradoodle     

    Conclusion: Finnish Spitz versus Mudi. 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 Mudi better suits you and your family.