Breed Comparison: Finnish Spitz Versus Pomeranian

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Finnish Spitz Versus Pomeranian: Introduction

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

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

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 Pomeranian

Finnish Spitz versus Pomeranian: Overview

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

Finnish Spitz versus Pomeranian: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Finnish Spitz to the Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 16 years
Height 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder
Easy To Groom 2/5 2/5
Weight 20 to 35 pounds 3 to 7 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Easy To Train 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 3/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 14.0 years
Average Price $900 $2150
Price Range $600 – $1100 $1500 – $2500
Temperament Score 72.7 percent 77.8 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 179 21
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 43 23

    *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 Pomeranian. 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 Pomeranian is 79 out of 125.

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

    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 Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian

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

  • Finnish Spitzs have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects. However, Pomeranians do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Finnish Spitzs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Pomeranians do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • Finnish Spitzs get along well with other dogs. However, Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Finnish Spitzs require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise. However, Pomeranians have low exercise needs.
  • The Similarities Between the Finnish Spitz and the Pomeranian

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

  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Pomeranian do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Pomeranian do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Pomeranian require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Pomeranian shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Pomeranian are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Pomeranian are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Pomeranian can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Pomeranian are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Pomeranian are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Finnish Spitz versus Pomeranian

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

    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, Pomeranians weigh 3 to 7 pounds when fully grown. Pomeranians are 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Finnish Spitz Versus the Pomeranian

    The Pomeranian has a better temperament than the Finnish Spitz.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pomeranian is 77.8 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 77.8 percent, the Pomeranian has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Finnish Spitz and the Pomeranian by measuring the temperaments of 11 Finnish Spitzs and 36 Pomeranians.

    Price of Finnish Spitz versus Price of Pomeranian

    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 reviewing the prices of 3 Finnish Spitz puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Pomeranian puppy is $2150. The price of the Pomeranian typically ranges from $1500 – $2500. However, the price of a Pomeranian can be as low as $150 and as high as $10000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1412 Pomeranian puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Pomeranian is more expensive than the Finnish Spitz.

    Finnish Spitz Pomeranian
    Average Price $900 $2150
    Price Range $600 to $1100 $1500 to $2500

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

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Pomeranians

    A breakdown of the prices of Pomeranians

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Finnish Spitz puppy or the Pomeranian 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 Intelligence of the Finnish Spitz versus the Intelligence of the Pomeranian

    Finnish Spitz Pomeranian
    Intelligence Rank 43 out of 130 dog breeds 23 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 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 Pomeranian has an obedience intelligence rank of 23 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pomeranian belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Pomeranians tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Pomeranian is more intelligent than the Finnish Spitz.

    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 Pomeranian

    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 Pomeranian over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pomeranian is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Spitz. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pomeranian is 21 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 Pomeranian

    Popularity of Pomeranian

    Year Finnish Spitz Popularity Rank Pomeranian Popularity Rank
    2013 170 19
    2014 174 20
    2015 178 21
    2016 179 22
    2017 177 22
    2018 184 23
    2019 183 24
    2020 187 23

    Tolerates Being Alone: Finnish Spitz versus Pomeranian

    Finnish Spitzs do not like to be left alone.

    Pomeranians do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the Finnish Spitz or the Pomeranian

    Finnish Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Pomeranians do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

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

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

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

    Finnish Spitzs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Pomeranians adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Finnish Spitzs are OK for new dog owners.

    Pomeranians are very good for new dog owners.

    Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pomeranians Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Pomeranians cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Is the Finnish Spitz Easier to Train than the Pomeranian?

    Finnish Spitzs are fairly easy to train.

    Pomeranians are very easy to train.

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

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

    Pomeranians 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 Finnish Spitzs shed more than Pomeranians?

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

    Pomeranians shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Wanderlust Potential: Finnish Spitz vs. Pomeranian

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

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

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

    Finnish Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Pomeranians can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Are Finnish Spitzs good family dogs? What about Pomeranians?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Finnish Spitzs and Pomeranians?

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

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

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

    Finnish Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.

    Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do Finnish Spitzs Bark and Howl? What about Pomeranians?

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

    Pomeranians 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 Pomeranian vs Bearded Collie.
  • West Highland White Terrier (79 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the Pomeranian vs West Highland White Terrier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pomeranian

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

  • Pomapoo (81 percent match with Pomeranian). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Pomapoo.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Finnish Spitz Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Spitz versus Spanish Mastiff     Finnish Spitz versus Mountain Cur     Finnish Spitz versus Korean Jindo Dog     Finnish Spitz versus Siberian Husky     Finnish Spitz versus Leonberger     Finnish Spitz versus Australian Kelpie     Finnish Spitz versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Finnish Spitz versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Finnish Spitz versus Berger Picard     Finnish Spitz versus Aussiedoodle     

    Pomeranian Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pomeranian versus Black Russian Terrier     Pomeranian versus Pointer     Pomeranian versus Shichon     Pomeranian versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Pomeranian versus Norwegian Lundehund     Pomeranian versus Xoloitzcuintli     Pomeranian versus Jack Russell Terrier     Pomeranian versus Briard     Pomeranian versus Basset Hound     Pomeranian versus Pointer     

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