Differences and Similarities between the Finnish Spitz and the Toy Fox Terrier.

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Finnish Spitz Versus Toy Fox Terrier: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Finnish Spitz and the Toy Fox Terrier 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 Toy Fox Terrier. 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 Toy Fox Terrier.

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 Toy Fox Terrier

Finnish Spitz versus Toy Fox Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Finnish Spitz and the Toy Fox Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Finnish Spitz is a medium-sized dog while the Toy Fox Terrier 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 Toy Fox Terrier 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 Toy Fox Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Finnish Spitz to the Toy Fox Terrier 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 Toy Fox Terrier
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 13 to 14 years
Height 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 8 to 11 inches at the shoulder
Easy To Groom 2/5 5/5
Weight 20 to 35 pounds 3 to 7 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 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 4/5
Easy To Train 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 2/5
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 13.5 years
Average Price $900 $1100
Price Range $600 – $1100 $875 – $1200
Temperament Score 72.7 percent 80.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Congenital Hypothyroidism w/Goiter
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Primary Lens Luxation
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 179 111
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 43 40

    *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 Toy Fox Terrier. 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 Toy Fox Terrier is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Toy Fox Terrier is not better or worse than the Finnish Spitz. So, you can get the Toy Fox Terrier or 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 Toy Fox Terrier 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 Toy Fox Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Finnish Spitz and the Toy Fox Terrier are most different:

  • Finnish Spitzs require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Toy Fox Terriers are very easy to groom.
  • Finnish Spitzs can tolerate cold weather. However, Toy Fox Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • The Similarities Between the Finnish Spitz and the Toy Fox Terrier

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

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

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Finnish Spitz and the Toy Fox Terrier.

    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, Toy Fox Terriers weigh 3 to 7 pounds when fully grown. Toy Fox Terriers are 8 to 11 inches at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Finnish Spitz Versus the Toy Fox Terrier

    The Toy Fox Terrier has a better temperament than the Finnish Spitz.

    This is because the temperament score for the Toy Fox Terrier is 80.0 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 80.0 percent, the Toy Fox Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Finnish Spitz and the Toy Fox Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 11 Finnish Spitzs and 10 Toy Fox Terriers.

    Price of Finnish Spitz versus Price of Toy Fox Terrier

    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 Toy Fox Terrier puppy is $1100. The price of the Toy Fox Terrier typically ranges from $875 – $1200. However, the price of a Toy Fox Terrier can be as low as $400 and as high as $2800. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 79 Toy Fox Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Toy Fox Terrier is more expensive than the Finnish Spitz.

    Finnish Spitz Toy Fox Terrier
    Average Price $900 $1100
    Price Range $600 to $1100 $875 to $1200

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Finnish Spitz and Toy Fox Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Finnish Spitz puppies or how many Toy Fox Terrier 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 Toy Fox Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Toy Fox Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Finnish Spitz puppy or the Toy Fox Terrier 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 Toy Fox Terrier

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

    The Toy Fox Terrier 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 Toy Fox Terrier

    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 Toy Fox Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Toy Fox Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Spitz. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Toy Fox Terrier is 111 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 Toy Fox Terrier

    Popularity of Toy Fox Terrier

    Year Finnish Spitz Popularity Rank Toy Fox Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 170 107
    2014 174 115
    2015 178 110
    2016 179 116
    2017 177 112
    2018 184 111
    2019 183 107
    2020 187 113

    Tolerates Being Alone: Finnish Spitz versus Toy Fox Terrier

    Finnish Spitzs do not like to be left alone.

    Toy Fox Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the Finnish Spitz or the Toy Fox Terrier

    Finnish Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Toy Fox Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Finnish Spitz or the Toy Fox Terrier?

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

    Toy Fox Terriers are very easy to groom.

    Is the Finnish Spitz Better for Apartment Owners than the Toy Fox Terrier?

    Finnish Spitzs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Toy Fox Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Finnish Spitz or the Toy Fox Terrier?

    Finnish Spitzs are OK for new dog owners.

    Toy Fox Terriers are OK for new dog owners.

    Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Toy Fox Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Toy Fox Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Is the Finnish Spitz Easier to Train than the Toy Fox Terrier?

    Finnish Spitzs are fairly easy to train.

    Toy Fox Terriers are fairly easy to train.

    Does the Finnish Spitz Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Toy Fox Terrier?

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

    Toy Fox Terriers 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 Toy Fox Terriers?

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

    Toy Fox Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Wanderlust Potential: Finnish Spitz vs. Toy Fox Terrier

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

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

    Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Toy Fox Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Finnish Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Toy Fox Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Are Finnish Spitzs good family dogs? What about Toy Fox Terriers?

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

    Toy Fox Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Finnish Spitzs and Toy Fox Terriers?

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

    Toy Fox Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Finnish Spitz or the Toy Fox Terrier?

    Finnish Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.

    Toy Fox Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Do Finnish Spitzs Bark and Howl? What about Toy Fox Terriers?

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

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

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Toy Fox Terrier 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 Toy Fox Terrier:

  • Cairn Terrier (78 percent match with Toy Fox Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Cairn Terrier.
  • Ibizan Hound (76 percent match with Toy Fox Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Ibizan Hound.
  • Lowchen (77 percent match with Toy Fox Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Lowchen.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Finnish Spitz Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Spitz versus Boxerdoodle     Finnish Spitz versus Belgian Tervuren     Finnish Spitz versus Lowchen     Finnish Spitz versus Bloodhound     Finnish Spitz versus Miniature Pinscher     Finnish Spitz versus Keeshond     Finnish Spitz versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Finnish Spitz versus Skye Terrier     Finnish Spitz versus Belgian Malinois     Finnish Spitz versus Pekingese     

    Toy Fox Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Toy Fox Terrier versus Finnish Spitz     Toy Fox Terrier versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Toy Fox Terrier versus Boerboel     Toy Fox Terrier versus Gordon Setter     Toy Fox Terrier versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Toy Fox Terrier versus Sussex Spaniel     Toy Fox Terrier versus Morkie     Toy Fox Terrier versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Toy Fox Terrier versus Karelian Bear Dog     Toy Fox Terrier versus Boxer     

    Conclusion: Finnish Spitz versus Toy Fox Terrier. 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 Toy Fox Terrier better suits you and your family.