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Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Poodle Versus Finnish Spitz: Introduction
- Poodle versus Finnish Spitz: Overview
- Poodle versus Finnish Spitz: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Poodle and the Finnish Spitz
- The Similarities Between the Poodle and the Finnish Spitz
- Temperament of the Finnish Spitz Versus the Poodle
- Price of Poodle versus Price of Finnish Spitz
- Adopting the Poodle versus Adopting the Finnish Spitz
- The Intelligence of the Poodle versus the Intelligence of the Finnish Spitz
- The Popularity of Poodle versus Popularity of Finnish Spitz
- Tolerates Being Alone: Poodle versus Finnish Spitz
- Do Poodles shed more than Finnish Spitzs?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Poodle or the Finnish Spitz?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Poodle or the Finnish Spitz?
- Are Poodles good family dogs? What about Finnish Spitzs?
- Is the Poodle Easier to Train than the Finnish Spitz?
- Which one drools more, the Poodle or the Finnish Spitz
- How Kid-friendly are Poodles and Finnish Spitzs?
- Does the Poodle Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Finnish Spitz?
- Do Poodles Bark and Howl? What about Finnish Spitzs?
- Can Poodles Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Poodle vs. Finnish Spitz
- Can Poodles Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Poodle Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Poodle versus Finnish Spitz. Which One is a Better Pet?
Poodle Versus Finnish Spitz: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Poodle and the Finnish 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 Poodle and the Finnish 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 Poodle and the Finnish Spitz.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Poodle and the Finnish 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 Poodle and for the Finnish 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 Poodle and the Finnish Spitz.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Poodle or the Finnish Spitz.
Note that there are 3 types of Poodles:
However, these 3 poodle `types` are basically the same. The only difference between them is size. Standard Poodles are big, toy poodles are small, and miniature poodles are medium-sized.
Read more about the subtle differences between the standard poodle vs. miniature poodle here and the toy poodle versus miniature poodle here.
In addition, we have articles on the detailed comparisons of the poodle to every other dog breed. Check out our articles on poodle versus other dog breeds here.
Poodle versus Finnish Spitz: Overview
A very important difference between the Poodle and the Finnish Spitz is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Poodle is a large-sized dog while the Finnish Spitz is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Poodle 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.
On the other hand, 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.
Poodle versus Finnish Spitz: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Poodle to the Finnish 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 Poodle and the Finnish Spitz
Factor | Poodle | Finnish Spitz |
---|---|---|
Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 1/5 |
Does NOT Shed | 5/5 | 2/5 |
Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Easy To Groom | 1/5 | 2/5 |
Life Span | 12 to 15 years | 12 to 15 years |
General Health | 2/5 | 4/5 |
Low Prey Drive | 4/5 | 3/5 |
Does NOT Bark or Howl | 4/5 | 1/5 |
Tolerates Cold Weather | 3/5 | 5/5 |
Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 2/5 |
Calmness/ Low Vigor | 3/5 | 2/5 |
Weight | 20 to 35 pounds | |
Easygoing | 2/5 | 3/5 |
Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 3/5 |
Dog Friendly | 4/5 | 5/5 |
Friendly Toward Strangers | 4/5 | 3/5 |
Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 2/5 | 3/5 |
Does NOT chew on things | 2/5 | 3/5 |
NOT Rambunctious | 2/5 | 1/5 |
Minimal Exercise Needs | 2/5 | 1/5 |
Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 5/5 | 3/5 |
Good For Novice Owners | 5/5 | 3/5 |
Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Easy To Train | 5/5 | 3/5 |
Intelligence | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Height | 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder | |
Average Lifespan | 13.5 years | 13.5 years |
Average Price | $900 | |
Price Range | $600 – $1100 | |
Temperament Score | 87.2 percent | 72.7 percent |
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | No Data | |
Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 6 | 180 |
Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 2 | 43 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Poodle 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 Finnish 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 Poodle is 88 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Finnish Spitz is 77 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Poodle is a better pet than the Finnish Spitz. So, you should get a Poodle!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Poodle and the Finnish Spitz
Below is a list of where the Poodle and the Finnish Spitz are most different:
The Similarities Between the Poodle and the Finnish Spitz
The Poodle and the Finnish Spitz are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Poodle and the Finnish Spitz are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Poodle versus Finnish Spitz
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Poodle and the Finnish Spitz.
Poodles come in three main size categories. These three size categories are referred to as the three varieties of the poodle. Poodles of different varieties are basically the same except for their size differences. The poodle varieties based on size categorization are:
There is another variety of poodle that is not recognized in the USA but is recognized in Europe. This poodle size variety is called the Moyen Poodle. In size, the Moyen Poodle is smaller than the Standard poodle but bigger than the miniature poodle.
See below the figure that compares the different poodle sizes:
On the other hand, Finnish Spitzs weigh 20 to 35 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Spitzs are 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Temperament of the Finnish Spitz Versus the Poodle
The Poodle has a better temperament than the Finnish Spitz.
This is because the temperament score for the Poodle is 87.2 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 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 87.2 percent, the Poodle has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 72.7 percent, the Finnish Spitz has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Poodle and the Finnish Spitz by measuring the temperaments of 266 Poodles and 11 Finnish Spitzs.
Price of Poodle versus Price of Finnish Spitz
The average price of the Standard Poodle puppy is $1980. The price of the Standard Poodle typically ranges from $1400 – $2500. However, the price of a Standard Poodle can be as low as $200 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 2524 Standard Poodle puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Miniature Poodle puppy is $2500. The price of the Miniature Poodle typically ranges from $1500 – $3000. However, the price of a Miniature Poodle can be as low as $350 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1190 Miniature Poodle puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Toy Poodle puppy is $2760. The price of the Toy Poodle typically ranges from $1894 – $3500. However, the price of a Toy Poodle can be as low as $450 and as high as $9835. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 872 Toy Poodle puppies listed for sale from various sources.
To know about standard poodle prices and standard poodle buying advice, check out our article on standard poodle cost.
To know about miniature poodle prices, check out this article on miniature poodle price.
To learn more about toy poodle price and for toy poodle buying advice, check out this article on toy poodle price.
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 collecting and reviewing the prices of 3 Finnish Spitz puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Poodle is more expensive than the Finnish Spitz.
Poodle | Finnish Spitz | |
---|---|---|
Average Price | $2260 | $900 |
Price Range | $1500 to $2800 | $600 to $1100 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Poodle and Finnish Spitz. For different price points, the charts show how many Poodle puppies or how many Finnish Spitz puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Poodles. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Finnish Spitzs
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Poodle puppy or the Finnish 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 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.
Adopting the Poodle versus Adopting the Finnish Spitz
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Poodles and many Finnish Spitzs are currently available for adoption.
These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male Poodle named Bruce that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Poodles like Bruce on pefinder.com.
Also, like Poodles, Finnish Spitzs are also available for adoption. For example, Koda is a Male Finnish Spitz that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Finnish Spitzs like Koda that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Dodger is the name of another Poodle (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
Also, Finny is an adorable Male Finnish Spitz on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Poodles and Finnish Spitzs that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Intelligence of the Poodle versus the Intelligence of the Finnish Spitz
Poodle | Finnish Spitz | |
---|---|---|
Intelligence Rank | 2 out of 130 dog breeds | 43 out of 130 dog breeds |
Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 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:
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 Poodle has an obedience intelligence rank of 2 out of 130 dog breeds. The Poodle belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Poodles tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.
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 Poodle 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 Poodle versus Popularity of Finnish Spitz
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 Poodle and the Finnish Spitz over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Poodle is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Spitz. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Poodle is 6 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Spitz is 180 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Poodle
Popularity of Finnish Spitz
Year | Standard Poodle Popularity Rank | Finnish Spitz Popularity Rank |
---|---|---|
2013 | 8 | 170 |
2014 | 7 | 174 |
2015 | 8 | 178 |
2016 | 7 | 179 |
2017 | 7 | 177 |
2018 | 7 | 184 |
2019 | 6 | 183 |
2020 | 6 | 187 |
2021 | 5 | 191 |
Tolerates Being Alone: Poodle versus Finnish Spitz
Poodles do not like to be left alone.
Poodles, by nature, are companion dogs. They like and thrive on human companionship more than most dog breeds. Poodles do not like to be left alone. Leaving a poodle alone for more than 4 hours day after day will cause separation anxiety and isolation distress in a poodle. If you plan to get a poodle, make sure you can be around your poodle most of the time, or arrange for a dog walker.
See our article on how long you can leave a poodle alone.
Finnish Spitzs do not like to be left alone.
Do Poodles shed more than Finnish Spitzs?
Poodles do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Although all dogs shed, and poodles are no different in this regard. But poodles shed less than many other breeds of dogs. However, if you own a poodle, you will not have the problem of having balls of dog hair on your couch and over your house. This is because the curly coat of the poodle traps the hair and other things that the poodle sheds. Therefore, people that are allergic to dogs tend to tolerate poodles better.
Check out our articles to learn more on why poodles do not shed, and on standard poodle shedding, and on shedding in toy poodles
Finnish Spitzs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Poodle or the Finnish Spitz?
Poodles require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
To learn more about how to properly groom a poodle, check out our article on how to groom a poodle.
Learn more on how to take care of a poodle here.
Finnish Spitzs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Poodle or the Finnish Spitz?
Poodles get along very well with other dogs.
Poodles get along very well with other dogs. Poodles are very friendly. However, it is up to the other dog to reciprocate the friendliness. Some dog breeds are just unfriendly and aggressive.
Read this article to learn about the dog breeds that get along well with poodle and the dog breeds that do not along with poodles.
Finnish Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.
Are Poodles good family dogs? What about Finnish Spitzs?
Poodles are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Poodles make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.
Learn about standard poodles as family dogs here, and about how family-friendly are toy poodles here..
Finnish Spitzs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Poodle Easier to Train than the Finnish Spitz?
Poodles are very easy to train.
Poodles are easy to train because they are intelligent and eager to please their owners. However, it is important that you begin training a poodle to make the most out of their natural intelligence. Moreover, training your Poodle should be based on positive reinforcement and repetition. Be sure to give your Poodle praise when he obeys a command and ignores your poodle`s bad behavior.
To learn more, check out our article on how to train a poodle.
Finnish Spitzs are fairly easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Poodle or the Finnish Spitz
Poodles do have a very low tendency to drool.
Finnish Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Poodles and Finnish Spitzs?
Poodles get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Finnish Spitzs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Poodle Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Finnish Spitz?
Poodles 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.
Finnish Spitzs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
Do Poodles Bark and Howl? What about Finnish Spitzs?
Poodles are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Finnish Spitzs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Can Poodles Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather?
Poodles can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Finnish Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Poodle vs. Finnish Spitz
Poodles have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Finnish Spitzs have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Can Poodles Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather?
Poodles can tolerate hot weather.
Finnish Spitzs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Is the Poodle Better for Apartment Owners than the Finnish Spitz?
Poodles adapt very well to apartment living.
Finnish Spitzs adapt moderately well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Poodle or the Finnish Spitz?
Poodles are very good for new dog owners.
Finnish Spitzs are OK for new dog owners.
Poodle Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the poodle compares to other breeds aside from the Finnish Spitz. So, see below the links to the comparison of the poodle to other breeds:
poodle versus Chinook poodle versus Samoyed poodle versus Weimaraner poodle versus Havanese poodle versus Scottish Terrier poodle versus Cockalier poodle versus Golden Cocker Retriever poodle versus Brittany poodle versus Australian Kelpie poodle versus BologneseConclusion: Poodle versus Finnish 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 Poodle and the Finnish Spitz better suits you and your family.