American Eskimo Dog vs Japanese Spitz

An American Eskimo Dog
Photo: Christmas w/a K
A Japanese Spitz
Photo: Yuliya Strizhkina, Ilona Didkovska

Side by side

American Eskimo Dog
Japanese Spitz
Adult weight
2.7–16 kg (6–35 lb) (breed club figure)1
4.5–11 kg (9.9–25 lb) (estimated: the AKC (FSS) breed page's 10-25 lb, the only published weight for the breed)
Height
Males 22.9–48.3 cm; females 22.9–48.3 cm2
Males 30–38 cm; females 30–34 cm3
Lifespan
12–14 years4
Median 13 years5
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes6
Group
Non-sporting (AKC)
Spitz & primitive3
Coat
No sourced figure
Long coat3
Shedding
No sourced figure
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
No sourced figure
Daily brushing
Exercise
No sourced figure
A moderate amount
Class
Companion
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The American Eskimo Dog comes in a wide range of sizes, 2.7–16 kg (6–35 lb) as an adult, against 4.5–11 kg (9.9–25 lb) for the Japanese Spitz.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (American Eskimo Dog: affectionate on its own terms; Japanese Spitz: a lap or leaning dog) and on intelligence (American Eskimo Dog: needs daily brain work; Japanese Spitz: learns readily, likes games).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: keen to work with you.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

American Eskimo Dog
Non-sporting · Small

True to its watchdog ancestry, the breed is alert and quick to raise the alarm, and it tends to be reserved with strangers.

Japanese Spitz
Spitz & primitive · Small

In temperament it is lively, bright and affectionate with its household, playful, and quick to notice anything unusual, though often reserved with strangers.

The American Eskimo Dog page →The Japanese Spitz page →

Breed traits

Day to day
American Eskimo Dog
Japanese Spitz
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Differs
Needs daily brain work
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Suits a first-time owner
With people
American Eskimo Dog
Japanese Spitz
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Keen to work with you
Keen to work with you
Around the home
American Eskimo Dog
Japanese Spitz
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Differs
Very vocal
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Usually fine with small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The American Eskimo Dog grows to the heavier adult, about 9.3 kg against the Japanese Spitz's 7.9 kg. The Japanese Spitz's weight is not a published figure.
American Eskimo Dog
Japanese Spitz
051015202m4m6m9m12m18m
051015202m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the American Eskimo Dog with
Japanese Spitz vs SamoyedJapanese Spitz vs PomeranianAmerican Eskimo Dog vs SamoyedJapanese Spitz vs Shiba InuJapanese Spitz vs Volpino ItalianoAmerican Eskimo Dog vs Shiba InuAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·