Finnish Spitz vs Shiba Inu

A Finnish Spitz
Photo: Pleple2000
A Shiba Inu
Photo: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan

Side by side

Finnish Spitz
Shiba Inu
Adult weight
14–16 kg (31–35 lb)1
Males 8–11 kg (18–24 lb); females 7–9 kg (15–20 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 38–41 cm; females 35–38 cm (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
No sourced figure
Median 14.6 years3
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Spitz & primitive5
Spitz & primitive6
Coat
Long coat5
Double coat6
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Daily brushing
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
A moderate amount
Class
Field
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Finnish Spitz is much larger: about 15 kg (33 lb) as an adult, against 8.8 kg (19 lb) for the Shiba Inu.
Grooming
The Finnish Spitz needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Shiba Inu needs a brush once a week.
Exercise
Plan for plenty of exercise with the Finnish Spitz, and a moderate amount with the Shiba Inu.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Finnish Spitz: affectionate on its own terms; Shiba Inu: likes its own space) and on handler demand (Finnish Spitz: needs steady training; Shiba Inu: needs an experienced owner).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: decides for itself.
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

Finnish Spitz
Spitz & primitive · Medium

It is lively, friendly and alert, independent in outlook, vocal, and can be reserved with strangers.

Shiba Inu
Spitz & primitive · Small

In temperament the Shiba is alert, bold and independent, and reserved with strangers. It is fastidious and is often said to groom itself like a cat.

The Finnish Spitz page →The Shiba Inu page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Finnish Spitz
Shiba Inu
Activity
Differs
Needs lots of exercise
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Finnish Spitz
Shiba Inu
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
Likes its own space
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
Finnish Spitz
Shiba Inu
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Differs
Very vocal
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Likely to chase small pets
Likely to chase 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 Finnish Spitz grows to the heavier adult, about 15 kg against the Shiba Inu's 9 kg.
Finnish Spitz
Shiba Inu
051015202m4m6m9m12m18m
051015202m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Finnish Spitz with
Akita vs Shiba InuPembroke Welsh Corgi vs Shiba InuNorwegian Buhund vs Shiba InuKishu Ken vs Shiba InuFinnish Spitz vs Norwegian BuhundCanaan Dog vs Shiba InuAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·