Japanese Spitz vs Pomeranian

A Japanese Spitz
Photo: Yuliya Strizhkina, Ilona Didkovska
A Pomeranian
Photo: willc2

Side by side

Japanese Spitz
Pomeranian
Adult weight
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)
1.4–3.2 kg (3–7 lb) (breed club figure)1
Height
Males 30–38 cm; females 30–34 cm2
Males 18–24 cm; females 18–24 cm3
Lifespan
Median 13 years4
Median 12.2 years4
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes5
Group
Spitz & primitive2
Spitz & primitive3
Coat
Long coat2
No sourced figure
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
No sourced figure
Grooming
Daily brushing
No sourced figure
Exercise
A moderate amount
No sourced figure
Health
No sourced figure
Kneecap slipping out of place (much more likely); Underactive thyroid (more likely)6,7
Class
Companion
Lap dog

Which suits you

Size
The Japanese Spitz is far larger: about 7.9 kg (17 lb) as an adult, against 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) for the Pomeranian.
Temperament
They differ most on activity (Japanese Spitz: a good daily walk and play; Pomeranian: happy with modest walks) and on independence (Japanese Spitz: keen to work with you; Pomeranian: cooperative, with its own ideas).
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
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

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.

Pomeranian
Spitz & primitive · Toy

In temperament the Pomeranian is inquisitive, bold and lively, with a confidence well beyond its size.

The Japanese Spitz page →The Pomeranian page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Japanese Spitz
Pomeranian
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Suits a first-time owner
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Japanese Spitz
Pomeranian
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Keen to work with you
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Japanese Spitz
Pomeranian
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Differs
Barks to alert, then settles
Very vocal
Prey drive
Usually fine with small pets
Usually fine with small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Japanese Spitz grows to the heavier adult, about 7.9 kg against the Pomeranian's 2.3 kg. The Japanese Spitz's weight is not a published figure.
Japanese Spitz
Pomeranian
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0510152m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Japanese Spitz with
Chihuahua vs PomeranianJapanese Spitz vs SamoyedAmerican Eskimo Dog vs Japanese SpitzJapanese Spitz vs Shiba InuJapanese Spitz vs Volpino ItalianoPomeranian vs SchipperkeAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·