Differences and Similarities between the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer.

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Dachshund Versus Portuguese Pointer: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer? 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 Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer 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 Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer 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 Dachshund and for the Portuguese Pointer. 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 Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Dachshund or the Portuguese Pointer

Dachshund versus Portuguese Pointer: Overview

A very important difference between the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Dachshund is a tiny-sized dog while the Portuguese Pointer is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Dachshund belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

On the other hand, the Portuguese Pointer 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.

Dachshund versus Portuguese Pointer: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dachshund to the Portuguese Pointer 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 Dachshund Portuguese Pointer
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 3/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Weight 16 to 32 pounds 35 to 59 pounds
General Health 2/5 4/5
Easy To Train 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 1/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 3/5
Height 8 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder 20 to 22 inches
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.0 years
Average Price $1730 No Data
Price Range $1000 – $2000 No Data
Temperament Score 69.4 percent No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
    		•
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination – recommended testing frequency at ages 1, 4, and 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•

    *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 Dachshund 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 Portuguese Pointer. 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 Dachshund is 69 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Portuguese Pointer is 72 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Portuguese Pointer is a better pet than the Dachshund. So, you should get the Portuguese Pointer!

    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 Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer

    Below is a list of where the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer are most different:

  • Dachshunds are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Portuguese Pointers are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Dachshunds are good for new dog owners. However, Portuguese Pointers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Dachshunds adapt well to apartment living. However, Portuguese Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Dachshunds are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Portuguese Pointers are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.

    • The Similarities Between the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer

    The Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer are most similar:

  • Both the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer are very playful.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Dachshund versus Portuguese Pointer

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer.

    Dachshunds weigh 16 to 32 pounds when fully grown. Dachshunds are 8 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Portuguese Pointers weigh 35 to 59 pounds when fully grown. Portuguese Pointers are 20 to 22 inches when fully grown.

    Health Problems of Dachshund versus Health Problems of Portuguese Pointer

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Dachshund is prone to more genetic health problems than the Portuguese Pointer.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Dachshund than for the Portuguese Pointer.

    5 health tests are recommended for Dachshund while 3 tests are recommended for the Portuguese Pointer.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Dachshunds and in Portuguese Pointers.

    Dachshund Health Problems

    Dachshunds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Dachshund puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Dachshund puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Dachshund breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Dachshunds for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Dachshunds here.

    Portuguese Pointer Health Problems

    Portuguese Pointers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Portuguese Pointer puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Portuguese Pointer puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Portuguese Pointer breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Portuguese Pointers for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination – recommended testing frequency at ages 1, 4, and 7
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Portuguese Pointers here.

    Can Dachshunds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Portuguese Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dachshunds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Portuguese Pointers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Which one drools more, the Dachshund or the Portuguese Pointer

    Dachshunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Portuguese Pointers drool moderately.

    Is the Dachshund Easier to Train than the Portuguese Pointer?

    Dachshunds are not easy to train.

    Portuguese Pointers are very easy to train.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dachshund versus Portuguese Pointer

    Dachshunds can be left alone only for a short time.

    Portuguese Pointers do not like to be left alone.

    Can Dachshunds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Portuguese Pointers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Dachshunds can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Portuguese Pointers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dachshund or the Portuguese Pointer?

    Dachshunds get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Portuguese Pointers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do Dachshunds shed more than Portuguese Pointers?

    Dachshunds shed moderately.

    Portuguese Pointers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Dachshund or the Portuguese Pointer?

    Dachshunds are moderately easy to groom.

    Portuguese Pointers are very easy to groom.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Dachshund or the Portuguese Pointer?

    Dachshunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Portuguese Pointers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Are Dachshunds good family dogs? What about Portuguese Pointers?

    Dachshunds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Portuguese Pointers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Dachshund Better for Apartment Owners than the Portuguese Pointer?

    Dachshunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Portuguese Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    How Kid-friendly are Dachshunds and Portuguese Pointers?

    Dachshunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Portuguese Pointers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Dachshund Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Portuguese Pointer?

    Dachshunds 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.

    Portuguese Pointers 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 Dachshunds Bark and Howl? What about Portuguese Pointers?

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

    Portuguese Pointers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Wanderlust Potential: Dachshund vs. Portuguese Pointer

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

    Portuguese Pointers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dachshund

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Dachshund 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 Dachshund:

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (71 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Pointer vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Lhasa Apso (71 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Pointer vs Lhasa Apso.
  • Manchester Terrier (75 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Pointer vs Manchester Terrier.
  • Miniature Pinscher (72 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Pointer vs Miniature Pinscher.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Portuguese Pointer

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Portuguese Pointer 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 Portuguese Pointer:

  • American Bulldog (79 percent match with Portuguese Pointer). Here is our comparison of the Dachshund vs American Bulldog.
  • Boxerdoodle (77 percent match with Portuguese Pointer). Here is our comparison of the Dachshund vs Boxerdoodle.
  • Patterdale Terrier (78 percent match with Portuguese Pointer). Here is our comparison of the Dachshund vs Patterdale Terrier.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Dachshund and how the Portuguese Pointer compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Dachshund and of the Portuguese Pointer to other breeds:

    Dachshund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dachshund versus Patterdale Terrier     Dachshund versus Leonberger     Dachshund versus Berger Picard     Dachshund versus Peek A Poo     Dachshund versus Beaglier     Dachshund versus Boerboel     Dachshund versus Bouvier des Flandres     Dachshund versus Boxerdoodle     Dachshund versus Maltese     Dachshund versus Keeshond     

    Portuguese Pointer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Portuguese Pointer versus Saluki     Portuguese Pointer versus Chihuahua     Portuguese Pointer versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Portuguese Pointer versus Boxerdoodle     Portuguese Pointer versus Bulldog     Portuguese Pointer versus Cavachon     Portuguese Pointer versus Affenpinscher     Portuguese Pointer versus Bichon Frise     Portuguese Pointer versus Dutch Shepherd     Portuguese Pointer versus Mountain Cur     

    Conclusion: Dachshund versus Portuguese Pointer. 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 Dachshund and the Portuguese Pointer better suits you and your family.