English Cocker Spaniel versus German Shorthaired Pointer. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

English Cocker Spaniel versus German Shorthaired Pointer

Quick Links: Table of Contents

English Cocker Spaniel Versus German Shorthaired Pointer: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired 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 English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired 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 English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired 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 English Cocker Spaniel and for the German Shorthaired 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 English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the English Cocker Spaniel or the German Shorthaired Pointer

English Cocker Spaniel versus German Shorthaired Pointer

English Cocker Spaniel versus German Shorthaired Pointer: Overview

A very important difference between the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The English Cocker Spaniel is a small-sized dog while the German Shorthaired Pointer is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer are Sporting Dogs. This means both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer 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.

English Cocker Spaniel versus German Shorthaired Pointer: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Cocker Spaniel to the German Shorthaired 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 English Cocker Spaniel German Shorthaired Pointer
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Height 1 foot, 3 inches to 1 foot, 5 inches tall at the s 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch tall at the sho
Life Span 12 to 14 years 12 to 15 years
Weight 26 to 34 pounds 45 to 70 pounds
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 1/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1500 $1140
Price Range $1200 – $1800 $800 – $1300
Temperament Score 93.3 percent 78.1 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • BAER Test
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • OFA/U of MO Adult Onset Neuropathy
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation – min age 24 months
  • Cone Degeneration
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination – annual exams until age 6 recommended
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 55 10
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 18 17

    *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 English Cocker Spaniel 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 German Shorthaired 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 English Cocker Spaniel is 82 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a German Shorthaired Pointer is 75 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the English Cocker Spaniel is a better pet than the German Shorthaired Pointer. So, you should get the English Cocker Spaniel!

    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 English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    English Cocker Spaniel versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer

    Below is a list of where the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer are most different:

  • English Cocker Spaniels adapt well to apartment living. However, German Shorthaired Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer

    The English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer are most similar:

  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer are very easy to train.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired 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 English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer are highly intelligent.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of English Cocker Spaniel versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    English Cocker Spaniels weigh 26 to 34 pounds when fully grown. English Cocker Spaniels are 1 foot, 3 inches to 1 foot, 5 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

    On the other hand, German Shorthaired Pointers weigh 45 to 70 pounds when fully grown. German Shorthaired Pointers are 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch tall at the sho when fully grown.

    Temperament of the English Cocker Spaniel Versus the German Shorthaired Pointer

    The English Cocker Spaniel has a better temperament than the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    This is because the temperament score for the English Cocker Spaniel is 93.3 percent while the temperament score for the German Shorthaired Pointer is 78.1 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 they 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 93.3 percent, the English Cocker Spaniel has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 78.1 percent, the German Shorthaired Pointer has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer by measuring the temperaments of 75 English Cocker Spaniels and 137 German Shorthaired Pointers.

    Price of English Cocker Spaniel versus Price of German Shorthaired Pointer

    The average price of the English Cocker Spaniel puppy is $1500. The price of the English Cocker Spaniel typically ranges from $1200 – $1800. However, the price of a English Cocker Spaniel can be as low as $650 and as high as $3000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 90 English Cocker Spaniel puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the German Shorthaired Pointer puppy is $1140. The price of the German Shorthaired Pointer typically ranges from $800 – $1300. However, the price of a German Shorthaired Pointer can be as low as $350 and as high as $2695. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 453 German Shorthaired Pointer puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The English Cocker Spaniel is more expensive than the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    English Cocker Spaniel German Shorthaired Pointer
    Average Price $1500 $1140
    Price Range $1200 to $1800 $800 to $1300

    The charts below show the price distribution for the English Cocker Spaniel and German Shorthaired Pointer. For different price points, the charts show how many English Cocker Spaniel puppies or how many German Shorthaired Pointer puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of English Cocker Spaniels. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of English Cocker Spaniels. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of German Shorthaired Pointers

    A breakdown of the prices of German Shorthaired Pointers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the English Cocker Spaniel puppy or the German Shorthaired Pointer 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.

    English Cocker Spaniel versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    Adopting the English Cocker Spaniel versus Adopting the German Shorthaired Pointer

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many English Cocker Spaniels and many German Shorthaired Pointers 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 English Cocker Spaniel named Rascal that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable English Cocker Spaniels like Rascal on pefinder.com.

    Also, like English Cocker Spaniels, German Shorthaired Pointers are also available for adoption. For example, Moose is a Male German Shorthaired Pointer that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more German Shorthaired Pointers like Moose that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Also Judd – Handsome &Amp; Mature!, an adorable Male German Shorthaired Pointer on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    You can find more English Cocker Spaniels and German Shorthaired Pointers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the English Cocker Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the German Shorthaired Pointer

    English Cocker Spaniel German Shorthaired Pointer
    Intelligence Rank 18 out of 130 dog breeds 17 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 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:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • 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 English Cocker Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The English Cocker Spaniel belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that English Cocker Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The German Shorthaired Pointer has an obedience intelligence rank of 17 out of 130 dog breeds. The German Shorthaired Pointer belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that German Shorthaired Pointers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The German Shorthaired Pointer is more intelligent than the English Cocker Spaniel.

    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.

    English Cocker Spaniel versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    The Popularity of English Cocker Spaniel versus Popularity of German Shorthaired Pointer

    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 English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the German Shorthaired Pointer is more popular with dog owners than the English Cocker Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the German Shorthaired Pointer is 10 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the English Cocker Spaniel is 55 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of English Cocker Spaniel

    Popularity of English Cocker Spaniel

    Popularity of German Shorthaired Pointer

    Popularity of German Shorthaired Pointer

    Year English Cocker Spaniel Popularity Rank German Shorthaired Pointer Popularity Rank
    2013 62 13
    2014 62 12
    2015 60 11
    2016 56 11
    2017 52 10
    2018 52 9
    2019 50 9
    2020 47 9

    Health Problems of English Cocker Spaniel versus Health Problems of German Shorthaired 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 English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired 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 German Shorthaired Pointer is prone to more genetic health problems than the English Cocker Spaniel.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the German Shorthaired Pointer than for the English Cocker Spaniel.

    5 health tests are recommended for English Cocker Spaniel while 7 tests are recommended for the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in English Cocker Spaniels and in German Shorthaired Pointers.

    English Cocker Spaniel Health Problems

    English Cocker Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing English Cocker Spaniel 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 English Cocker Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your English Cocker Spaniel 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 English Cocker Spaniels for:

  • BAER Test
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • OFA/U of MO Adult Onset Neuropathy
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for English Cocker Spaniels here.

    German Shorthaired Pointer Health Problems

    German Shorthaired Pointers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing German Shorthaired 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 German Shorthaired Pointer puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your German Shorthaired 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 German Shorthaired Pointers for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation – min age 24 months
  • Cone Degeneration
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination – annual exams until age 6 recommended
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for German Shorthaired Pointers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in English Cocker Spaniels and German Shorthaired Pointers

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the English Cocker Spaniel Breed is Adult Onset Neuropathy problems.

    This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks 1 out of 2 dog breeds for Adult Onset Neuropathy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 2373 English Cocker Spaniels, 71 of them had Adult Onset Neuropathy problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in English Cocker Spaniels, and how common these diseases are in English Cocker Spaniels relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Adult Onset Neuropathy problems: Rank 1 out of 2 Dog Breeds
  • Baer Hearing Test problems: Rank 7 out of 21 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 8 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 27 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 65 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 82 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 137 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 155 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the German Shorthaired Pointer Breed is Cone Degeneration problems.

    This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Cone Degeneration problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1475 German Shorthaired Pointers, 1 of them had Cone Degeneration problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in German Shorthaired Pointers, and how common these diseases are in German Shorthaired Pointers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Cone Degeneration problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 12 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 42 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 55 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 68 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 69 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 118 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 121 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 174 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in English Cocker Spaniel and in German Shorthaired Pointer and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer:

    Disease English Cocker Spaniel Rank German Shorthaired Pointer Rank
    Adult Onset Neuropathy problems 1 out of 2 dog breeds Not Common
    Baer Hearing Test problems 7 out of 21 dog breeds Not Common
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 8 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Thyroid problems 27 out of 115 dog breeds 68 out of 115 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 65 out of 182 dog breeds 118 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems 82 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 137 out of 144 dog breeds 121 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 155 out of 198 dog breeds 174 out of 198 dog breeds
    Cone Degeneration problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems Not Common 12 out of 22 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems Not Common 42 out of 71 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 55 out of 70 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 69 out of 159 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: English Cocker Spaniel versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    English Cocker Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    German Shorthaired Pointers do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the English Cocker Spaniel or the German Shorthaired Pointer

    English Cocker Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    German Shorthaired Pointers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Can English Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can German Shorthaired Pointers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    English Cocker Spaniels can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    German Shorthaired Pointers can tolerate hot weather.

    Do English Cocker Spaniels shed more than German Shorthaired Pointers?

    English Cocker Spaniels shed moderately.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the English Cocker Spaniel or the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    English Cocker Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    German Shorthaired Pointers are very easy to groom.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the English Cocker Spaniel or the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    English Cocker Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    German Shorthaired Pointers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Can English Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can German Shorthaired Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    English Cocker Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    German Shorthaired Pointers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Is the English Cocker Spaniel Easier to Train than the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    English Cocker Spaniels are very easy to train.

    German Shorthaired Pointers are very easy to train.

    Do English Cocker Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about German Shorthaired Pointers?

    English Cocker Spaniels are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    German Shorthaired Pointers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Wanderlust Potential: English Cocker Spaniel vs. German Shorthaired Pointer

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

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

    Is the English Cocker Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    English Cocker Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    German Shorthaired Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Are English Cocker Spaniels good family dogs? What about German Shorthaired Pointers?

    English Cocker Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    German Shorthaired Pointers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are English Cocker Spaniels and German Shorthaired Pointers?

    English Cocker Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the English Cocker Spaniel or the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    English Cocker Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    German Shorthaired Pointers get along very well with other dogs.

    Does the English Cocker Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    English Cocker Spaniels 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.

    German Shorthaired 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.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the English Cocker Spaniel

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the English Cocker Spaniel 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 English Cocker Spaniel:

  • Cavachon (82 percent match with English Cocker Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the German Shorthaired Pointer vs Cavachon.
  • Norwich Terrier (81 percent match with English Cocker Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the German Shorthaired Pointer vs Norwich Terrier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the German Shorthaired Pointer

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

  • Field Spaniel (83 percent match with German Shorthaired Pointer). Here is our comparison of the English Cocker Spaniel vs Field Spaniel.
  • German Wirehaired Pointer (80 percent match with German Shorthaired Pointer). Here is our comparison of the English Cocker Spaniel vs German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Pointer (81 percent match with German Shorthaired Pointer). Here is our comparison of the English Cocker Spaniel vs Pointer.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the English Cocker Spaniel and how the German Shorthaired Pointer compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the English Cocker Spaniel and of the German Shorthaired Pointer to other breeds:

    English Cocker Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Cocker Spaniel versus Cesky Terrier     English Cocker Spaniel versus Keeshond     English Cocker Spaniel versus Cocker Spaniel     English Cocker Spaniel versus Shiranian     English Cocker Spaniel versus Cockapoo     English Cocker Spaniel versus Tibetan Terrier     English Cocker Spaniel versus Tibetan Spaniel     English Cocker Spaniel versus Frenchton     English Cocker Spaniel versus Papipoo     English Cocker Spaniel versus Sealyham Terrier     

    German Shorthaired Pointer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    German Shorthaired Pointer versus Lhasapoo     German Shorthaired Pointer versus West Highland White Terrier     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Norwegian Lundehund     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Xoloitzcuintli     German Shorthaired Pointer versus English Springer Spaniel     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Azawakh     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Bolognese     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Cocker Spaniel     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Australian Cattle Dog     

    Conclusion: English Cocker Spaniel versus German Shorthaired 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 English Cocker Spaniel and the German Shorthaired Pointer better suits you and your family.