English Setter versus German Longhaired Pointer. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

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English Setter versus German Longhaired Pointer

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English Setter Versus German Longhaired Pointer: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the English Setter and the German Longhaired 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 Setter and for the German Longhaired 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 Setter and the German Longhaired 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 Setter or the German Longhaired Pointer

English Setter versus German Longhaired Pointer

English Setter versus German Longhaired Pointer: Overview

A very important difference between the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The English Setter is a medium-sized dog while the German Longhaired Pointer is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer are Sporting Dogs. This means both the English Setter and the German Longhaired 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 Setter versus German Longhaired Pointer: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Setter to the German Longhaired 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 Setter German Longhaired Pointer
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 3/5
Height 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 23 to 28 inches
Life Span 11 to 15 years 11 to 14 years
Does NOT Drool 4/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 5/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Easy To Train 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Weight 45 to 80 pounds 60 to 71 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 2/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 3/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 12.5 years
Average Price $1020 No Data
Price Range $800 – $1200 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•  No Data

    *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 Setter 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 Longhaired 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 Setter is 74 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a German Longhaired Pointer is 78 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the German Longhaired Pointer is a better pet than the English Setter. So, you should get the German Longhaired 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 English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    English Setter versus German Longhaired Pointer

    The Similarities Between the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer

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

  • Both the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the English Setter and the German Longhaired 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 Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer are highly intelligent.
  • Both the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of English Setter versus German Longhaired Pointer

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the English Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer.

    English Setters weigh 45 to 80 pounds when fully grown. English Setters are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the when fully grown.

    On the other hand, German Longhaired Pointers weigh 60 to 71 pounds when fully grown. German Longhaired Pointers are 23 to 28 inches when fully grown.

    English Setter versus German Longhaired Pointer
    English Setter versus German Longhaired Pointer

    Is the English Setter Better for Apartment Owners than the German Longhaired Pointer?

    English Setters do not adapt well to apartment living.

    German Longhaired Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: English Setter versus German Longhaired Pointer

    English Setters do not like to be left alone.

    German Longhaired Pointers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Which one drools more, the English Setter or the German Longhaired Pointer

    English Setters do have a very low tendency to drool.

    German Longhaired Pointers drool moderately.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the English Setter or the German Longhaired Pointer?

    English Setters are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Can English Setters Tolerate Hot Weather? Can German Longhaired Pointers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    German Longhaired Pointers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Do English Setters shed more than German Longhaired Pointers?

    English Setters shed moderately.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the English Setter or the German Longhaired Pointer?

    English Setters are moderately easy to groom.

    German Longhaired Pointers are very easy to groom.

    Is the English Setter Easier to Train than the German Longhaired Pointer?

    English Setters are fairly easy to train.

    German Longhaired Pointers are very easy to train.

    Can English Setters Tolerate Cold Weather? And can German Longhaired Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    English Setters can very well tolerate cold weather.

    German Longhaired Pointers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Do English Setters Bark and Howl? What about German Longhaired Pointers?

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

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

    Are English Setters good family dogs? What about German Longhaired Pointers?

    English Setters are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are English Setters and German Longhaired Pointers?

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

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the English Setter or the German Longhaired Pointer?

    English Setters get along very well with other dogs.

    German Longhaired Pointers get along very well with other dogs.

    Does the English Setter Have a Higher Prey Drive than the German Longhaired Pointer?

    English Setters 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 Longhaired Pointers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Wanderlust Potential: English Setter vs. German Longhaired Pointer

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

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the English Setter

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

  • Irish Setter (83 percent match with English Setter). Here is our comparison of the German Longhaired Pointer vs Irish Setter.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the German Longhaired Pointer

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

  • Aussiedoodle (78 percent match with German Longhaired Pointer). Here is our comparison of the English Setter vs Aussiedoodle.
  • Black Mouth Cur (77 percent match with German Longhaired Pointer). Here is our comparison of the English Setter vs Black Mouth Cur.
  • Boxerdoodle (77 percent match with German Longhaired Pointer). Here is our comparison of the English Setter vs Boxerdoodle.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    English Setter Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Setter versus Barbet     English Setter versus Siberian Husky     English Setter versus Scottish Deerhound     English Setter versus Tibetan Terrier     English Setter versus Belgian Malinois     English Setter versus Curly-Coated Retriever     English Setter versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     English Setter versus Coton de Tulear     English Setter versus Bolognese     English Setter versus King Shepherd     

    German Longhaired Pointer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    German Longhaired Pointer versus Affenhuahua     German Longhaired Pointer versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     German Longhaired Pointer versus Saint Berdoodle     German Longhaired Pointer versus Jack Russell Terrier     German Longhaired Pointer versus Norwich Terrier     German Longhaired Pointer versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     German Longhaired Pointer versus Afador     German Longhaired Pointer versus Shiloh Shepherd     German Longhaired Pointer versus Miniature Schnauzer     German Longhaired Pointer versus Harrier     

    Conclusion: English Setter versus German Longhaired 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 Setter and the German Longhaired Pointer better suits you and your family.