Breed Comparison: Flat-Coated Retriever Versus German Shorthaired Pointer

Flat-Coated Retriever versus German Shorthaired Pointer

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Flat-Coated Retriever Versus German Shorthaired Pointer: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever or the German Shorthaired Pointer

Flat-Coated Retriever versus German Shorthaired Pointer

Flat-Coated Retriever versus German Shorthaired Pointer: Overview

Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer are similar in size. The Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer are Sporting Dogs. This means both the Flat-Coated Retriever 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.

Flat-Coated Retriever versus German Shorthaired Pointer: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever German Shorthaired Pointer
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Height 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch tall at the sho
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 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
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 3/5
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
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 45 to 70 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1350 $1140
Price Range $1150 – $1800 $800 – $1300
Temperament Score 92.0 percent 78.1 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • 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 94 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever is 78 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 Flat-Coated Retriever is a better pet than the German Shorthaired Pointer. So, you should get the Flat-Coated Retriever!

    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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    The Similarities Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer

    The Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer are most similar:

  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer are very easy to train.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Flat-Coated Retriever versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Flat-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder 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 Flat-Coated Retriever Versus the German Shorthaired Pointer

    The Flat-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    This is because the temperament score for the Flat-Coated Retriever is 92.0 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 92.0 percent, the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer by measuring the temperaments of 87 Flat-Coated Retrievers and 137 German Shorthaired Pointers.

    Price of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Price of German Shorthaired Pointer

    The average price of the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy is $1350. The price of the Flat-Coated Retriever typically ranges from $1150 – $1800. However, the price of a Flat-Coated Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 8 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever is more expensive than the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    Flat-Coated Retriever German Shorthaired Pointer
    Average Price $1350 $1140
    Price Range $1150 to $1800 $800 to $1300

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Flat-Coated Retriever and German Shorthaired Pointer. For different price points, the charts show how many Flat-Coated Retriever puppies or how many German Shorthaired Pointer puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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.

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    Adopting the Flat-Coated Retriever versus Adopting the German Shorthaired Pointer

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Flat-Coated Retrievers 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 Flat-Coated Retriever named Palisade that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Flat-Coated Retrievers like Palisade on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Flat-Coated Retrievers, German Shorthaired Pointers are also available for adoption. For example, Judd – Handsome &Amp; Mature! is a Male German Shorthaired Pointer that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more German Shorthaired Pointers like Judd – Handsome &Amp; Mature! that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Clarence is the name of another Flat-Coated Retriever (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also Chevy, an adorable Male German Shorthaired Pointer on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers and German Shorthaired Pointers are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Flat-Coated Retrievers and German Shorthaired Pointers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Flat-Coated Retriever versus the Intelligence of the German Shorthaired Pointer

    Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Flat-Coated Retrievers 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 Flat-Coated Retriever.

    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.

    The Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever. 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 Flat-Coated Retriever is 94 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of German Shorthaired Pointer

    Popularity of German Shorthaired Pointer

    Year Flat-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank German Shorthaired Pointer Popularity Rank
    2013 94 13
    2014 92 12
    2015 86 11
    2016 89 11
    2017 96 10
    2018 91 9
    2019 104 9
    2020 102 9

    Health Problems of Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the German Shorthaired Pointer than for the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    3 health tests are recommended for Flat-Coated Retriever while 7 tests are recommended for the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Flat-Coated Retrievers and in German Shorthaired Pointers.

    Flat-Coated Retriever Health Problems

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retrievers for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Flat-Coated Retrievers 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 Flat-Coated Retrievers 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 Flat-Coated Retriever Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks 28 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 241 Flat-Coated Retrievers, 14 of them had Thyroid problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Flat-Coated Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Flat-Coated Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 28 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 85 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 129 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 129 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 172 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and in German Shorthaired Pointer and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer:

    Disease Flat-Coated Retriever Rank German Shorthaired Pointer Rank
    Thyroid problems 28 out of 115 dog breeds 68 out of 115 dog breeds
    Patella problems 85 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 129 out of 144 dog breeds 121 out of 144 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 129 out of 182 dog breeds 118 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 172 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.

    Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    German Shorthaired Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Flat-Coated Retriever versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    German Shorthaired Pointers do not like to be left alone.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Which one drools more, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the German Shorthaired Pointer

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers shed more than German Shorthaired Pointers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

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

    Does the Flat-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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.

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can German Shorthaired Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

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

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can German Shorthaired Pointers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    German Shorthaired Pointers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    German Shorthaired Pointers are very easy to groom.

    Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    German Shorthaired Pointers are very easy to train.

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about German Shorthaired Pointers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Flat-Coated Retriever vs. German Shorthaired Pointer

    Flat-Coated Retrievers 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.

    Are Flat-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about German Shorthaired Pointers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers 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 Flat-Coated Retrievers and German Shorthaired Pointers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers 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 Flat-Coated Retriever or the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    German Shorthaired Pointers get along very well with other dogs.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever:

  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (81 percent match with Flat-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the German Shorthaired Pointer vs Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
  • 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 Flat-Coated Retriever vs Field Spaniel.
  • German Wirehaired Pointer (80 percent match with German Shorthaired Pointer). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Pointer (81 percent match with German Shorthaired Pointer). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Pointer.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Flat-Coated Retriever and how the German Shorthaired Pointer compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever and of the German Shorthaired Pointer to other breeds:

    Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Labrador Retriever     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Cavachon     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Clumber Spaniel     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Australian Shepherd     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Canaan Dog     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Norfolk Terrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Samoyed     Flat-Coated Retriever versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus American Bulldog     

    German Shorthaired Pointer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    German Shorthaired Pointer versus Collie     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Keeshond     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Flat-Coated Retriever     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Chinese Crested     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Italian Greyhound     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Neapolitan Mastiff     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Keeshond     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Boxer     

    Conclusion: Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the German Shorthaired Pointer better suits you and your family.