A Detailed Comparison of the French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer.

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French Bulldog Versus Portuguese Pointer: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog or the Portuguese Pointer

French Bulldog versus Portuguese Pointer: Overview

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

Furthermore, the French Bulldog belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

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.

French Bulldog versus Portuguese Pointer: Comparison Table

The table below compares the French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog Portuguese Pointer
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 3/5
Height 11 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder 20 to 22 inches
Life Span 11 to 14 years 12 to 14 years
Weight 16 to 28 pounds 35 to 59 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 3/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 2/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 5/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 2/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 5/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 12.5 years 13.0 years
Average Price $4610 No Data
Price Range $3100 – $5000 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune Thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Annual recertification recommended
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Tracheal Hypoplasia
    		•
  • 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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog is 86 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Portuguese Pointer is 72 out of 125.

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

    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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer

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

  • French Bulldogs adapt well to apartment living. However, Portuguese Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • French Bulldogs are good for new dog owners. However, Portuguese Pointers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    • The Similarities Between the French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer

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

  • Both the French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer are very easy to train.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer are very easy to groom.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of French Bulldog versus Portuguese Pointer

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

    French Bulldogs weigh 16 to 28 pounds when fully grown. French Bulldogs are 11 to 12 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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Portuguese Pointer.

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

    7 health tests are recommended for French Bulldog while 3 tests are recommended for the Portuguese Pointer.

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

    French Bulldog Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune Thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Annual recertification recommended
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Tracheal Hypoplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for French Bulldogs 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: French Bulldog versus Portuguese Pointer

    French Bulldogs do not like to be left alone.

    Portuguese Pointers do not like to be left alone.

    Can French Bulldogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Portuguese Pointers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    French Bulldogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Which one drools more, the French Bulldog or the Portuguese Pointer

    French Bulldogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Portuguese Pointers drool moderately.

    Can French Bulldogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Portuguese Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    French Bulldogs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Portuguese Pointers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Does the French Bulldog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Portuguese Pointer?

    French Bulldogs have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to 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.

    Wanderlust Potential: French Bulldog vs. Portuguese Pointer

    French Bulldogs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

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

    Do French Bulldogs shed more than Portuguese Pointers?

    French Bulldogs shed moderately.

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

    Do French Bulldogs Bark and Howl? What about Portuguese Pointers?

    French Bulldogs bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    How Kid-friendly are French Bulldogs and Portuguese Pointers?

    French Bulldogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

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

    French Bulldogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Portuguese Pointers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Is the French Bulldog Easier to Train than the Portuguese Pointer?

    French Bulldogs are very easy to train.

    Portuguese Pointers are very easy to train.

    Is the French Bulldog Better for Apartment Owners than the Portuguese Pointer?

    French Bulldogs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Portuguese Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    French Bulldogs are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Are French Bulldogs good family dogs? What about Portuguese Pointers?

    French Bulldogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the French Bulldog or the Portuguese Pointer?

    French Bulldogs are very easy to groom.

    Portuguese Pointers are very easy to groom.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the French Bulldog

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

  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (75 percent match with French Bulldog). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Pointer vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Beaglier (74 percent match with French Bulldog). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Pointer vs Beaglier.
  • Chihuahua (74 percent match with French Bulldog). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Pointer vs Chihuahua.
  • Pug (83 percent match with French Bulldog). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Pointer vs Pug.

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

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    French Bulldog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    French Bulldog versus Italian Greyhound     French Bulldog versus Cesky Terrier     French Bulldog versus Standard Poodle     French Bulldog versus Irish Terrier     French Bulldog versus Lhasapoo     French Bulldog versus Redbone Coonhound     French Bulldog versus Norwegian Lundehund     French Bulldog versus Affenpinscher     French Bulldog versus Bernese Mountain Dog     French Bulldog versus Black and Tan Coonhound     

    Portuguese Pointer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Portuguese Pointer versus Italian Greyhound     Portuguese Pointer versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Portuguese Pointer versus Finnish Spitz     Portuguese Pointer versus Chow Chow     Portuguese Pointer versus Bearded Collie     Portuguese Pointer versus Pyredoodle     Portuguese Pointer versus Chinook     Portuguese Pointer versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Portuguese Pointer versus Mountain Cur     Portuguese Pointer versus Bulldog     

    Conclusion: French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog and the Portuguese Pointer better suits you and your family.