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

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French Spaniel Versus Portuguese Pointer: Introduction

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

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

French Spaniel versus Portuguese Pointer: Overview

Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are similar in size. The French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are Sporting Dogs. This means both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese 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.

French Spaniel versus Portuguese Pointer: Comparison Table

The table below compares the French Spaniel 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 Spaniel Portuguese Pointer
Life Span 10 to 12 years. 12 to 14 years
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Height 21 to 24 inches. 20 to 22 inches
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 1/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Weight 45 to 60 pounds. 35 to 59 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.0 years
Average Price $4250 No Data
Price Range $3875 – $4625 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
  • 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 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 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 Spaniel is 85 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 Spaniel is a better pet than the Portuguese Pointer. So, you should get the French 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 French Spaniel 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 Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer

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

  • French Spaniels are good for new dog owners. However, Portuguese Pointers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    • The Similarities Between the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer

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

  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the French Spaniel 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 Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are very easy to train.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are highly intelligent.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are very playful.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.

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

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

    French Spaniels weigh 45 to 60 pounds. when fully grown. French Spaniels are 21 to 24 inches. 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 Spaniel 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 Spaniel 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 Portuguese Pointer is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the French Spaniel.

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

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

    French Spaniel Health Problems

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

  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia

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

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

    French Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Portuguese Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    French Spaniels 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 Spaniel or the Portuguese Pointer

    French Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Portuguese Pointers drool moderately.

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

    French Spaniels are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: French Spaniel vs. Portuguese Pointer

    French Spaniels 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: French Spaniel versus Portuguese Pointer

    French Spaniels can be left alone only for a short time.

    Portuguese Pointers do not like to be left alone.

    Do French Spaniels shed more than Portuguese Pointers?

    French Spaniels shed moderately.

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

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

    French Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Portuguese Pointers are very easy to groom.

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

    French Spaniels have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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.

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

    French Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

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

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

    French Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Portuguese Pointers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    How Kid-friendly are French Spaniels and Portuguese Pointers?

    French Spaniels 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 Spaniel or the Portuguese Pointer?

    French Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Portuguese Pointers do not get along well with other dogs.

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

    French Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Portuguese Pointers are very easy to train.

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

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

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the French Spaniel

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

  • Dutch Shepherd (80 percent match with French Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Pointer vs Dutch Shepherd.

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

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    French Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    French Spaniel versus Puli     French Spaniel versus Jack Russell Terrier     French Spaniel versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     French Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog     French Spaniel versus Greyhound     French Spaniel versus Kooikerhondje     French Spaniel versus Pyredoodle     French Spaniel versus Japanese Spitz     French Spaniel versus Chi-Poo     French Spaniel versus Afador     

    Portuguese Pointer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Portuguese Pointer versus Bloodhound     Portuguese Pointer versus Goldendoodle     Portuguese Pointer versus Plott     Portuguese Pointer versus Irish Terrier     Portuguese Pointer versus Pharaoh Hound     Portuguese Pointer versus Kuvasz     Portuguese Pointer versus Bearded Collie     Portuguese Pointer versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Portuguese Pointer versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Portuguese Pointer versus Whippet     

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