Breed Comparison: German Shepherd Dog Versus German Shorthaired Pointer

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German Shepherd Dog Versus German Shorthaired Pointer: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog 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 with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog or the German Shorthaired Pointer.

German Shepherd Dog versus German Shorthaired Pointer

German Shepherd Dog versus German Shorthaired Pointer: Overview

A very important difference between the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The German Shepherd Dog is a large-sized dog while the German Shorthaired Pointer is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the German Shepherd Dog belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the German Shorthaired 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.

German Shepherd Dog versus German Shorthaired Pointer: Comparison Table

The table below compares the German Shepherd Dog 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer

Factor German Shepherd Dog German Shorthaired Pointer
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Height 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch tall at the sho
Life Span 10 to 14 years 12 to 15 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 5/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 75 to 95 pounds 45 to 70 pounds
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1280 $1140
Price Range $800 – $1500 $800 – $1300
Temperament Score 85.3 percent 78.1 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- recommend annually until age 6, every 2 years thereafter
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Temperament 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 2 10
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 3 17

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the German Shepherd Dog 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 the German Shepherd Dog is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the German Shorthaired Pointer is 75 out of 125.

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

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

    German Shepherd Dog versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer

    Below is a list of where the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer are most different:

  • German Shepherd Dogs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them. However, German Shorthaired Pointers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • German Shepherd Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, German Shorthaired Pointers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • The Similarities Between the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer

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

  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer are very easy to groom.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer are very easy to train.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer are highly intelligent.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of German Shepherd Dog versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    German Shepherd Dogs weigh 75 to 95 pounds when fully grown. German Shepherd Dogs are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall 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.

    Lifespan of German Shepherd Dog versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    The lifespan of German Shepherd Dogs is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of German Shepherd Dogs is 12.0 years.

    The lifespan of German Shorthaired Pointers is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of German Shorthaired Pointers is 13.5 years.

    German Shorthaired Pointers live longer than German Shepherd Dogs.

    German Shepherd Dog versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    Temperament of the German Shepherd Dog Versus the German Shorthaired Pointer

    The German Shepherd Dog has a better temperament than the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    This is because the temperament score for the German Shepherd Dog is 85.3 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 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 85.3 percent, the German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer by measuring the temperaments of 3383 German Shepherd Dogs and 137 German Shorthaired Pointers.

    Price of German Shepherd Dog versus Price of German Shorthaired Pointer

    The average price of the German Shepherd Dog puppy is $1280. The price of the German Shepherd Dog typically ranges from $800 – $1500. However, the price of a German Shepherd Dog can be as low as $195 and as high as $6500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1776 German Shepherd Dog 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 the 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 German Shepherd Dog is more expensive than the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    German Shepherd Dog German Shorthaired Pointer
    Average Price $1280 $1140
    Price Range $800 to $1500 $800 to $1300

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

    A breakdown of the prices of German Shepherd Dogs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of German Shepherd Dogs. 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 German Shepherd Dog 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 to buy 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 a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    German Shepherd Dog versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    Adopting the German Shepherd Dog versus Adopting the German Shorthaired Pointer

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many German Shepherd Dogs 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 German Shepherd Dog named Kovack that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable German Shepherd Dogs like Kovack on pefinder.com.

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

    The German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Diesel is the name of another German Shepherd Dog (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

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

    German Shepherd Dogs and German Shorthaired Pointers are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more German Shepherd Dogs and German Shorthaired Pointers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the German Shepherd Dog versus the Intelligence of the German Shorthaired Pointer

    German Shepherd Dog German Shorthaired Pointer
    Intelligence Rank 3 out of 130 dog breeds 17 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 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 German Shepherd Dog has an obedience intelligence rank of 3 out of 130 dog breeds. The German Shepherd Dog belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that German Shepherd Dogs tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 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 Shepherd Dog is more intelligent than the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    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 German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the German Shepherd Dog is more popular with dog owners than the German Shorthaired Pointer. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the German Shepherd Dog is 2 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the German Shorthaired Pointer is 10 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of German Shepherd Dog

    Popularity of German Shepherd Dog

    Popularity of German Shorthaired Pointer

    Popularity of German Shorthaired Pointer

    Year German Shepherd Dog Popularity Rank German Shorthaired Pointer Popularity Rank
    2013 2 13
    2014 2 12
    2015 2 11
    2016 2 11
    2017 2 10
    2018 2 9
    2019 2 9
    2020 3 9

    Health Problems of German Shepherd Dog versus Health Problems of German Shorthaired Pointer

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the German Shepherd Dog 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 the same number of genetic health problems as the German Shepherd Dog.

    7 health tests are recommended for German Shepherd Dog while 7 tests are recommended for the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in German Shepherd Dogs and in German Shorthaired Pointers.

    German Shepherd Dog Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- recommend annually until age 6, every 2 years thereafter
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Temperament Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for German Shepherd Dogs 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 German Shepherd Dogs 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 German Shepherd Dog Breed is Shoulder problems.

    This is because the German Shepherd Dog ranks 8 out of 22 dog breeds for Shoulder problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 149 German Shepherd Dogs, 5 of them had Shoulder problems.

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

  • Shoulder problems: Rank 8 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 11 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 22 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 40 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 41 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 42 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 64 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 71 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 102 out of 145 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 German Shepherd Dog and in German Shorthaired Pointer and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer:

    Disease German Shepherd Dog Rank German Shorthaired Pointer Rank
    Shoulder problems 8 out of 22 dog breeds 12 out of 22 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 11 out of 70 dog breeds 55 out of 70 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 22 out of 144 dog breeds 121 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 40 out of 198 dog breeds 174 out of 198 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems 41 out of 71 dog breeds 42 out of 71 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems 42 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 64 out of 182 dog breeds 118 out of 182 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 71 out of 115 dog breeds 68 out of 115 dog breeds
    Patella problems 102 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Cone Degeneration problems Not Common 1 out of 1 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: German Shepherd Dog versus German Shorthaired Pointer

    German Shepherd Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    German Shorthaired Pointers do not like to be left alone.

    Do German Shepherd Dogs shed more than German Shorthaired Pointers?

    German Shepherd Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

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

    Which one drools more, the German Shepherd Dog or the German Shorthaired Pointer

    German Shepherd Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the German Shepherd Dog or the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to groom.

    German Shorthaired Pointers are very easy to groom.

    Does the German Shepherd Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    German Shepherd Dogs 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.

    Do German Shepherd Dogs Bark and Howl? What about German Shorthaired Pointers?

    German Shepherd Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Can German Shepherd Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can German Shorthaired Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    German Shepherd Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: German Shepherd Dog vs. German Shorthaired Pointer

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

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

    Can German Shepherd Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can German Shorthaired Pointers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    German Shepherd Dogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    German Shorthaired Pointers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the German Shepherd Dog or the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    German Shepherd Dogs do not get along well with other dogs.

    German Shorthaired Pointers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are German Shepherd Dogs good family dogs? What about German Shorthaired Pointers?

    German Shepherd Dogs 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 German Shepherd Dogs and German Shorthaired Pointers?

    German Shepherd Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the German Shepherd Dog Easier to Train than the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to train.

    German Shorthaired Pointers are very easy to train.

    Is the German Shepherd Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    German Shepherd Dogs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    German Shorthaired Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the German Shepherd Dog or the German Shorthaired Pointer?

    German Shepherd Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the German Shepherd Dog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the German Shepherd Dog 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 Shepherd Dog:

  • American Pit Bull Terrier (77 percent match with German Shepherd Dog). Here is our comparison of the German Shorthaired Pointer vs American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Belgian Malinois (74 percent match with German Shepherd Dog). Here is our comparison of the German Shorthaired Pointer vs Belgian Malinois.
  • Entlebucher Mountain Dog (74 percent match with German Shepherd Dog). Here is our comparison of the German Shorthaired Pointer vs Entlebucher Mountain Dog.
  • 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 German Shepherd Dog vs Field Spaniel.
  • German Wirehaired Pointer (80 percent match with German Shorthaired Pointer). Here is our comparison of the German Shepherd Dog vs German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Pointer (81 percent match with German Shorthaired Pointer). Here is our comparison of the German Shepherd Dog vs Pointer.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    German Shepherd Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    German Shepherd Dog versus Belgian Malinois     German Shepherd Dog versus American Pit Bull Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus English Springer Spaniel     German Shepherd Dog versus Papipoo     German Shepherd Dog versus Maltese     German Shepherd Dog versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     German Shepherd Dog versus Basset Hound     German Shepherd Dog versus Samoyed     German Shepherd Dog versus Havanese     German Shepherd Dog versus Great Pyrenees     German Shepherd Dog versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus Biewer Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus Cavachon     German Shepherd Dog versus Lhasapoo     German Shepherd Dog versus Dalmatian     German Shepherd Dog versus Giant Schnauzer     German Shepherd Dog versus Akita     German Shepherd Dog versus Valley Bulldog     German Shepherd Dog versus Australian Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus Shetland Sheepdog     German Shepherd Dog versus Doberman Pinscher     German Shepherd Dog versus Braque du Bourbonnais     German Shepherd Dog versus Dutch Shepherd     German Shepherd Dog versus Lagotto Romagnolo     German Shepherd Dog versus Clumber Spaniel     

    German Shorthaired Pointer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    German Shorthaired Pointer versus Samoyed     German Shorthaired Pointer versus German Longhaired Pointer     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Chihuahua     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Saluki     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Schipperke     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Portuguese Water Dog     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Bich Poo     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Finnish Spitz     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Xoloitzcuintli     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Bouvier des Flandres     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Bich Poo     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Fila Brasileiro     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Greyhound     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Belgian Sheepdog     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Morkie     German Shorthaired Pointer versus American Water Spaniel     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Curly-Coated Retriever     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Scottish Deerhound     German Shorthaired Pointer versus German Wirehaired Pointer     German Shorthaired Pointer versus American Bulldog     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Swedish Vallhund     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Puggle     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Mountain Cur     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pug     

    Conclusion: German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer better suits you and your family.