Is the German Shorthaired Pointer Better than the Pug as a Pet? Answer…

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German Shorthaired Pointer Versus Pug: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug? 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 Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug 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 Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug 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 Shorthaired Pointer and for the Pug. 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 Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the German Shorthaired Pointer or the Pug.

German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pug

German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pug: Overview

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

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the Pug 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.

German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pug: Comparison Table

The table below compares the German Shorthaired Pointer to the Pug 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 Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug

Factor German Shorthaired Pointer Pug
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 5/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Height 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch tall at the sho 10 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 5/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 4/5
General Health 3/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 1/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 4/5
Weight 45 to 70 pounds 14 to 18 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1140 $1620
Price Range $800 – $1300 $1200 – $1875
Temperament Score 78.1 percent 91.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • 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
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Pug Dog Club of America recommends ANNUAL screening.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Pug Dog Encephalitis
  • Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD)
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 10 31
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 17 57

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the German Shorthaired Pointer 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 Pug. 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 Shorthaired Pointer is 75 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Pug is 80 out of 125.

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

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

    German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pug

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug

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

  • German Shorthaired Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Pugs adapt well to apartment living.
  • German Shorthaired Pointers are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Pugs are good for new dog owners.
  • German Shorthaired Pointers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, Pugs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • German Shorthaired Pointers can tolerate hot weather. However, Pugs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • German Shorthaired Pointers are highly intelligent. However, Pugs not very intelligent.
  • German Shorthaired Pointers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects. However, Pugs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • The Similarities Between the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug

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

  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug 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 Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug are very easy to groom.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pug

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

    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.

    On the other hand, Pugs weigh 14 to 18 pounds when fully grown. Pugs are 10 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pug

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

    The lifespan of Pugs is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Pugs is 13.5 years.

    German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pug

    Temperament of the Pug Versus the German Shorthaired Pointer

    The Pug has a better temperament than the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pug is 91.7 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 78.1 percent, the German Shorthaired Pointer has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 91.7 percent, the Pug has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug by measuring the temperaments of 137 German Shorthaired Pointers and 48 Pugs.

    Price of German Shorthaired Pointer versus Price of Pug

    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 reviewing the prices of 453 German Shorthaired Pointer puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Pug puppy is $1620. The price of the Pug typically ranges from $1200 – $1875. However, the price of the Pug can be as low as $300 and as high as $6525. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 654 Pug puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Pug is more expensive than the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    German Shorthaired Pointer Pug
    Average Price $1140 $1620
    Price Range $800 to $1300 $1200 to $1875

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

    A breakdown of the prices of German Shorthaired Pointers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of German Shorthaired Pointers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Pugs?

    A breakdown of the prices of Pugs?

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the German Shorthaired Pointer puppy or the Pug 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 Shorthaired Pointer versus Pug

    Adopting the German Shorthaired Pointer versus Adopting the Pug

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many German Shorthaired Pointers and many Pugs 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 Shorthaired Pointer named Rox that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable German Shorthaired Pointers like Rox on pefinder.com.

    Also, like German Shorthaired Pointers, Pugs are also available for adoption. For example, Churchill is a Male Pug that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Pugs like Churchill that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

    Pongo is the name of another German Shorthaired Pointer (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Freddie is an adorable Male Pug on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

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

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

    The Intelligence of the German Shorthaired Pointer versus the Intelligence of the Pug

    German Shorthaired Pointer Pug
    Intelligence Rank 17 out of 130 dog breeds 57 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 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 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 Pug has an obedience intelligence rank of 57 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pug belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Pugs tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The German Shorthaired Pointer is more intelligent than the Pug.

    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 Shorthaired Pointer versus Popularity of Pug

    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 Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the German Shorthaired Pointer is more popular with dog owners than the Pug. 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 Pug is 31 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of German Shorthaired Pointer

    Popularity of German Shorthaired Pointer

    Popularity of Pug

    Popularity of Pug

    Year German Shorthaired Pointer Popularity Rank Pug Popularity Rank
    2013 13 31
    2014 12 33
    2015 11 33
    2016 11 32
    2017 10 31
    2018 9 28
    2019 9 31
    2020 9 29

    Health Problems of German Shorthaired Pointer versus Health Problems of Pug

    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 Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug 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 Pug is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the German Shorthaired Pointer.

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

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

    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.

    Pug Health Problems

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

  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Pug Dog Club of America recommends ANNUAL screening.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Pug Dog Encephalitis
  • Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD)
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Pugs here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in German Shorthaired Pointers and Pugs

    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
  • 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 Pug Breed is Hips problems.

    This is because the Pug ranks 1 out of 198 dog breeds for Hips problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 942 Pugs, 676 of them had Hips problems.

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

  • Hips problems: Rank 1 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Tracheal Hypoplasia problems: Rank 1 out of 4 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 2 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 14 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 14 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 32 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 60 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in German Shorthaired Pointer and in Pug and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug:

    Disease German Shorthaired Pointer Rank Pug Rank
    Cone Degeneration problems 1 out of 1 dog breeds Not Common
    Shoulder problems 12 out of 22 dog breeds Not Common
    Advanced Cardiac problems 42 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 55 out of 70 dog breeds 14 out of 70 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 68 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 69 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 118 out of 182 dog breeds 60 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 121 out of 144 dog breeds 2 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 174 out of 198 dog breeds 1 out of 198 dog breeds
    Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Tracheal Hypoplasia problems Not Common 1 out of 4 dog breeds
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems Not Common 14 out of 40 dog breeds
    Patella problems Not Common 32 out of 145 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 Shorthaired Pointer versus Pug

    German Shorthaired Pointers do not like to be left alone.

    Pugs do not like to be left alone.

    Do German Shorthaired Pointers shed more than Pugs?

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

    Pugs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the German Shorthaired Pointer or the Pug

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

    Pugs do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    German Shorthaired Pointers are very easy to groom.

    Pugs are very easy to groom.

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

    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.

    Pugs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do German Shorthaired Pointers Bark and Howl? What about Pugs?

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

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

    Can German Shorthaired Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pugs Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Pugs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: German Shorthaired Pointer vs. Pug

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

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

    Can German Shorthaired Pointers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pugs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    German Shorthaired Pointers can tolerate hot weather.

    Pugs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    German Shorthaired Pointers get along very well with other dogs.

    Pugs get along very well with other dogs.

    Are German Shorthaired Pointers good family dogs? What about Pugs?

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

    Pugs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are German Shorthaired Pointers and Pugs?

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

    Pugs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the German Shorthaired Pointer Easier to Train than the Pug?

    German Shorthaired Pointers are very easy to train.

    Pugs are fairly easy to train.

    Is the German Shorthaired Pointer Better for Apartment Owners than the Pug?

    German Shorthaired Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Pugs adapt very well to apartment living.

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

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

    Pugs are very good for new dog owners.

    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 Pug vs Field Spaniel.
  • German Wirehaired Pointer (80 percent match with German Shorthaired Pointer). Here is our comparison of the Pug vs German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Pointer (81 percent match with German Shorthaired Pointer). Here is our comparison of the Pug vs Pointer.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pug

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

  • Boxer (74 percent match with Pug). Here is our comparison of the German Shorthaired Pointer vs Boxer.
  • English Toy Spaniel (73 percent match with Pug). Here is our comparison of the German Shorthaired Pointer vs English Toy Spaniel.
  • French Bulldog (83 percent match with Pug). Here is our comparison of the German Shorthaired Pointer vs French Bulldog.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    German Shorthaired Pointer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    German Shorthaired Pointer versus Welsh Terrier     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Sussex Spaniel     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Mastiff     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Flat-Coated Retriever     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Westiepoo     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Valley Bulldog     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Frenchton     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Miniature Pinscher     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Great Dane     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Xoloitzcuintli     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Lagotto Romagnolo     German Shorthaired Pointer versus German Longhaired Pointer     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Cesky Terrier     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Basset Hound     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pyrenean Mastiff     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Black Mouth Cur     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Lhasapoo     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pointer     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Yorkshire Terrier     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Lhasa Apso     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Plott     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Shetland Sheepdog     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pomeranian     

    Pug Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pug versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Pug versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Pug versus Tibetan Mastiff     Pug versus Golden Retriever     Pug versus Cavachon     Pug versus Pyredoodle     Pug versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Pug versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Pug versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Pug versus Bluetick Coonhound     Pug versus Azawakh     Pug versus Australian Terrier     Pug versus Mountain Cur     Pug versus Cocker Spaniel     Pug versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Pug versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Pug versus Fila Brasileiro     Pug versus Scottish Deerhound     Pug versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Pug versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Pug versus Kishu Ken     Pug versus Shiloh Shepherd     Pug versus Basenji     Pug versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Pug versus Skye Terrier     

    Conclusion: German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pug. 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 Shorthaired Pointer and the Pug better suits you and your family.