Papillon versus Portuguese Pointer. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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Papillon Versus Portuguese Pointer: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Papillon 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 Papillon 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 with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Papillon 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 Papillon or the Portuguese Pointer.

Papillon versus Portuguese Pointer: Overview

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

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

On the other hand, the Portuguese Pointer belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Papillon versus Portuguese Pointer: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Papillon 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer

Factor Papillon Portuguese Pointer
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 3/5
Life Span 12 to 16 years 12 to 14 years
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 3/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 2/5
Weight 4 to 9 pounds 35 to 59 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 5/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 4/5
Easy To Train 5/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Height 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 20 to 22 inches
Average Lifespan 14.0 years 13.0 years
Average Price $1800 No Data
Price Range $1400 – $2000 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination- recommend screening every 2 years
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination – recommended testing frequency at ages 1, 4, and 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Papillon 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 the Papillon is 89 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Portuguese Pointer is 72 out of 125.

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

    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 Papillon 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 Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer

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

  • Papillons adapt well to apartment living. However, Portuguese Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Papillons are good for new dog owners. However, Portuguese Pointers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • The Similarities Between the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer

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

  • Both the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer are very easy to train.
  • Both the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Papillon and the Portuguese Pointer are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Papillon versus Portuguese Pointer

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

    Papillons weigh 4 to 9 pounds when fully grown. Papillons are 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Portuguese Pointers weigh 35 to 59 pounds when fully grown. Portuguese Pointers are 20 to 22 inches when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Papillon versus Portuguese Pointer

    The lifespan of Papillons is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of Papillons is 14.0 years.

    The lifespan of Portuguese Pointers is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Portuguese Pointers is 13.0 years.

    Papillons live longer than Portuguese Pointers.

    Health Problems of Papillon versus Health Problems of Portuguese 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 Papillon 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 more genetic health problems than the Papillon.

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

    2 health tests are recommended for Papillon while 3 tests are recommended for the Portuguese Pointer.

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

    Papillon Health Problems

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

  • Eye Examination- recommend screening every 2 years
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Papillons here.

    Portuguese Pointer Health Problems

    Portuguese Pointers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Portuguese Pointer puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Portuguese Pointer puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Portuguese Pointer breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Portuguese Pointers for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination – recommended testing frequency at ages 1, 4, and 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Portuguese Pointers here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Papillon versus Portuguese Pointer

    Papillons do not like to be left alone.

    Portuguese Pointers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Papillons shed more than Portuguese Pointers?

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

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

    Which one drools more, the Papillon or the Portuguese Pointer

    Papillons do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Portuguese Pointers drool moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Papillon or the Portuguese Pointer?

    Papillons are moderately easy to groom.

    Portuguese Pointers are very easy to groom.

    Does the Papillon Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Portuguese Pointer?

    Papillons 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.

    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.

    Do Papillons Bark and Howl? What about Portuguese Pointers?

    Papillons 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.

    Can Papillons Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Portuguese Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Portuguese Pointers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Papillon vs. Portuguese Pointer

    Papillons 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.

    Can Papillons Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Portuguese Pointers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Papillons can tolerate hot weather.

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

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

    Papillons get along very well with other dogs.

    Portuguese Pointers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Papillons good family dogs? What about Portuguese Pointers?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Papillons and Portuguese Pointers?

    Papillons get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Papillon Easier to Train than the Portuguese Pointer?

    Papillons are very easy to train.

    Portuguese Pointers are very easy to train.

    Is the Papillon Better for Apartment Owners than the Portuguese Pointer?

    Papillons adapt very well to apartment living.

    Portuguese Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Papillons are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Papillon

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

  • Bichon Frise (78 percent match with Papillon). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Pointer vs Bichon Frise.
  • Cavachon (78 percent match with Papillon). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Pointer vs Cavachon.
  • Havanese (79 percent match with Papillon). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Pointer vs Havanese.
  • Papipoo (86 percent match with Papillon). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Pointer vs Papipoo.
  • 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 Papillon vs American Bulldog.
  • Boxerdoodle (77 percent match with Portuguese Pointer). Here is our comparison of the Papillon vs Boxerdoodle.
  • Patterdale Terrier (78 percent match with Portuguese Pointer). Here is our comparison of the Papillon vs Patterdale Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Papillon Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Papillon versus Collie     Papillon versus Miniature Poodle     Papillon versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Papillon versus Goldador     Papillon versus Beagle     Papillon versus Norfolk Terrier     Papillon versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Papillon versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Papillon versus French Bulldog     Papillon versus Pug     Papillon versus Dachshund     Papillon versus Pyredoodle     Papillon versus Akbash     Papillon versus Saint Bernard     Papillon versus Azawakh     Papillon versus Chinese Crested     Papillon versus Chi-Poo     Papillon versus Australian Terrier     Papillon versus Belgian Malinois     Papillon versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Papillon versus Bedlington Terrier     Papillon versus Cairn Terrier     Papillon versus Toy Poodle     Papillon versus Chi-Poo     Papillon versus Shetland Sheepdog     

    Portuguese Pointer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Portuguese Pointer versus Jack Russell Terrier     Portuguese Pointer versus Siberian Husky     Portuguese Pointer versus Pointer     Portuguese Pointer versus Valley Bulldog     Portuguese Pointer versus Labradoodle     Portuguese Pointer versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Portuguese Pointer versus Toy Poodle     Portuguese Pointer versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Portuguese Pointer versus Bedlington Terrier     Portuguese Pointer versus Gordon Setter     Portuguese Pointer versus Bracco Italiano     Portuguese Pointer versus Bulldog     Portuguese Pointer versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Portuguese Pointer versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Portuguese Pointer versus Finnish Lapphund     Portuguese Pointer versus Newfoundland     Portuguese Pointer versus Mal Shi     Portuguese Pointer versus Doberman Pinscher     Portuguese Pointer versus Bull Terrier     Portuguese Pointer versus Japanese Spitz     Portuguese Pointer versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Portuguese Pointer versus Stabyhoun     Portuguese Pointer versus Miniature Pinscher     Portuguese Pointer versus Bulldog     

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