German Shorthaired Pointer versus Golden Cocker Retriever. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2022

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German Shorthaired Pointer Versus Golden Cocker Retriever: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Golden Cocker Retriever. 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 Golden Cocker Retriever.

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 Golden Cocker Retriever.

German Shorthaired Pointer versus Golden Cocker Retriever

German Shorthaired Pointer versus Golden Cocker Retriever: Overview

Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever are similar in size. The German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever are both medium-sized dogs.

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 Golden Cocker Retriever belongs to the Mixed Breed Dogs group. Mixed Breed Dogs are not purebred dogs.

German Shorthaired Pointer versus Golden Cocker Retriever: Comparison Table

The table below compares the German Shorthaired Pointer to the Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Golden Cocker Retriever

FactorGerman Shorthaired PointerGolden Cocker Retriever
Adapts Well To Apartment Living1/51/5
Tolerates Being Alone1/51/5
Height1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch tall at the sho20 to 24 inches
Life Span12 to 15 years12 to 15 years
Good For Novice Owners2/54/5
Tolerates Cold Weather2/52/5
Does NOT Shed4/52/5
Does NOT Drool4/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/53/5
General Health3/54/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/52/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/53/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/54/5
Easygoing2/52/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/54/5
Dog Friendly4/54/5
Does NOT chew on things2/54/5
Weight45 to 70 pounds30 to 45 pounds
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/54/5
Easy To Groom5/54/5
Easy To Train5/54/5
Intelligence5/54/5
Low Prey Drive1/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander1/52/5
NOT Rambunctious1/51/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/52/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Average Lifespan13.5 years13.5 years
Average Price$1140$1690
Price Range$800 – $1300$1400 – $1750
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
  • No Data
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the 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 Golden Cocker Retriever. 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 Golden Cocker Retriever is 80 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Golden Cocker Retriever, we still believe that the German Shorthaired Pointer is a better pet than the Golden Cocker Retriever.

    This is because German Shorthaired Pointers are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the German Shorthaired Pointer will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the German Shorthaired Pointer :-). We are for the German Shorthaired Pointer. So get a German Shorthaired Pointer!

    German Shorthaired Pointer versus Golden Cocker Retriever

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever

    Below is a list of where the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever are most different:

  • German Shorthaired Pointers have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Golden Cocker Retrievers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • The Similarities Between the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever

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

  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Golden Cocker Retriever can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever are very easy to groom.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever are very easy to train.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever are highly intelligent.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the German Shorthaired Pointer versus Golden Cocker Retriever

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Golden Cocker Retriever.

    The German Shorthaired Pointer weighs 45 to 70 pounds when fully grown. The German Shorthaired Pointer is 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch tall at the sho when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Golden Cocker Retriever weighs 30 to 45 pounds when fully grown. The Golden Cocker Retriever is 20 to 24 inches when fully grown.

    Size of German Shorthaired Pointer versus Size of Golden Cocker Retriever

    Lifespan of German Shorthaired Pointer versus Golden Cocker Retriever

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

    The lifespan of the Golden Cocker Retriever is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Golden Cocker Retriever is 13.5 years.

    The Golden Cocker Retriever lives as long as the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    German Shorthaired Pointer versus Golden Cocker Retriever

    Price of German Shorthaired Pointer versus Price of Golden Cocker Retriever

    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 Golden Cocker Retriever puppy is $1690. The price of the Golden Cocker Retriever typically ranges from $1400 – $1750. However, the price of the Golden Cocker Retriever can be as low as $500 and as high as $3975. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 68 Golden Cocker Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Golden Cocker Retriever is more expensive than the German Shorthaired Pointer.

    German Shorthaired Pointer Golden Cocker Retriever
    Average Price $1140 $1690
    Price Range $800 to $1300 $1400 to $1750

    The charts below show the price distribution for the German Shorthaired Pointer and Golden Cocker Retriever. For different price points, the charts show how many German Shorthaired Pointer puppies or how many Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Golden Cocker Retrievers

    A breakdown of the prices of Golden Cocker Retrievers

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

    Tolerates Being Alone: German Shorthaired Pointer versus Golden Cocker Retriever

    German Shorthaired Pointers do not like to be left alone.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Do German Shorthaired Pointers shed more than Golden Cocker Retrievers?

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

    Golden Cocker Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the German Shorthaired Pointer or the Golden Cocker Retriever?

    German Shorthaired Pointers are very easy to groom.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the German Shorthaired Pointer or the Golden Cocker Retriever?

    German Shorthaired Pointers get along very well with other dogs.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are German Shorthaired Pointers good family dogs? What about Golden Cocker Retrievers?

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

    Golden Cocker Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the German Shorthaired Pointer Easier to Train than the Golden Cocker Retriever?

    German Shorthaired Pointers are very easy to train.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the German Shorthaired Pointer or the Golden Cocker Retriever

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

    Golden Cocker Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are German Shorthaired Pointers and Golden Cocker Retrievers?

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

    Golden Cocker Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the German Shorthaired Pointer Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Golden Cocker Retriever?

    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.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do German Shorthaired Pointers Bark and Howl? What about Golden Cocker Retrievers?

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

    Golden Cocker Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can German Shorthaired Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Golden Cocker Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Golden Cocker Retrievers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: German Shorthaired Pointer vs. Golden Cocker Retriever

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

    Golden Cocker Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can German Shorthaired Pointers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Golden Cocker Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    German Shorthaired Pointers can tolerate hot weather.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the German Shorthaired Pointer Better for Apartment Owners than the Golden Cocker Retriever?

    German Shorthaired Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the German Shorthaired Pointer or the Golden Cocker Retriever?

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

    Golden Cocker Retrievers are very good for new dog owners.

    German Shorthaired Pointer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the German Shorthaired Pointer compares to other breeds aside from the Golden Cocker Retriever. So, see below the links to the comparison of the German Shorthaired Pointer to other breeds:

    German Shorthaired Pointer versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     German Shorthaired Pointer versus French Bulldog     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Yorkipoo     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Field Spaniel     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Icelandic Sheepdog     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Korean Jindo Dog     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Beagle     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Silky Terrier     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Toy Fox Terrier     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pyrenean Mastiff     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pomapoo     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Chihuahua     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Belgian Tervuren     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Maltipoo     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Afghan Hound     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Collie     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Welsh Terrier     German Shorthaired Pointer versus American Staffordshire Terrier     

    Conclusion: German Shorthaired Pointer versus Golden Cocker Retriever. 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 Golden Cocker Retriever better suits you and your family.