Which is Better between the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Japanese Spitz?

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

• German Shorthaired Pointer Versus Japanese Spitz: Introduction
• German Shorthaired Pointer versus Japanese Spitz: Overview
• German Shorthaired Pointer versus Japanese Spitz: Comparison Table
• The Most Remarkable Differences Between the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Japanese Spitz
• The Similarities Between the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Japanese Spitz
• Size Comparison of the German Shorthaired Pointer versus Japanese Spitz
• Lifespan of German Shorthaired Pointer versus Japanese Spitz
• Price of German Shorthaired Pointer versus Price of Japanese Spitz
• Tolerates Being Alone: German Shorthaired Pointer versus Japanese Spitz
• Do German Shorthaired Pointers shed more than Japanese Spitzs?
• Which is Easier to Groom, the German Shorthaired Pointer or the Japanese Spitz?
• Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the German Shorthaired Pointer or the Japanese Spitz?
• Are German Shorthaired Pointers good family dogs? What about Japanese Spitzs?
• Is the German Shorthaired Pointer Easier to Train than the Japanese Spitz?
• Which one drools more, the German Shorthaired Pointer or the Japanese Spitz
• How Kid-friendly are German Shorthaired Pointers and Japanese Spitzs?
• Does the German Shorthaired Pointer Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Japanese Spitz?
• Do German Shorthaired Pointers Bark and Howl? What about Japanese Spitzs?
• Can German Shorthaired Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Japanese Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather?
• Wanderlust Potential: German Shorthaired Pointer vs. Japanese Spitz
• Can German Shorthaired Pointers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Japanese Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather?
• German Shorthaired Pointer Versus Other Dog Breeds
• Conclusion: German Shorthaired Pointer versus Japanese Spitz. Which One is a Better Pet?

German Shorthaired Pointer Versus Japanese Spitz: Introduction

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

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

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 Japanese Spitz.

German Shorthaired Pointer versus Japanese Spitz: Overview

A very important difference between the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Japanese Spitz is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The German Shorthaired Pointer is a medium-sized dog while the Japanese Spitz 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 Japanese Spitz 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 Japanese Spitz: Comparison Table

The table below compares the German Shorthaired Pointer to the Japanese Spitz 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 Japanese Spitz

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 Japanese Spitz. 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 Japanese Spitz is 90 out of 125.

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

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!

The Most Remarkable Differences Between the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Japanese Spitz

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

The Similarities Between the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Japanese Spitz

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

Size Comparison of the German Shorthaired Pointer versus Japanese Spitz

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

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 Japanese Spitz weighs 11 to 20 pounds when fully grown. The Japanese Spitz is 10 to 16 inches when fully grown.

Lifespan of German Shorthaired Pointer versus Japanese Spitz

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 Japanese Spitz is between 10 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Japanese Spitz is 13.0 years.

The German Shorthaired Pointer lives longer than the Japanese Spitz.

Price of German Shorthaired Pointer versus Price of Japanese Spitz

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 Japanese Spitz puppy is $1740. The price of the Japanese Spitz typically ranges from $1500 – $2150. However, the price of the Japanese Spitz can be as low as $800 and as high as $2400. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 6 Japanese Spitz puppies listed for sale from various sources.

The Japanese Spitz is more expensive than the German Shorthaired Pointer.

The charts below show the price distribution for the German Shorthaired Pointer and Japanese Spitz. For different price points, the charts show how many German Shorthaired Pointer puppies or how many Japanese Spitz 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 Japanese Spitzs

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

Tolerates Being Alone: German Shorthaired Pointer versus Japanese Spitz

German Shorthaired Pointers do not like to be left alone.

Japanese Spitzs do not like to be left alone.

Do German Shorthaired Pointers shed more than Japanese Spitzs?

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

Japanese Spitzs shed moderately.

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

German Shorthaired Pointers are very easy to groom.

Japanese Spitzs are very easy to groom.

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

German Shorthaired Pointers get along very well with other dogs.

Japanese Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.

Are German Shorthaired Pointers good family dogs? What about Japanese Spitzs?

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

Japanese Spitzs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

Is the German Shorthaired Pointer Easier to Train than the Japanese Spitz?

German Shorthaired Pointers are very easy to train.

Japanese Spitzs are very easy to train.

Which one drools more, the German Shorthaired Pointer or the Japanese Spitz

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

Japanese Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.

How Kid-friendly are German Shorthaired Pointers and Japanese Spitzs?

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

Japanese Spitzs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

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.

Japanese Spitzs 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 Japanese Spitzs?

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

Japanese Spitzs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

Can German Shorthaired Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Japanese Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

Japanese Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.

Wanderlust Potential: German Shorthaired Pointer vs. Japanese Spitz

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

Japanese Spitzs 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 Japanese Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather?

German Shorthaired Pointers can tolerate hot weather.

Japanese Spitzs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

Is the German Shorthaired Pointer Better for Apartment Owners than the Japanese Spitz?

German Shorthaired Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.

Japanese Spitzs adapt very well to apartment living.

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

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

Japanese Spitzs 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 Japanese Spitz. So, see below the links to the comparison of the German Shorthaired Pointer to other breeds:

German Shorthaired Pointer versus Tibetan Mastiff     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Black and Tan Coonhound     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Akita Chow     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Jack Russell Terrier     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Chinook     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Beagle     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Australian Shepherd     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Whippet     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Irish Wolfhound     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Xoloitzcuintli     German Shorthaired Pointer versus American Pit Bull Terrier     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Bluetick Coonhound     German Shorthaired Pointer versus German Shorthaired Pointer     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Field Spaniel     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Pomeranian     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Chorkie     German Shorthaired Pointer versus Valley Bulldog     

Conclusion: German Shorthaired Pointer versus Japanese Spitz. 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 Japanese Spitz better suits you and your family.