Why the Doberman Pinscher is Better than the German Longhaired Pointer as a Pet

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022

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Doberman Pinscher Versus German Longhaired Pointer: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired 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 Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired 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 Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired 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 Doberman Pinscher and for the German Longhaired 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 Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer.

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

Doberman Pinscher versus German Longhaired Pointer

Doberman Pinscher versus German Longhaired Pointer: Overview

Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer are similar in size. The Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer are both large-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Doberman Pinscher belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

On the other hand, the German Longhaired 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.

Doberman Pinscher versus German Longhaired Pointer: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Doberman Pinscher to the German Longhaired 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 Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer

Factor Doberman Pinscher German Longhaired Pointer
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 1/5 4/5
General Health 1/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 3/5
Life Span 10 to 13 years 11 to 14 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 2/5
Height 24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder 23 to 28 inches
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 3/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 2/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 3/5
Weight 60 to 80 pounds 60 to 71 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.5 years 12.5 years
Average Price $1910 No Data
Price Range $1100 – $2500 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Working Aptitude
  • 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 Doberman Pinscher 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 Longhaired 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 Doberman Pinscher is 81 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the German Longhaired Pointer is 78 out of 125.

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

    Doberman Pinscher versus German Longhaired Pointer

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer

    Below is a list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer are most different:

  • Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs. However, German Longhaired Pointers get along well with other dogs.
  • Doberman Pinschers have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, German Longhaired Pointers are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • The Similarities Between the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer

    The Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer are most similar:

  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer have a very high tendency to drool.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer are very easy to train.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer are highly intelligent.
  • Size Comparison of the Doberman Pinscher versus German Longhaired Pointer

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer.

    The Doberman Pinscher weighs 60 to 80 pounds when fully grown. The Doberman Pinscher is 24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the German Longhaired Pointer weighs 60 to 71 pounds when fully grown. The German Longhaired Pointer is 23 to 28 inches when fully grown.

    Size of Doberman Pinscher versus Size of German Longhaired Pointer

    Lifespan of Doberman Pinscher versus German Longhaired Pointer

    The lifespan of the Doberman Pinscher is between 10 to 13 years. The average lifespan of the Doberman Pinscher is 11.5 years.

    The lifespan of the German Longhaired Pointer is between 11 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the German Longhaired Pointer is 12.5 years.

    The German Longhaired Pointer live longer than the Doberman Pinscher.

    Doberman Pinscher versus German Longhaired Pointer
    Doberman Pinscher versus German Longhaired Pointer

    Tolerates Being Alone: Doberman Pinscher versus German Longhaired Pointer

    Doberman Pinschers do not like to be left alone.

    German Longhaired Pointers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Doberman Pinschers shed more than German Longhaired Pointers?

    Doberman Pinschers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Doberman Pinscher or the German Longhaired Pointer?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom.

    German Longhaired Pointers are very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Doberman Pinscher or the German Longhaired Pointer?

    Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

    German Longhaired Pointers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Doberman Pinschers good family dogs? What about German Longhaired Pointers?

    Doberman Pinschers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Easier to Train than the German Longhaired Pointer?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train.

    German Longhaired Pointers are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Doberman Pinscher or the German Longhaired Pointer

    Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool.

    German Longhaired Pointers drool moderately.

    How Kid-friendly are Doberman Pinschers and German Longhaired Pointers?

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

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

    Does the Doberman Pinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the German Longhaired Pointer?

    Doberman Pinschers 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.

    German Longhaired Pointers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Doberman Pinschers Bark and Howl? What about German Longhaired Pointers?

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

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

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can German Longhaired Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    German Longhaired Pointers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Doberman Pinscher vs. German Longhaired Pointer

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

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

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can German Longhaired Pointers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

    German Longhaired Pointers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the German Longhaired Pointer?

    Doberman Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    German Longhaired Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Doberman Pinscher or the German Longhaired Pointer?

    Doberman Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Doberman Pinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Doberman Pinscher compares to other breeds aside from the German Longhaired Pointer. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Doberman Pinscher to other breeds:

    Doberman Pinscher versus Beagle     Doberman Pinscher versus Harrier     Doberman Pinscher versus Cane Corso     Doberman Pinscher versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Doberman Pinscher versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Doberman Pinscher versus Whoodle     Doberman Pinscher versus German Longhaired Pointer     Doberman Pinscher versus Mudi     Doberman Pinscher versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Doberman Pinscher versus Finnish Lapphund     Doberman Pinscher versus Schnoodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Lhasapoo     Doberman Pinscher versus Norfolk Terrier     Doberman Pinscher versus Tibetan Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Dogue de Bordeaux     Doberman Pinscher versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Doberman Pinscher versus American Eskimo Dog     Doberman Pinscher versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     

    Conclusion: Doberman Pinscher versus German Longhaired 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 Doberman Pinscher and the German Longhaired Pointer better suits you and your family.