Bull Terrier vs German Shorthaired Pointer

Compare the Bull Terrier to the German Shorthaired Pointer. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Bull Terriers and German Shorthaired Pointers.

Quick Summary

Below are a few quick comparisons between the two breeds.

Owner Experience - Both breeds are good choices for new or inexperienced owners, but the Bull Terrier is better suited for new owners.
Children - Both the Bull Terrier and German Shorthaired Pointer are great with children.
Grooming - Both the Bull Terrier and German Shorthaired Pointer are very low maintenance and easy to groom.
Barking - The German Shorthaired Pointer bark/howls frequently. The Bull Terrier rarely barks.

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Bull Terrier vs German Shorthaired Pointer

Breed Name	Bull Terrier	German Shorthaired Pointer
General Details
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred
Is Hypoallergenic	No	No
Lifespan	9-15 yrs.	12-14 yrs.
Height	18-21 in.	22-24 in.
Weight	45-65 lb	45-75 lb
Intelligence	Average	High
History
Origin Country	UK (England)	Germany
Origin Year	1862 AD	1800 AD
Temperament
Overall Friendliness	Very Good	Very Good
Family Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Kid Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Pet Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Stranger Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Personality
	Affectionate Aggressive Enjoys Attention Jealous Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Stubborn	Affectionate Enjoys Attention Does Not Like Being Alone Willing To Please
Living Environment
Apartment	Yes	No
Indoor	Yes	No
Small Yard	Yes	No
Medium Yard	Yes	No
Large Yard	Yes	Yes
Temperature Tolerance ¹	65°F to 80°F	40°F to 80°F
Barks/Howls	Rarely	Very Often
Exercise Needs
Energy Level	High	High-Very High
Exercise Required	Medium	High-Very High
Top Running Speed	18 mph	18 mph
Strength	High-Very High	High
Grooming Needs
Coat Maintenance	Low	Low
Shedding	Low	Medium
Dander	Low	Medium
Drool Amount	Low	None

¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.

Instincts & Behavior Comparison
Breed Name	Bull Terrier	German Shorthaired Pointer
Breed Mentality
Dominant/Alpha	No	No
Family/Pack	Yes	Yes
Independent	Yes	No
Breed Focus
Distracted Easily	Yes	No
Average	Yes	No
Focused & Patient	No	Yes
Breed Instincts
Aggression	Average	Average
Burrow/Digging	Average	Average
Chasing	High	High
Follow Commands	Very Low	Average
Fighting	Average	Below Average
Guarding	Average	Below Average
Herding	Very Low	Very Low
Hunting	Average	High
Protection	Average	Average
Remove Vermin	High	High
Sledding	Very Low	Very Low
Watch	Average	Average

Health Comparison
Breed Name	Bull Terrier	German Shorthaired Pointer
Lifespan
Lifespan	9-15 yrs.	12-14 yrs.
Common Health Issues
Deafness	Yes	No
Heart Murmurs	Yes	No
Hereditary Nephritis	Yes	No
Lens Luxation	Yes	No
Spinning	Yes	No

Appearance Comparison
Breed Name	Bull Terrier	German Shorthaired Pointer
Coat
Fur	Yes	Yes
Hair	No	Yes
Coat Type
Single Coat	Yes	Yes
Smooth Coat	No	Yes
Coat Texture
Straight	Yes	Yes
Rough	No	Yes
Coat Length(s)
Short	Yes	Yes
Coat Color(s)
Black & Tan	Yes	No
Black Brindle	Yes	No
Black Brindle, & White	Yes	No
Black, Tan, & White	Yes	No
Brindle	Yes	No
Brindle & White	Yes	No
Fawn	Yes	No
Fawn & White	Yes	No
Fawn Smut	Yes	No
Fawn Smut & White	Yes	No
Red	Yes	No
Red & White	Yes	No
Red Smut	Yes	No
Red Smut & White	Yes	No
White	Yes	Yes
White & Black Brindle	Yes	No
Black	No	Yes
Black Roan	No	Yes
Black&white	No	Yes
Liver	No	Yes
Liver Roan	No	Yes
Liver&white	No	Yes
White&liver	No	Yes