Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Great Dane Versus Portuguese Pointer: Introduction
- Great Dane versus Portuguese Pointer: Overview
- Great Dane versus Portuguese Pointer: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Portuguese Pointer
- The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Portuguese Pointer
- Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Portuguese Pointer
- Lifespan of Great Dane versus Portuguese Pointer
- Health Problems of Great Dane versus Health Problems of Portuguese Pointer
- Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Portuguese Pointer
- Do Great Danes shed more than Portuguese Pointers?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Portuguese Pointer?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Portuguese Pointer?
- Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Portuguese Pointers?
- Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Portuguese Pointer?
- Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Portuguese Pointer
- How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Portuguese Pointers?
- Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Portuguese Pointer?
- Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Portuguese Pointers?
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Portuguese Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Portuguese Pointer
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Portuguese Pointers Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Great Dane versus Portuguese Pointer. Which One is a Better Pet?
Great Dane Versus Portuguese Pointer: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Portuguese Pointer.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane or the Portuguese Pointer.
Great Dane versus Portuguese Pointer: Overview
A very important difference between the Great Dane and the Portuguese Pointer is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Great Dane is a giant-sized dog while the Portuguese Pointer is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Great Dane 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 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.
Great Dane versus Portuguese Pointer: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Portuguese Pointer
| Factor | Great Dane | Portuguese Pointer |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Weight | 100 to 200 pounds | 35 to 59 pounds |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Height | 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder | 20 to 22 inches |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Intelligence | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Train | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Life Span | 7 to 10 years | 12 to 14 years |
| Average Lifespan | 8.5 years | 13.0 years |
| Average Price | $1560 | No Data |
| Price Range | $1000 – $2000 | No Data |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
*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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Portuguese Pointer is 72 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Great Dane is a better pet than the Portuguese Pointer. So, you should get a Great Dane!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Portuguese Pointer
Below is a list of where the Great Dane and the Portuguese Pointer are most different:
The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Portuguese Pointer
The Great Dane and the Portuguese Pointer are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Great Dane and the Portuguese Pointer are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Portuguese Pointer
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Great Dane and the Portuguese Pointer.
The Great Dane weighs 100 to 200 pounds when fully grown. The Great Dane is 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, the Portuguese Pointer weighs 35 to 59 pounds when fully grown. The Portuguese Pointer is 20 to 22 inches when fully grown.
Lifespan of Great Dane versus Portuguese Pointer
The lifespan of the Great Dane is between 7 to 10 years. The average lifespan of the Great Dane is 8.5 years.
The lifespan of the Portuguese Pointer is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Portuguese Pointer is 13.0 years.
The Portuguese Pointer live longer than the Great Dane.
Health Problems of Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane is prone to more genetic health problems than the Portuguese Pointer.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Great Dane than for the Portuguese Pointer.
4 health tests are recommended for Great Dane while 3 tests are recommended for the Portuguese Pointer.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Great Danes and in Portuguese Pointers.
Great Dane Health Problems
Great Danes are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Great Dane 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 Great Dane puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Great Dane 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 Great Danes for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Great Danes 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:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Portuguese Pointers here.
Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Portuguese Pointer
Great Danes do not like to be left alone.
Portuguese Pointers do not like to be left alone.
Do Great Danes shed more than Portuguese Pointers?
Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Portuguese Pointers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Portuguese Pointer?
Great Danes are very easy to groom.
Portuguese Pointers are very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Portuguese Pointer?
Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.
Portuguese Pointers do not get along well with other dogs.
Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Portuguese Pointers?
Great Danes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Portuguese Pointers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Portuguese Pointer?
Great Danes are very easy to train.
Portuguese Pointers are very easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Portuguese Pointer
Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.
Portuguese Pointers drool moderately.
How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Portuguese Pointers?
Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Portuguese Pointers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Portuguese Pointer?
Great Danes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Portuguese Pointers?
Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Portuguese Pointers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Portuguese Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather?
Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Portuguese Pointers can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Portuguese Pointer
Great Danes have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Portuguese Pointers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Portuguese Pointers Tolerate Hot Weather?
Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Portuguese Pointers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Is the Great Dane Better for Apartment Owners than the Portuguese Pointer?
Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.
Portuguese Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Great Dane or the Portuguese Pointer?
Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Portuguese Pointers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Great Dane compares to other breeds aside from the Portuguese Pointer. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Great Dane to other breeds:
Great Dane versus King Shepherd Great Dane versus Beagle Great Dane versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Great Dane versus Alaskan Malamute Great Dane versus Doberman Pinscher Great Dane versus Dogue de Bordeaux Great Dane versus Biewer Terrier Great Dane versus Rottweiler Great Dane versus Manchester Terrier Great Dane versus Sloughi Great Dane versus Akbash Great Dane versus Labrador Retriever Great Dane versus Kishu Ken Great Dane versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Conclusion: Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Portuguese Pointer better suits you and your family.