German Shorthaired Pointer vs Brittany Spaniel


If you’ve ever been in a tough spot trying to choose between a German Shorthaired Pointer and a Brittany Spaniel, you’re not the only one!

Though they still have their differences, the features and most traits of both dogs are almost the same. So, how do you choose between a German Shorthaired Pointer vs Brittany Spaniel?

How do they stack up with their specific traits and qualities? Let’s clear the air.

Behavior

Both these dogs have almost similar kinds of personalities. Brittany and German Shorthaired Pointers are both affectionate, friendly, and easy to deal with.

While Brittany tends to be a tad more independent, the GSP prefers and enjoys the company of mom, dad, and the rest of the family. Many individuals also tend to find the GSP cuter than Brittany because of its size.

Either way, both dogs love company, and managing them is simpler than you thought. They can be trained with minimal to little support, and once trained, both dogs will respond to commands and follow instructions when in public.

Energy Levels and Exercise

The German Shorthaired Pointer and the Brittany have one extremely common trait. If you haven’t already guessed, we are trying to talk about their energy levels.

Both the dogs are extremely energetic, and they absolutely enjoy every minute spent outside the home. That is also the reason why you should take extra care while training and exercising your pups.

Because both dogs have extremely high energy levels, make sure they get proper walks for at least one hour daily.

This will not just elevate their mood and temperament but also help them utilize their energy to the maximum capacity.

Either way, now that you fully understand the energy requirements of these dogs, it is time you considered they get what they require the most: outside activity time.

Temperament

Both the German and the Brittany are energetic dogs with almost similar types of temperaments. Brittany is best known for being physically and emotionally intelligent, social, and alert.

Another remarkable trait of these dogs is their highly independent nature. Even though they are pleasant and friendly, these dogs have an air of superiority and enjoy their time independently.

With that said, this doesn’t affect their responsiveness as they are almost always responsive.

The GSP, on the other hand, isn’t afraid to wear their heart on their sleeves. Not only are they extremely affectionate, but they also find many new ways to express their affection to their human friends.

As with the Brittany, these dogs are bold, but also quite easily trainable. Thanks to their overly responsive nature, GSP’s can be potentially well trained in less than a month.

The final and the biggest trait of these pups is that they are extremely cooperative. I had a German and I enjoyed how it always tried to live above and beyond my expectations with small but meaningful gestures.

Health Concerns

One of the biggest health concerns for both Brittany and the German is their requirement of proper and timely exercise. The key to keeping these pets healthy and happy is by ensuring that they get ample exercise for at least an hour daily.

Among the two dogs, you will usually find it easier to brush the GSP as they tend to have extremely low maintenance requirements.

Unlike Brittany who requires a coat brushing at least once or twice a week, the GSP only needs this once in a while to get rid of dead particles and old hair.

Among health concerns, Brittany is known to be afflicted by hip dysplasia which may often correlate with epilepsy and a range of other medical conditions.

Another common health problem with these pups is their skin disorders where they might have trouble and skin irritation along the folds.

Even though the GSP isn’t known to be susceptible to the mentioned ailments, they may still contract lymphatic problems and other issues with retaining fluid.

As with Brittany, they too may experience minor health issues with hip dysplasia.

Both the dogs require consistent and timely care along with a rich and balanced meal plan.

Even though their basic maintenance requirements are low, it is crucial to check up on your pup once in a while and visit the vet at least once or twice in two months.

Both these dogs have a similar lifespan ranging from 12 to 14 years.

Hunting Ability

Both the German Shorthair and the Brittany are adept hunters. They are known to carry a passion for hunting in their genes. These dogs are also extremely peppy and full of energy.

That is also the reason why their exercise requirements tend to be so high.

Luckily, both the dogs are also smart enough to be trained either professionally or at home. Though you may observe some differences, that too is likely to be rare.

While the German tends to be more energetic, active, and friendly, the Brittany tends to behave more independently despite having more or less the same energy levels.

That is also the reason why you might struggle to train Brittany when compared to the German Shorthaired Pointer.

Because the German Shorthair is smaller than the Brittany, they tend to be a top favorite among kids who love them for their cute size and pleasant behavior.

Even though their inherent desire of being a skilled hunter may drive them to chase out a couple of cats or fellow dogs in the neighborhoods, they will still make an excellent pet, considering they receive ample exercise, proper care, and training.

Family Compatibility

While the dogs are certainly family compatible, the GSP tends to be loved by kids because of their low barks and pleasing personalities.

Because they are smaller in size, kids tend to hang out and enjoy time with them much better. With that said, Brittany isn’t any bad either. While their barks may be high pitched, they still tend to make good companions if trained well.

Bottom Line

Both German Shorthaired Pointers and Brittany Spaniels are excellent choices for owners who are starting with handling dogs as pets.

These pets are easy to handle and they make excellent pets for kids as well. The best part: maintaining them is equally convenient and affordable.

With that said, you might find it easier to manage and groom the German Shorthaired when compared to Brittany Spaniel.

Even though both breeds are known to bark once in a while, if you train and groom them the right way, they’ll be as wholesome as ever!

meastt09

An Owner and a huge fan of GSP's! I have owned my GSP for 7 years now and learned so many things along the way to share with you all about German Shorthaired Pointers!

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