German Shorthaired Pointer vs Wirehaired Vizsla

A German Shorthaired Pointer
Photo: Горбунова М.С.
A Wirehaired Vizsla
Photo: SchorschR

Side by side

German Shorthaired Pointer
Wirehaired Vizsla
Adult weight
Males 25–32 kg (55–71 lb); females 20–27 kg (44–60 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 25–29 kg (55–65 lb); females 20–25 kg (45–55 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 58–64 cm; females 54–60 cm (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
Median 13.4 years3
No sourced figure
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Pointing dogs5
Pointing dogs6
Coat
Short coat5
Wire or harsh coat6
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
Blood-vessel cancer of the spleen (more likely)7
No sourced figure
Class
Field
Field

Which suits you

Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the German Shorthaired Pointer sheds through the year, the Wirehaired Vizsla holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (German Shorthaired Pointer: cooperative, with its own ideas; Wirehaired Vizsla: keen to work with you) and on loyalty (German Shorthaired Pointer: bonded to its family; Wirehaired Vizsla: sticks close to its people).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 26 kg (57 lb) for the German Shorthaired Pointer and 25 kg (55 lb) for the Wirehaired Vizsla.
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

German Shorthaired Pointer
Pointing dogs · Medium

In temperament it is friendly, intelligent and willing, with plenty of drive and stamina.

Wirehaired Vizsla
Pointing dogs · Medium

In temperament the breed is gentle and lively, with plenty of stamina and a keen nose. It attaches closely to its people and is known for preferring company to being left alone.

The German Shorthaired Pointer page →The Wirehaired Vizsla page →

Breed traits

Day to day
German Shorthaired Pointer
Wirehaired Vizsla
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Needs an experienced owner
Needs steady training
With people
German Shorthaired Pointer
Wirehaired Vizsla
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
German Shorthaired Pointer
Wirehaired Vizsla
Sensitivity
Needs a calm, predictable home
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Likely to chase small pets
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 25 kg.
German Shorthaired Pointer
Wirehaired Vizsla
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More comparisons

Compare the German Shorthaired Pointer with
German Shorthaired Pointer vs German Wirehaired PointerBracco Italiano vs German Shorthaired PointerGerman Shorthaired Pointer vs Wirehaired Pointing GriffonBrittany vs German Shorthaired PointerVizsla vs Wirehaired VizslaFrench Spaniel vs German Shorthaired PointerAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·