Quick answer
Which breed should most people choose?
If your household can provide serious daily exercise, the Pointer scores better almost everywhere except apartment fit and coat care. If you live in a smaller space and want low grooming, the Chow is the more realistic choice despite matching the Pointer pound for pound.
Chow Chow or German Shorthaired Pointer? On paper they differ most on exercise need, and on the scales Chow Chow is the heavier at 45–70 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Chow Chow and German Shorthaired Pointer and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on exercise need and grooming need, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Chow Chow rates 4/5 against 1/5. Breed history is left out; what follows is what you will actually live with.
Between Chow Chow and German Shorthaired Pointer, exercise need is what separates them, and Chow Chow is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose Chow Chow if you are in a flat or a smaller home, your walking routine is modest and the dog will be alone during the working day.
Choose German Shorthaired Pointer if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, shedding is a problem in your house and there are young children at home.
| Feature | chow chow | german shorthaired pointer | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | large | Equal |
| Weight | 45–70 lbs | 45–70 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 17–20 in | 21–25 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 9–15 years | 10–12 years | chow chow |
| Exercise need | Low (2/5) | Very high (5/5) | chow chow |
| Grooming need | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | german shorthaired pointer |
| Shedding | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | german shorthaired pointer |
| Energy level | Low (2/5) | Very high (5/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Apartment suitability | High (4/5) | Very low (1/5) | chow chow |
| Good for first-time owners | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Tolerates being alone | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | chow chow |
| Trainability | Low (2/5) | Very high (5/5) | german shorthaired pointer |
| Good with kids | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | german shorthaired pointer |
| Good with other dogs | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | german shorthaired pointer |
| Friendly to strangers | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | german shorthaired pointer |
| Cost level | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | german shorthaired pointer |
| Coat | Thick double coat | Short, dense | Equal |
| Origin | China | Germany | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $120–$250 | $100–$200 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,600–$3,000 | $1,800–$3,000 | Equal |
Oddly, these two share the exact same weight range, 45-70 lbs for both. The difference is in the frame: the Pointer is taller at 21-25 inches against the Chow's 17-20, and carries that weight over a leaner, athletic build built for pointing and retrieving, versus the Chow's compact, heavily coated frame. That taller, leaner build is meant for covering ground at a trot for hours, something the Chow's compact body was never bred to do.
The Pointer rates 5/5 for exercise need, very high, reflecting its pedigree as an all-day hunting dog. The Chow rates 2/5. Given the near-identical weight, this is really the deciding factor between the two: a Pointer under-exercised gets destructive fast, while the Chow is genuinely content with light activity. Plan on an hour or more of real running or field time daily for the Pointer if you want a settled dog indoors.
This is close to a mirror image of the exercise gap. The Chow needs 5/5 grooming with 4/5 shedding, while the Pointer needs just 2/5 grooming with 3/5 shedding, a short, dense coat that sheds moderately but requires almost none of the brushing the Chow's coat demands. A quick weekly brush keeps the Pointer's coat in shape, while the Chow's coat realistically needs attention several times a week.
The Chow is dramatically better suited to apartment living, 4/5 versus the Pointer's very low 1/5. That's the largest apartment-suitability gap in this entire comparison batch, driven entirely by the Pointer's exercise requirements rather than its temperament. Barking ties at 3/5 for both. A Pointer kept in a small space without serious daily outlets is one of the more common mismatches breed counselors see.
The Pointer trains at 5/5, very high, against the Chow's 2/5, though both breeds share a low 2/5 first-time-owner rating. In the Pointer's case that's about needing an owner who can meet its exercise and mental-stimulation needs, not about difficulty learning commands; in the Chow's case it's the opposite, the dog is capable, just not inclined to obey. Both breeds do better with an owner who starts early and stays consistent.
The Pointer scores higher with kids (4/5 vs 3/5) and other dogs (4/5 vs 2/5), and somewhat higher with strangers (3/5 vs 2/5). Its temperament, energetic, enthusiastic, versatile, suits an active household with people coming and going. The Chow's reserved nature works better in a quieter, more predictable home. A Pointer's enthusiasm can be a lot for very young kids at first, so early supervision still matters despite its higher score.
The Chow's lifespan tops out higher, 9-15 years against the Pointer's 10-12. Both breeds' health lists run to ten conditions, and they overlap on three: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and bloat. The Pointer's list also includes von Willebrand's disease and cancer, conditions absent from the Chow's. Regular joint screening is worth doing with either breed given the shared hip and elbow dysplasia risk.
The Pointer runs slightly cheaper, a 3/5 cost rating and $100-$200 monthly against the Chow's 4/5 and $120-$250. First-year costs follow suit, $1,800-$3,000 for the Pointer versus $1,600-$3,000 for the Chow, putting the two closer together over a full year than the monthly figures suggest. Food costs run a little higher for the Pointer's more active metabolism, which helps offset its lower grooming bill.
Chow Chow weighs 45–70 lbs and lives 9–15 years; German Shorthaired Pointer weighs 45–70 lbs and lives 10–12 years. The two diverge most on exercise need, grooming need and energy level and 3 other rated axes. They are level on barking and good for first-time owners, so those cannot decide it. The comparison marks an easier option only where one exists. Facts like weight and country of origin are not scored. Both dogs are rated from the same dataset, which is what makes the numbers comparable with each other even though any individual dog sits somewhere inside its breed's range.
Yes, both the Chow Chow and the German Shorthaired Pointer weigh 45-70 lbs. The Pointer is taller, though, at 21-25 inches versus the Chow's 17-20, and carries the weight on a leaner frame.
The Chow, by a wide margin, 4/5 apartment suitability versus the Pointer's very low 1/5. This is the sharpest apartment-fit gap of any pairing in this comparison set.
The Pointer, clearly, 2/5 grooming and 3/5 shedding against the Chow's 5/5 and 4/5. Its short coat needs a fraction of the upkeep.
The Pointer, rated 5/5 versus the Chow's 2/5. Both rate low for first-time owners overall, but for different reasons, the Pointer needs an active handler, the Chow needs a patient one.
Three: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and bloat appear on both lists. The Pointer's list additionally includes von Willebrand's disease and cancer.
The Chow's range runs higher, 9-15 years versus the Pointer's 10-12, though both are reasonably long-lived compared to giant breeds.
About $120-$250 a month for the Chow and $100-$200 for the Pointer. Over a first year the gap narrows: $1,600-$3,000 versus $1,800-$3,000.
If your household can provide serious daily exercise, the Pointer scores better almost everywhere except apartment fit and coat care. If you live in a smaller space and want low grooming, the Chow is the more realistic choice despite matching the Pointer pound for pound.
$120-$250 for the Chow, $100-$200 for the Pointer, first-year totals end up close either way.
The Pointer needs very high daily exercise (5/5); the Chow needs very little (2/5), despite the two breeds weighing the same.
The Chow's range tops out higher, 9-15 years versus the Pointer's 10-12.
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Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.
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