Side by side
Both columns come from the same cost model, so every row is a like for like comparison.
| Measure | German Shorthaired Pointer | Great Dane |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime cost | $41,374 | $44,330 |
| First year | $5,865 | $7,595 |
| Monthly average | $257 | $349 |
| Puppy price | $1,000 to $2,500 | $1,500 to $3,500 |
| Routine care, yearly | $2,741 | $3,721 |
| Expected health cost | $0 | $0 |
| Documented conditions | 17 | 12 |
| Median lifespan | 13.4 yrs | 10.6 yrs |
| Adult weight | 45 to 70 lb | 110 to 175 lb |
| Daily food | 3.4 cups | 6.7 cups |
| Grooming, yearly | $180 | $220 |
| Risk profile | Low | High, mid life |
| Biggest single risk | Skin disease | Skin disease |
Health risks compared
What tends to go wrong in each breed, how often, and what it costs to treat.
| Condition | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Skin disease | 36% | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30% | $354–$954 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15% | $281–$756 |
| Lipoma | 11% | not priced |
| Ear infection | 10% | $100–$270 |
| Periodontal disease | 9% | $246–$663 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7% | $84–$226 |
| Skin (cutaneous) cyst | 6% | not priced |
| Arthritis | 3% | $281–$756 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 2% | $169–$455 |
| Skin lump | 2% | not priced |
| Elbow dysplasia | 1% | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Epilepsy | 1% | $1,485–$3,999 |
| Spondylosis | 1% | not priced |
| Cruciate disease | 1% | $2,468–$5,640 |
| Heart (cardiac) murmur | 1% | $534–$1,438 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 0% | not priced |
| Congenital heart disease | 0% | $534–$1,438 |
| Bloat | n/a | $3,709–$9,986 |
| Hip dysplasia | n/a | $3,500–$7,000 |
| Expected total | $0 | |
| Condition | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Skin disease | 36% | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30% | $354–$954 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15% | $281–$756 |
| Hip dysplasia | 13% | $3,500–$7,000 |
| Ear infection | 10% | $100–$270 |
| Periodontal disease | 9% | $246–$663 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7% | $84–$226 |
| Elbow dysplasia | 5% | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 5% | $169–$455 |
| Patellar luxation | 1% | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Congenital heart disease | 1% | $534–$1,438 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 0% | not priced |
| Bloat | n/a | $3,709–$9,986 |
| Dilated cardiomyopathy | n/a | $534–$1,438 |
| Wobbler syndrome | n/a | $3,776–$10,168 |
| Expected total | $0 | |
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Expected vet costs are $0 for the German Shorthaired Pointer and $0 for the Great Dane. Every policy excludes anything already diagnosed, so this is worth sorting out before you pick either dog.
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Common questions
Is a German Shorthaired Pointer or a Great Dane more expensive?
The German Shorthaired Pointer is cheaper by about $2,956 over a lifetime. German Shorthaired Pointer: $41,374. Great Dane: $44,330. The gap comes mostly from health costs rather than routine care.
Which lives longer, a German Shorthaired Pointer or a Great Dane?
The German Shorthaired Pointer has the longer typical lifespan. German Shorthaired Pointer: 13.4 years. Great Dane: 10.6 years.
Which is healthier, a German Shorthaired Pointer or a Great Dane?
Both figures below are what it costs to own the dog, not what it costs if something goes wrong. The German Shorthaired Pointer's biggest single risk is skin disease, seen in 36% of the breed. For the Great Dane it is skin disease, at 36%.
How we calculated this
Both breeds run through one model, so the comparison is like for like. Full method.