Side by side
Both columns come from the same cost model, so every row is a like for like comparison.
| Measure | German Shorthaired Pointer | Pembroke Welsh Corgi |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime cost | $40,905 | $38,323 |
| First year | $5,830 | $5,798 |
| Monthly average | $254 | $242 |
| Puppy price | $1,000 to $2,500 | $1,200 to $2,500 |
| Routine care, yearly | $2,706 | $2,574 |
| Documented conditions | 17 | 15 |
| Median lifespan | 13.4 yrs | 13.2 yrs |
| Adult weight | 45 to 70 lb | 24 to 30 lb |
| Daily food | 3.4 cups | 1.9 cups |
| Grooming, yearly | $250 | $398 |
| Risk profile | Low | |
| 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 | Measured result | Treatment cost |
|---|---|---|
| Skin disease | 36%1-yr clinical | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30%1-yr clinical | $354–$954 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15%1-yr clinical | $281–$756 |
| Periodontal disease | 13%1-yr clinical | $246–$663 |
| Lipoma | 11%owner survey | not priced |
| Ear infection | 7%1-yr clinical | $100–$270 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7%1-yr clinical | $84–$226 |
| Skin (cutaneous) cyst | 6%owner survey | not priced |
| Arthritis | 3%owner survey | $281–$756 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 2%screened dogs | $169–$455 |
| Skin lump | 2%owner survey | not priced |
| Elbow dysplasia | 1%screened dogs | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Epilepsy | 1%owner survey | $1,485–$3,999 |
| Spondylosis | 1%owner survey | not priced |
| Cruciate disease | 1%owner survey | $2,468–$5,640 |
| Heart (cardiac) murmur | 1%owner survey | $534–$1,438 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 0%screened dogs | not priced |
| Congenital heart disease | 0%screened dogs | $534–$1,438 |
| Bloat | n/a | $3,709–$9,986 |
| Hip dysplasia | n/a | $3,500–$7,000 |
| Condition | Measured result | Treatment cost |
|---|---|---|
| Skin disease | 36%1-yr clinical | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30%1-yr clinical | $354–$954 |
| Extracted teeth (US) | 20%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15%1-yr clinical | $281–$756 |
| Fractured teeth (US) | 14%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Dental calculus (US) | 14%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Periodontal disease | 13%1-yr clinical | $246–$663 |
| Dog bite (US) | 12%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Giardia (US) | 10%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Anal sac impaction | 7%1-yr clinical | $84–$226 |
| Seasonal allergies (US) | 7%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Conjunctivitis (US) | 7%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Bordetella and/or parainfluenza (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Osteoarthritis (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Coccidia (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
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Both breeds carry surgical risk, and premiums are priced by breed
Expected vet costs are $0 for the German Shorthaired Pointer and $0 for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Every policy excludes anything already diagnosed, so this is worth sorting out before you pick either dog.
Common questions
Is a German Shorthaired Pointer or a Pembroke Welsh Corgi more expensive?
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is cheaper by about $2,582 over a lifetime. German Shorthaired Pointer: $40,905. Pembroke Welsh Corgi: $38,323. Health costs are not inside either figure. They are documented separately below, in the units each study used.
Which lives longer, a German Shorthaired Pointer or a Pembroke Welsh Corgi?
The German Shorthaired Pointer has the longer typical lifespan. German Shorthaired Pointer: 13.4 years. Pembroke Welsh Corgi: 13.2 years.
Which is healthier, a German Shorthaired Pointer or a Pembroke Welsh Corgi?
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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi 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.