Side by side
Both columns come from the same cost model, so every row is a like for like comparison.
| Measure | German Shorthaired Pointer | Yorkshire Terrier |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime cost | $40,905 | $37,904 |
| First year | $5,830 | $5,977 |
| Monthly average | $254 | $237 |
| Puppy price | $1,000 to $2,500 | $1,200 to $3,000 |
| Routine care, yearly | $2,706 | $2,503 |
| Documented conditions | 17 | 18 |
| Median lifespan | 13.4 yrs | 13.3 yrs |
| Adult weight | 45 to 70 lb | 4 to 7 lb |
| Daily food | 3.4 cups | 0.6 cups |
| Grooming, yearly | $250 | $668 |
| Risk profile | Low | Moderate |
| Biggest single risk | Skin disease | Periodontal 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Periodontal disease | 21%1-yr clinical | $246–$663 |
| Anal sac impaction | 4%1-yr clinical | $84–$226 |
| Overgrown nails | 6%1-yr clinical | $36–$98 |
| Extracted teeth (US) | 40%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Skin disease | 36%1-yr clinical | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30%1-yr clinical | $354–$954 |
| Dental calculus (US) | 29%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Patellar luxation | 17%screened dogs | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15%1-yr clinical | $281–$756 |
| Cataracts (US) | 12%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Patellar luxation (US) | 11%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Retained deciduous teeth (US) | 9%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Gingivitis (US) | 8%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Ear infection | 7%1-yr clinical | $100–$270 |
| Hip dysplasia | 7%screened dogs | $1,200–$3,500 |
| Dog bite (US) | 7%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Pancreatitis (US) | 7%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Tracheal collapse (US) | 7%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Osteoarthritis (US) | 7%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Tracheal collapse | n/a | $484–$1,302 |
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Expected vet costs are $0 for the German Shorthaired Pointer and $1,203 for the Yorkshire Terrier. 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 Yorkshire Terrier more expensive?
The Yorkshire Terrier is cheaper by about $3,001 over a lifetime. German Shorthaired Pointer: $40,905. Yorkshire Terrier: $37,904. 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 Yorkshire Terrier?
The German Shorthaired Pointer has the longer typical lifespan. German Shorthaired Pointer: 13.4 years. Yorkshire Terrier: 13.3 years.
Which is healthier, a German Shorthaired Pointer or a Yorkshire Terrier?
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 Yorkshire Terrier it is periodontal disease, at 21%.
How we calculated this
Both breeds run through one model, so the comparison is like for like. Full method.