Although it is classified among the pointing dogs, the German Shorthaired Pointer is a multifunctional hunting dog, being able to perform other tasks such as collection and tracking. This is why it is highly appreciated among hunters.
Its origin is not very well known, but what is known is that they are very intelligent and loyal dogs, that they need a large dose of daily physical activity, and that they are not suitable for living in confined spaces. small as flats or small houses. They are also very playful and sociable, both with children and with other pets, so they are recommended for families with children. If you want to adopt a German Shorthaired Pointer, don't miss this breed file on our site to find out everything about these dogs.
Origin of the German Shorthaired Pointer
The history of the German shorthaired pointer and, like hunting dog, is little known and very confusing. It is thought that it carries Spanish Pointer and English Pointer blood, as well as other breeds of hunting dogs, but its genealogy is not known with certainty. The only thing that is clear about this breed is contained in the book of the origins of the German Shorthaired Pointer or "Zuchtbuch Deutsch-Kurzhaar", a document where Prince Albrecht de Solms-Braunfels established the characteristics of the breed, the rules of judgment of morphology and, finally, the basic rules of working tests for hunting dogs.
The breed was and still is very popular with hunters in its home country of Germany. In other parts of the world it is not so common to find German Shorthaired Pointers, but they are well known among small game enthusiasts.
Physical Characteristics of the German Shorthaired Pointer
According to the FCI standard, the characteristics of the German Shorthaired Pointer are as follows:
- Height: 62 to 66 centimeters for males and 58 to 66 centimeters for females.
- Weight: The ideal weight is not indicated in this breed standard, but German Shorthaired Pointers usually weigh around 25 to 30 kg.
- Build: The German Shorthaired Pointer is a tall, muscular and strong dog, but it is not heavy or coarse. On the contrary, it is a beautiful and well-proportioned animal.
- Back: it is strong and well-muscled, while the loin is short, muscular and can be straight or slightly arched.
- Chest: It is deep and the bottom line rises slightly to the level of the belly.
- Head: it is elongated and has a noble appearance. The skull is wide and slightly convex, while the stop (naso-frontal depression) is moderately developed. The snout is long, wide and deep.
- Eyes: they are brown and dark, medium in size.
- Ears: hang on the sides of the cheeks, with rounded tips, and are slightly bent forward.
- Tail: Set high and should reach the hock when hanging. The dog carries it horizontally or slightly saber-shaped during the action. Unfortunately, both the breed standard accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and the breed standards of other organizations indicate that the tail should be amputated approximately halfway in those countries where such activity is permitted.
- Fur: covers the entire body of the dog and is short, tight, rough and hard to the touch.
German Shorthaired Pointer Colors
Can be colored:
- Solid Brown
- Brown with small white spots
- Brown Roan
- White with brown head
- Black
- Black Roan
Now that you know the characteristics of the German shorthaired pointer, let's see what character it has and how to care for it.
German Shorthaired Pointer Character
The hunting nature of this pointer defines its temperament. The German shorthaired pointer is an active, lively, curious and intelligent dog who enjoys outdoor activities in the company of his own. Given the right place and enough time to keep these dogs, they can make great pets for dynamic individuals and families who enjoy outdoor activities. These bracos are not usually good pets for people or families who are sedentary or who live in apartments or small houses.
When it is socialized from an early age, the German Shorthaired Pointer is presented as a friendly dog, both with strangers and with with dogs and other animals. In these conditions it is usually very friendly and playful with children. On the other hand, if you are going to live with small pets, it is important to place a lot of emphasis on their socialization from puppyhood, since their hunting instincts can surface when they are adults.
Their great dynamism and strong hunting instincts often cause behavioral problems when these dogs are forced to live in apartments or in densely populated areas where they cannot release their energies. In such cases, dogs tend to be destructive and confrontational In addition, German Shorthaired Pointers tend to be noisy animals, often barking.
You can find out more information about The destructive dog, its causes and solutions in this other article on our site that we recommend.
German Shorthaired Pointer Care
Among the care of the German Shorthaired Pointer we can define that it needs the following requirements.
- Food: Being a large dog, and with a history as a hunter, the German shorthaired pointer needs a considerable amount of food. On a daily basis, we will put between 450 and 520 grams of dry feed. This does not mean that we should exceed in the rations. Rather, we will have to consult with our veterinarian about his exact needs in order to offer him the best possible diet. Remember, they should always be high-protein, low-fat
- Exercise: German Shorthaired Pointers need to be accompanied for much of the day and need a lot of physical exercise and mental For the same reason, they do not adapt very well to life in an apartment or in densely populated cities. The ideal for these bracos is to live in a house with a large garden or in a rural area where they can run more freely. They still need daily walks to socialize and exercise.
- Grooming: Although the German Shorthaired Pointer sheds regularly, caring for its coat is simple and does not require much effort no time. Regular brushing every two or three days is enough to keep the coat in good condition. If the dog is dedicated to hunting, it may be necessary to brush it more frequently to remove dirt that remains attached. In addition, you only have to bathe the dog when he is dirty and it is not necessary to do it very often. We leave you these two articles on Recommendations for brushing my dog's hair or How to bathe my dog at home?
German Shorthaired Pointer Education
It is easy to train these dogs for hunting, since their instincts direct them towards that activity. However, necessary dog training for a pet dog can be met with some difficulties because German Shorthaired Pointers are somewhat easily distracted Still, they can learn many things and become excellent pets if they are educated through positive training. However, traditional training does not work as well with this breed.
If you want to know what Positive Reinforcement in dogs consists of, here we leave you this article so you can consult it.
German Shorthaired Pointer He alth
The German Shorthaired Pointer is one of the he althiest dog breeds, but it is still prone to diseases common to other large breeds. German shorthaired pointer diseases include:
- Hip dysplasia
- Entropion
- Gastric torsion
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Note that it is also susceptible to lymphatic obstruction and ear infections.
Where to adopt a German Shorthaired Pointer?
After reviewing all the characteristics of the German shorthaired pointer, you are probably thinking of getting one. First of all, from our site we want to remind you that the important thing is not the physical appearance of the dog, but the fact of being able to offer him a good life In the event that don't find a purebred, you can always look for other dogs that have characteristics similar to those of the German shorthaired pointer.
On the other hand, we also want to emphasize that whenever we can we should adopt dogs and not buy them. As we have mentioned, German Shorthaired Pointers are well known among dog lovers but it is not easy to find them. Therefore, it is advisable to go to an animal shelter or a breed club to see if they have a dog like the one we are looking for. If not, we can also go to an animal shelter to see if there is any luck there.
