Mary Allen
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a hunting dog through and through: hardworking, versatile, and intelligent. Be sure to give him a task or he’ll find one himself.
There is hardly a breed in Germany that is so closely associated with a hunter or forester as the German Shorthaired Pointer. And it’s not surprising, because the strong dogs with faithful beady eyes and the beautiful coat are considered reliable and intelligent all-rounders: Whether tracking down, tracking, retrieving, or sweating in meadows, forests, and waters – the dog always throws himself into his with enthusiasm and diligence Tasks. That is why he is a valued companion for hunters, foresters, and all other nature lovers.
In our article and guide, we have summarized all relevant information about the German Shorthaired Pointer for you. Here you can find out what the dogs look like and the history of the breed. We also reveal what is important when raising puppies and what tips and tricks there are for care and keeping.
What does a German Shorthaired Pointer look like?
As with its relative, the German Wirehaired Pointer, the Shorthaired Pointer is also characterized by a muscular but lean physique. The chest is wide with a narrow waist. The dog has long floppy ears and a broad muzzle. The fur is short and dense and feels more coarse than soft. The undercoat is also very dense and protects the dog particularly well from cold water.
Approved coat colors for the dog are dark brown and black with varying degrees of white markings, spots, or speckles. As a general rule, the fur on the head and paws should be a solid color, while the fur on the rest of the body can be any shade of white.
Although docking puppies is now illegal in Germany, there is an exception for hunting dogs. Docking is still permitted by law here, as many breeders and hunters think this is how they protect the dog from injuries during the hunt. Puppies that are not given to hunters and not for hunting use may not be docked!
How tall is a German Shorthaired Pointer?
The dogs belong to the large dog breeds with an average height at the withers of between 62 cm and 66 cm for males and between 58 cm and 63 cm for females.
How heavy is a German Shorthaired Pointer?
Despite their size, the dogs don’t weigh as much as other large dog breeds. Male dogs should weigh between 26 kg and 30 kg with a balanced and healthy diet and female dogs between 20 kg and 25 kg.
How old does a German Shorthaired Pointer get?
In the short-haired breeds, the main focus is on performance and health. That is why these hunting dogs are now among the robust, large dog breeds with an average age of up to twelve years. With good care and health, some dogs can live as long as 17 years.
What is the character or nature of the German Shorthaired Pointer?
A German Shorthaired Pointer should primarily be the greatest possible support when hunting. That is why his character is characterized on the one hand by intelligence, courage, obedience, and reliability. On the other hand, the family-friendliness of the breed has long been in mind in breeding. The dogs are therefore considered friendly, people-related, cuddly, and affectionate.
A German Shorthaired Pointer wants to be close to their family at all times and needs a lot of attention from their humans. When dealing with children, the dog is playful, cuddly, and usually very gentle with good socialization. Only in a young dog could the youthful high spirits degenerate.
The breed is well suited as a guard dog as it has a strong protective instinct. However, the dogs are not aggressive towards strangers or animals but only announce them loudly. Then they stay at a distance before they thaw out.
The Shorthaired Pointer is a true turbo machine when it comes to sport and fun. In fact, the breed is one of the most energetic dog breeds and accordingly requires an extraordinary workload for body and mind. Activities such as those found in hunting, i.e. tracking, retrieving, scouting, and similar tasks, as well as general sporting activities such as running and swimming, are part of his daily sports program.
Where does the German Shorthaired Pointer come from?
The origins of the Kurzhaar lie around the middle of the 19th century in Germany. At this time, hunting began to change fundamentally with the development of firearms. This also changed the requirements for hunting dogs. Instead of powerful and strong animals that could catch and kill the game themselves, hunters were now looking for smaller, faster, and “optimized” hunting dogs. These should support them in all sorts of tasks while hunting.
Breeders, therefore, began to copy the best characteristics from existing hunting dog breeds and bundle them into new working dog breeds. This crossing of different dog breeds resulted not only in the German Shorthaired Pointer but also in other dog breeds such as the German Wirehaired Pointer, the Weimaraner, or the large and small Munsterlander.
Which original breeds were crossed into the German Shorthaired Pointer can no longer be determined today. It is assumed that there are Italian and Spanish pointers, pointers, the English Foxhound, and some other German hunting and tracking dogs.
German Shorthaired Pointer: The right attitude and training
The German Shorthaired Pointer originated as a hunting dog and has been optimized as a hunting dog. Even today, puppies of the Kurzhaar are therefore mainly given to hunters. The dog is particularly well-tailored to the requirements and challenges of hunting. In his hunting work, he is also best utilized physically and mentally. Only puppies that fail the strict performance tests in breeding are given to non-hunters. Nevertheless: the Kurzhaar is by no means a beginner’s dog.
The dogs are relatively easy to train due to their intelligence, human orientation, and general obedience. They have a bit of stubbornness, but they really want to please their people. They are happy when they make their people happy.
At the same time, the intelligence and strength of the dogs require detailed daily sports and play programs. This is especially true if the dogs are not used for hunting. Alternatives and balancing activities are then mandatory. If the dog is bored and does not get enough activity, it can become nervous and look for its own activity. And that usually doesn’t just end with a lot of destroyed shoes.
The dog is not very suitable for the big city apartment unless you are a hunter and commute back and forth between town and the country. The Kurzhaar needs a lot of space and freedom to roam. The best thing is that there are many meadows and forests right in front of the front door, where he can really let his senses and his mind live out. But it is important never to forget his strong hunting instinct.
What care does the German Shorthaired Pointer need?
Caring for the coat is quite simple thanks to the short and dense hair. A thorough brushing once a week outside of the molting phase is completely sufficient for good care. Since the dogs are true to nature lovers, you should regularly check their fur for parasites after walks and activities in meadows and forests. So fleas and ticks only enjoy your four-legged friend for a short time.
Proper nutrition is also part of optimal care. A high-quality feed with a high meat content is particularly suitable for the bundle of energy. Of course, you can also barf the German Shorthaired Pointer. With healthy snacks and treats, you turn every parenting session into a fun game.
What are the typical diseases of the German Shorthaired Pointer?
Due to strict breeding standards, the focus on health in breeding, and good care and control, the breed is now one of the very healthy dog breeds among hunting dogs. Diseases are rare. These include certain types of cancer, epilepsy, or progressive retinal atrophy. Diseases such as hip dysplasia and gastric torsion, which are widespread among large dog breeds, can also occur in shorthaired dogs, but they are rare.
How much does a German Shorthaired Pointer cost?
In Germany, most breeders are organized in the large German Shorthaired Pointer Association. You can find more information about the breed here or via the VDH breeder search and where you can buy a puppy if you are interested.
Prices range from 1,000 euros upwards. Never respond to dubious offers from the internet or classified ads. Here there is a risk that you will come across so-called trunk puppies, whose health conditions are unfortunately neither controlled nor encouraged. By not buying there, you avoid significant further animal suffering.