The German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) was
developed at the turn of the nineteenth century in Germany solely
for the purpose of hunting. It is believe that there were quite a
few dogs that went into creating this unique breed some of which
include some German breeds such as the schweisshund, a German
hound known for tracking, the Foxhound, different French hounds,
assorted Scandinavian breeds, the German Bird Dog, and the Italian
Pointer.This breed is known for its
ability to move quickly and with great strength. This is due to
his very strong back legs that give him the ability to move
rapidly and turn quickly if needed. His muzzle allows him to
retrieve heavier game than most of the retrievers because it is
strong and broad.
The German Shorthaired Pointer's coat is
water resistant due to his undercoat that is protected by guard
hairs that are stiff. This also allows him to stay warm in even
the coldest of weather. His color can vary, but is usually a dark
brown, known as liver, black or both liver and black with some
white mixed in. This mixed, darker coloring can make this breed
harder to see in the winter seasons: a perfect dog for hunting
without getting easily caught. When he is standing in snow and
next to dead trees and shrubs, his white and brown coat camouflage
him well.
The German Shorthaired Pointer can stand
anywhere between twenty-one and twenty-five inches tall,
categorizing him as a medium breed. Adults typically weigh
anywhere from forty-five to seventy pounds and the female Pointer
is usually a little bit shorter and slightly lighter than the
male.
Although this gentle, obedient breed makes a
great household pet, he needs to be trained at times to be
affectionate and not "always on the hunt". They are also very
intelligent and bold. Generally speaking they are easy to train,
but need a lot of attention as they can be easily distracted due
to their superior scent ability. They have a tendency toward being
stubborn, so early training is a necessity. Inherently, they are
bred to hunt, so the ability to get much exercise and keep a high
activity level is very important. He needs constant jobs to do due
to his intense activity level. For everyday family life and having
a GSP as a pet, this breed is recommended to be a friendly, fun
and loyal addition to the family, who tend to be protective of
young children. However, great care must be taken around young
children because of their high energy and activity level.
If the German Shorthaired Pointer seems like
they are hyperactive or very destructive, it is probably due to a
lack of correct training or a lack of plenty of exercise. This
breed develops very strong attachments and bondings with their
owners and the families they are with. However, if they do not
receive the correct amount of exercise, they will take it upon
themselves to be sure that they do and thus have a potentially
destructive tendency.
As the GSP is a large, active breed, the
dogs can require quite a bit of food; however, they can also
become obese if fed too much for individual activity levels. A
healthy weight is that the last two ribs should be able to be felt
under the coat and the dog should have a distinct and defined
waist. Recommended feeding for the German Short haired Pointer is
one and a half to two and a half cans of high-quality meaty
product with biscuit added in equal parts or five cupfuls of a
complete, dry dog food.
