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German shorthaired pointer

The German shorthaired pointer was developed in the nineteenth century as a versatile hunting dog expected to do everything: point, track, retrieve, work water, and handle fur as well as feather.

That breadth is still the defining feature of the breed.

It is a lean, athletic dog with a short dense coat, usually liver roan or liver and white ticked, and a notably powerful drive. GSPs are affectionate and trainable, but they are among the highest-energy breeds commonly kept as pets — an hour's walk does not touch the sides, and an under-exercised one is genuinely destructive.

Origin
Germany, 1800s
Size
20–32 kg, 53–64 cm at the shoulder
Lifespan
12–14 years
Coat
Short, dense and water-resistant
Temperament
Driven, affectionate, biddable, permanently busy
Exercise
2 hours daily minimum, plus work

Related: German longhaired pointer · German pinscher · German shepherd · German shepherd dog · German spitz

3 german shorthaired pointer photos, newest first

  • Scout, a german shorthaired pointer

    Scout

    Scout went on point at something in the next field and will hold it until I concede.

    FrostyOtter · 5 days ago

  • Onyx, a german shorthaired pointer

    Onyx

    Onyx was promoted to wedding planner facing a runaway bouquet; unfortunately, a ribbon spool rolls across the entire set.

    FrostyOtter · 1 week ago

  • Onyx, a german shorthaired pointer

    Onyx

    I have never once won a staring contest with Onyx.

    MerryBadger · 2 weeks ago

Living with a german shorthaired pointer

Grooming is a weekly rub over; the coat is short but sheds more than expected.

The exercise requirement is the entire question with this breed. GSPs were built to hunt all day and need running, swimming, scentwork or gundog training rather than pavement walks. They are also very people-focused and dislike being left.

Hip dysplasia should be scored. The breed is prone to bloat, to lymphedema in some lines, and to a hereditary eye condition — cone degeneration — which has a DNA test. Ears want drying after swimming.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.

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