German Shorthaired Pointer, or GSP for short, is one of the most popular gundogs in hunting circles. They are versatile, people-oriented, and have lots of energy. Having a German Shorthaired Pointer means you’ll have to get used to an active lifestyle. That’s why a dog such as GSP is not for those who prefer to lounge on the sofa and just take a quick walk in the morning and evening.
1. Size
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a large dog. Male dogs are usually larger than females. They are 23 to 25 inches tall (58 to 63 cm) and can weigh 55 to 70 pounds (25 to 32 kg). The German Shorthaired Pointer is a dog that appears agile, energetic, and alert. They have proportionate bodies, long sloping shoulders, deep chests, and well-coordinated movement. They are great gundogs.
The GSP has hanging lips from the nose, but they are not too loose. They also have long muzzles and well-developed jaws that serve the purpose of picking up the game.
2. Color
The only AKC-accepted coat colors for the German Shorthaired Pointers are black, liver, black and white, and liver and white. They also have characteristic speckled markings all across the body, with an occasional patch of solid color.
You can see examples of some coat colors in the pictures below.
3. Social Traits
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a loyal, affectionate, and people-oriented dog. Similar to other gundogs, they were bred to make close bonds with people and they still enjoy our company. This is what makes them great family dogs too. However, we should never forget how much energy these dogs have. They are not for busy families that cannot spend a lot of time every day with their dogs.
If you can give a GSP enough daily mental and physical stimulation, they are great with other dogs as well as with children of all ages. Small animals might be a problem because of their higher prey drive. This is a normal behavior seen often in dogs used for hunting. Some dogs have a naturally higher prey drive, but you can come across a German Shorthaired Pointer that doesn’t have a high prey drive at all. But, in most cases, it is present and they will chase small animals if given the opportunity.
Good with other dogs: yes (socialization should be done with all dogs no matter the breed)
Good with children: yes
Good with small animals: need socialization
4. Trainability
If you are looking for a dog to pick up on your cues when you’re outside hiking, walking, and enjoying the outdoors, these dogs are easy to train. Basic obedience training is not an issue, but you have to remember that a GSP is a gundog and not a herding dog waiting for you to repeat the task 100 times if needed.
This means that the German Shorthaired Pointer is easy to train, but will need more interesting ways of teaching during training sessions. If they are food-motivated, use food, or healthy snacks such as fruits safe for dogs to eat, to reward them. Make it fun using their favorite toy or by making pauses to play a game.
A lot of owners say off-leash and recall is a bit of a problem. But, it all comes down to their nature and why these dogs were bred in the first place. We cannot expect them to behave like Collies if they were bred to act like gundogs.
5. Activity Needs
The Royal Kennel Club states these dogs need at least 2 hours of daily exercise to keep them healthy and happy. We agree. The German Shorthaired Pointer is built for activity. They were bred to spend all day long in search of a game. And they love it!
So, if you are thinking about getting a GSP, be prepared to spend at least 2 hours a day doing something exciting both mentally and physically. You can go for walks, hikes, or jogging, or you can play indoor games combined with walks.
The German Shorthaired Pointer loves people and they need to be included in your daily activities. And they will certainly love walks in the park or if possible hikes. A bored dog can turn boredom into destructive behavior or even aggression.
6. Feeding
Generally speaking, an adult German Shorthaired Pointer needs from 2 to 5 cups of kibble food daily. The amount varies from dog to dog and depends on a dog’s health, age, and activity levels. It is important to follow up on your dog to see how much he eats. Free feeding is not encouraged because it can lead to overeating.
The best option is to divide meals into two, one in the morning and one in the evening. If you’re not sure how much to give to your dog, you can use the simple Body Score system to determine if a dog is overweight, normal weight, or underweight – click here to check it out.
And, you can always ask your veterinarian to help you out. They can do a physical examination of a dog and suggest the best plan.
7. Grooming
The German Shorthaired Pointer has a smooth and short coat. They shed, moderately, with increased shedding during the shedding seasons. However, it is not difficult to groom a GSP dog. They don’t need special dog brushes. You can use a hound glove or a bristle brush to keep the coat healthy and free of dirt or loose hair by brushing them once a week or once every few days.
Just like any other dog, the German Shorthaired Pointer needs to have his nails trimmed approximately every month, and it needs an occasional bath. How often you need to bathe your dog depends on how dirty it gets when playing outside.
8. Possible Problems
The German Shorthaired Pointer can suffer from various health issues just like any other dog breed. However, these dogs are generally healthy. Some of the health issues are:
As mentioned, they are generally healthy dogs. We can further help keep the breed healthy through responsible breeding. This means test-screening breeding pairs and not including them in breeding programs if they come up with positive test results.
If bred responsibly and taken care of properly, the German Shorthaired Pointer has a longer lifespan than a lot of large dog breeds – from 10 to 14 years.
Final Thoughts
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a perfect dog for an active person who loves an affectionate and loyal dog. They will love to run, hike, jog, or play with you. It’s not just that they love it and that they were bred for it, they need it. The German Shorthaired Pointer needs daily exercise and mental stimulation.
They are also affectionate dogs so leaving them alone for the majority of the day is not an option. The GSP is not a territorial dog, they love the company of other dogs, they are usually very open to strangers and as such are not naturally good watchdogs. With these traits, they go great as family dogs with children. Just remember they need to spend time with you and they need their daily exercise to stay healthy and happy.
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