BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION
Breed Registries:
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Note: The all-breed registries indicated above are the most recognized all-breed registries. The breed may be recognized by other registries not indicated here. For further details about dog registries, please see the document: Dog Breed Registries in North America.
* — The FCI is the World Canine Organization, which includes 84 members and contract partners (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI recognizes 339 breeds, with each being the "property" of a specific country. The "owner" countries of the breeds write the standards of these breeds in co-operation with the Standards and Scientific Commissions of the FCI, and the translation and updating are carried out by the FCI. The FCI is not a breed registry nor does it issue pedigrees.
Origin:
Germany
Height:
Males: 23-25 inches (58-64 cm) - Females: About 2 inches (5 cm) shorter
Weight:
Males: 55 to 75 lbs (25-34 kg) - Females: About 10 lbs (4.5 kg) less
A Bit of History:
Known as the Deutsch Kurzhaar in his native Germany, the German Shorthaired Pointer was developed as an all-purpose dog in the late 1800s. The intent was to develop a versatile sporting breed that could work as a pointer, retriever, tracker and hunter of both large and small game, and to work well in all types of terrain including water. The German Shorthaired Pointer was first introduced to North America in the mid-1920s and first admitted to the American Kennel Club Stud Book in 1930. Today, the breed is both a popular sporting dog as well as a family companion.
Breed Profile:
The German Shorthaired Pointer is friendly, eager to please, intelligent, and has a stable temperament. He has an abundance of energy but can adapt well to family life in a suburban or country setting provided he gets lots of exercise on a daily basis. The breed is sturdy, alert, and has a great deal of endurance.
In addition to his hunting skills, the GSP excels in the conformation ring, obedience trials, agility, flyball as well as many other dog sports and activities and is also seen working as a Search and Rescue Dog.
Physically, the GSP has an appearance of nobility, being agile, well-balanced and powerful looking. As the name suggests, he has a short coat that is thick and feels tough to the touch. The hair is softer, thinner and shorter on the ears and the head. His coat may be solid liver, liver and white spotted, liver and white ticked, or liver roan. The American Kennel Club disqualifies any dog with any area of black, red, orange, lemon or tan, or solid white. The Canadian Kennel Club does not permit any colours other than liver and white(grey white). The United Kennel Club, the Kennel Club (UK) as well as the Fédération Cynologique Internationale and most other countries, however, do allow the colour black in the same range as the liver and tan markings are also permissible. (seethe individual breed standards for details.)
Health Issues
If you are considering the adoption of a German Short Haired Pointer puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. The German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America (GSPCA) strongly recommends that breeding dogs have health clearances for: Hip Dysplasia (OFA, PennHip or equivalent); Congenital Cardiac Disease (clearance by Cardiologist or Specialist); Progressive Retinal Atrophy (CERF); and Cone Degeneration Disease (DNA testing). In addition, the GSPCA suggests testing for Elbow Dysplasia as well as Autoimmune Thyroiditis (the primary cause of hypothyroidism in dogs).
Breeding of any dog should not be done until after the prospective parents have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Additional Health Resources:
- Health and Nutrition — Growing section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website which includes information on several health and nutrition related issues.
- Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) - German Shorthaired Pointer Breed Requirements — Providing a source of health information for owners, breeders, and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs. CHIC is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
- Canine Inherited Disorders Database - German Shorthaired Pointer
- Optigen — Cone Degeneration (CD) Test for German Shorthaired Pointers
- AKC Canine Health Foundation — Working towards developing scientific advances in canine health.
- Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF)
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
- Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
- University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip)
- HealthGene — HealthGene Corporation is the leading provider of veterinary DNA diagnostic services in Canada.
Breed Standards
- CKC Breed Standard
- AKC Breed Standard
- UKC Breed Standard
- The Kennel Club (U.K.) Breed Standard
- German Shorthaired Pointer — Deutsch Kurzhaar — FCI-Standard No 119
- AKC GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER DVD
20 Min. DVD Edition, Published by the AKC
Discussion of the breed standard: good structure and movement, acceptable colors, correct head, size. Developed for breeders, exhibitors and judges.
— Available from Dogwise.com
Grooming Information
- Grooming — This section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada.
Training Resources
- Training — For training information, see this growing section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
Additional Information
- The following two articles originally appeared in Gun Dog Magazine as a two-part series, part 1 in March/April 1989 and part 2 in the May/June 1989 issue.
- This is the Shorthair (Part 1)
- This is the Shorthair (Part 2) - German Shorthaired Pointers in Agility
- Clubs, Sports & Activities — For information on the many sports and activities you can get involved in with your dog.
- Working Dogs — The Working Dogs section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website provides information and listings of organizations that are involved in various dog jobs, such as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, Protection Dogs, and much more.
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Select from the following links to view Breeder listings; Breed Clubs; Rescue Organizations; as well as Books and other Merchandise specific to the breed: |
