Home  Dog Breeds German Shorthaired Pointer
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German Shorthaired Pointer |
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German Shorthaired Pointer
DESCRIPTION:
We German Shorthaired Pointers are a clean-cut, lean, well-balanced, hunting dog with an elegantly chiseled head. Our muzzles are long, but never pointed. The length of our muzzles should be the same as the length of our skulls. Unlike the English Pointer, our occipital bone is not very conspicuous nor do we have a pronounced stop. We have almond shaped eyes and brown noses. Our eyes have an intelligent, good-humored expression. A large nose is preferred. The larger the better. Our broad ears are set high and lie close to our heads. Our teeth should form a scissors bite. Our short, dense, sleek coat should be solid liver or liver & white, patched, ticked or roan. The only permitted colors are liver and white. Our skin should be tight. Our tail is customarily docked by 60% (we should be able to sit on our tail), and our dewclaws removed. Our feet are webbed. We German Shorthaired Pointers are a little smaller than the standard Pointer.
TEMPERAMENT:
We are very energetic, smart and willing to please. Cheerful and friendly, we like children. Loyal and protective, we love all family members equally, especially if they are carrying the leash, car key, gun or Frisbee. We are very people-oriented; we don’t like it if we are isolated from the family. If you exercise us sufficiently once or twice a day, we German Shorthaired Pointers make a very agreeable family companion. If left to our own devices for long periods without exercise or companionship, we can become destructive and nervous. We males tend to be more outgoing and more aggressive hunters than females. While females tend to be less dominant. Our energy levels vary somewhat, as litters bred for high performance field competition may require more activity than those of us that aren’t. If we’re raised with other dogs and cats from puppy hood, we do quite well; however, we are hunting dogs by nature. We like to bark and are reserved with strangers.
HEIGHT, WEIGHT:
Height: Dogs 23-25 inches (59-64 cm.) Bitches 21-23 inches (53-58 cm.) Weight: Dogs 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg.) 45-60 pounds (20-27 kg.)
HEALTH PROBLEMS:
Usually a healthy breed but some of us are prone to epilepsy, hermaphrodism and lymphedema. Some minor concerns are CHD, entropion, gastric torsion, VWD, pannus, OCD.
LIVING CONDITIONS:
We don’t really like apartment life. We do best with a large yard and an athletic family. At least a 6-foot high fence is necessary. We can become escape artists. We’ll do fine in most climates.
EXERCISE:
Exercise is of paramount importance for our tireless and energetic lifestyles. We are more than a match for even the most active family and should not be taken on as family pets unless you can guarantee us plenty of vigorous exercise. If under-exercised, we can become restless and destructive.
LIFE EXPECTANCY:
About 12-15 years.
GROOMING:
Our smooth coats are very easy to groom. Just brush us regularly with a firm bristle brush and bathe only when necessary. A rub with a piece of toweling or chamois will leave our coats gleaming. You should also check our feet, especially after we have been exercising or working. Dry us thoroughly after hunting to prevent chilling. Examine our ears regularly. We are average shedders.
ORIGIN
Nineteenth-century German hunters required a dog with a good nose that would point within a reasonable distance for a man hunting on foot. The dog needed to retrieve both fur and feather, from water or land, and also be a fine tracker. The German breeding incorporated the Old Spanish Pointer, Hounds of St. Hubert, the Foxhound, other hounds, and eventually the English Pointer, which made it faster and more energetic. Today we are the successful result of the German hunter’s efforts. We are a versatile hunter and an all-purpose gun dog capable of high performance in both field and water. We are a fine natural retriever, an excellent companion for a hunter on foot, we require little training. We are ideal dogs for the weekend hunter who also wishes to own a bright, agreeable family companion and watchdog. Due to our natural ability, we are campaigned successfully in the show ring, obedience and tracking trials, field trials, and hunting tests.
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