Dog breed

German Shorthaired Pointer

The German Shorthaired Pointer, or GSP, is a versatile hunting dog from Germany that points birds, retrieves from water and land, and tracks wounded game. It has a short brown or roan coat, an athletic build and boundless energy. It is affectionate and smart, but it needs a huge amount of exercise and work.

FCI Group VII · Pointers · standard no. 119

Weight: 20–32 kg
Height: 58–66 cm
Lifespan: 10–14 years
Origin: Germany

How much food for this breed?Compare with another breed

Photo: nieznany autor, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The GSP loves people and work in equal measure. With its family it is affectionate and cuddly, usually great with children and friendly toward guests; the AKC rates its affection and its attitude toward children at the top of the scale. At the same time it has a strong hunting instinct: in the field it lives for scents, points birds, chases hares, and the neighbor's cat may become a target. It is very smart and eager to cooperate, but a young pointer can be scatterbrained and needs patient, consistent training, especially on recall. Without enough exercise and tasks it becomes hyperactive, whines, destroys things and runs off. Well exercised and kept busy, though, it is calm at home and happy to rest on the couch. It is usually friendly toward other dogs, and as a watchdog it is more loud than threatening.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the German Shorthaired Pointer for?

The GSP is a dog for active people: hunters, runners, cyclists and families who spend their weekends outdoors. It does well in a house with a yard, and in an apartment only with an owner who provides two to three hours of exercise every day. Do not choose it if you work long hours away from home, have cats or small animals, or want a calm dog for short walks.

Pros

affectionate and great with children
very smart and versatile
short, easy coat
an excellent sports partner

Challenges

huge exercise needs
strong hunting instinct
hyperactive without enough to do
copes poorly with being alone

Size and looks

Size and looks: German Shorthaired Pointer
Height at the withers	males 62–66 cm, females 58–63 cm
Weight	males 25–32 kg, females 20–27 kg
Lifespan	10–14 years
Coat	short
Colors	solid brown, brown with white markings on the chest and legs, dark or light brown roan, white with brown head and patches, the same patterns in black, tan markings permitted
Country of origin	Germany
Classification	Group VII: Pointing dogs
Also known as	GSP, Deutsch Kurzhaar, Kurzhaar

Care and exercise

120–180minof exercise a day

2/5grooming needs

3/5shedding

A German Shorthaired Pointer needs more than two hours of exercise a day, ideally as off-leash running in a safe area, swimming, retrieving or scent work. It is the perfect partner for running, canicross and biking once its joints have matured, at roughly a year and a half. Hunters use it in the field, in water and for tracking; outside hunting, dummy work and tracking are great options. Start recall and heelwork training early and practice in all kinds of settings. The short coat, harsh to the touch, only needs a weekly once-over with a grooming mitt, but it sheds year-round. Check the ears and paws regularly after walks through brush. A hard-working GSP needs a higher-calorie food than a house dog.

How much should the German Shorthaired Pointer eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a tough and usually healthy dog. The AKC gives a lifespan of 10–12 years, but in a British study of more than 3,000 dogs the median was 13.4 years, so many GSPs live longer. The US breed club lists hip dysplasia, eye disease and congenital heart defects, recommending hip and elbow X-rays and cardiac and eye exams. A DNA test is also available for cone degeneration, an inherited day blindness described in this very breed. The UK Kennel Club recommends joint and eye screening. As with other active hunting dogs, paw injuries, cuts and muscle strains are common, so warm the dog up before hard exercise.

hip and elbow dysplasiaThe breed club and the Kennel Club recommend hip and elbow X-rays for breeding dogs.
eye diseasesRegular eye exams of the parents are recommended.
congenital heart defectsThe US breed club lists them among possible problems and recommends a cardiac exam.
cone degeneration (CD)An inherited day blindness specific to the German Shorthaired Pointer; a DNA test is available.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED)
eye exam (ECVO)
heart exam
CD DNA test

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The FCI standard traces the GSP's history to dogs used for hunting birds with nets, especially in Mediterranean countries and together with falconry. By way of France, Spain and Flanders, pointing dogs reached German courts, where their ability to point game was valued most. After the double-barreled gun was developed around 1750, hunters began shooting birds on the wing, which turned the pointer into an all-round gundog. The Zuchtbuch Deutsch-Kurzhaar stud book has been kept since 1897, and Prince Albrecht zu Solms-Braunfeld defined the breed's characteristics, the judging rules and the first field trial regulations. To this day, breeding is based on working tests and performance evaluation.

Fun facts

The Zuchtbuch Deutsch-Kurzhaar stud book has been kept since 1897.
The FCI standard also allows black versions of the same color patterns as brown.
The invention of the double-barreled gun around 1750 turned the pointer from a pointing-only dog into an all-round gundog.
The standard expects a GSP to handle all hunting tasks even in old age.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a German Shorthaired Pointer weigh?

The FCI standard gives height: 62–66 cm for males and 58–63 cm for females. According to the AKC, males weigh 55–70 pounds (about 25–32 kg) and females 45–60 pounds (about 20–27 kg).

Can a German Shorthaired Pointer live in an apartment?

It can live in an apartment, but only with a very active owner who provides more than two hours of exercise and activities every day. An under-exercised GSP in an apartment soon becomes hyperactive and destructive.

How long do German Shorthaired Pointers live?

Usually 10–14 years. The AKC gives 10–12 years, but in a large British study the median was 13.4 years. A healthy weight, age-appropriate exercise and regular checkups help keep the dog in shape.

Do German Shorthaired Pointers shed?

Yes. The short coat sheds year-round, and the short, stiff hairs work their way into fabrics. Brushing with a rubber grooming mitt once or twice a week cuts down on hair in the house.