German shorthaired pointer

 

breed of large sporting dog developed in Germany in the mid-19th cent. It stands about 23 in. (58 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs about 60 lb (27 kg). Its dense coat of short hair is hard to the touch and is colored solid liver or liver spotted or ticked with white. Intended as a utility dog, the original stock was crossed with several breeds, such as the bloodhound and the English pointer, in order to insure this versatility. Thus, the German shorthaired pointer has been used to hunt both waterfowl and upland game birds, as a retriever on land and water, and to trail such small animals as rabbits and opossums. See dog.

German Shorthaired Pointer
This liver-and-white German Shorthaired Pointer has a ticked coat and a patched head and neck.
Alternative names
Deutscher kurzhaariger Vorstehhund Deutsch Kurzhaar Kurzhaar
Country of origin
Germany
Common nicknames
GSP DK
Classification and breed standards
FCI:	Group 7 Section 1 #119	Stds
AKC:	Sporting	Stds
ANKC:	Group 3 (Gundogs)	Stds
CKC:	Group 1 - Sporting Dogs	Stds
KC (UK):	Gundog	Stds
NZKC:	Gundog	Stds
UKC:	Gun Dog	Stds

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a breed of dog developed in the 1800s in Germany for hunting. This gun dog was developed by crossing the old Spanish pointer with a number of other breeds and breed types including scent hounds, tracking hounds, French Braques, and English Pointer to create a lean, athletic, and responsive all around hunting dog. Some authorities consider it to be the most versatile of all gun dogs and its intelligence and affectionate nature make it a popular companion dog for active owners.

Appearance

The breed is streamlined in build yet powerful with strong hindquarters that make it able to move rapidly and turn quickly. It has moderately long flop ears set high on the head. Its muzzle is long, broad, and strong, allowing it to retrieve even heavy furred game. Its profile should be straight or strongly Roman-nosed; any dished appearance to the profile (such as seen in the Pointer) is incorrect. The eyes are generally brown, with darker eyes being desirable; yellow or "bird of prey" eyes are a fault. The tail is commonly docked, although this is now prohibited in some countries. Docking is performed differently than it is done in other dog breeds, where only the part after where the caudal vertebrae start to curl are docked, leaving enough to let the dog communicate through tail wagging and movement. Like all German Pointers, they have webbed feet.

Coat and color

The German Shorthaired Pointer's coat is short and flat. It should have a dense undercoat protected by stiff guard hairs that makes the coat water resistant and better suited to cold weather than that of the English Pointer for example. The color can be a dark brown, correctly referred to in English as liver (incorrectly called chocolate or chestnut), black (although any area of black is cause for disqualification in American Kennel Club sanctioned shows), or either color with white. Commonly the head is a solid or nearly solid color and the body is speckled or ticked with liver and white, sometimes with saddles or large patches of solid color. Roan coats are also common, with or without patching. While the German standard permits a slight sandy coloring ("Gelber Brand") at the extremities, this is extremely rare, and a dog displaying any yellow coloring is disqualified in AKC and CKC shows.

Size

Various breed standards set its height at the withers anywhere between 21 and 25 inches, making this a medium breed. Adults typically weigh from 45 to 70 lbs (22 to 32 kg), with the female being usually slightly shorter and lighter than the male.

Temperament

Since the German shorthaired pointer was developed to be a dog suited to family life and as well as a versatile hunter, the correct temperament is that of an intelligent, bold, and characteristically affectionate dog that is cooperative and easily trained. Shyness, fearfulness, over submissiveness, aloofness, lack of biddability, or aggression (especially toward humans) are all incorrect traits. It is usually very good with children, although care should be taken because the breed can be boisterous especially when young. These dogs love interaction with humans and appreciate active families who will give them an outlet for their energy. Most German Shorthaired Pointers make excellent watchdogs. The breed generally gets along well with other dogs. A strong hunting instinct is correct for the breed, which is not always good for other small pets such as cats or rabbits. With some training, however, it is not unusual for this highly intelligent breed to quickly discern what is prey and what is not, and they can live quite amicably with housecats and the like.

The German Shorthaired Pointer needs plenty of vigorous activity. This need for exercise (preferably off lead) coupled with the breed's natural instinct to hunt, means that training is an absolute necessity. The German shorthaired pointer's distinctly independent character and superior intelligence makes this breed best suited to experienced owners who are confident and capable handlers.

Lack of sufficient exercise and/or proper training can produce a German Shorthaired Pointer that appears hyperactive or that has destructive tendencies. Thus the breed is not a suitable pet for an inactive home or for inexperienced dog owners. The most common cause of death for German Shorthaired Pointers is being hit by a car. Although these dogs form very strong attachments with their owners, a dog that receives insufficient exercise may feel compelled to exercise himself. These dogs can escape from four foot and sometimes six foot enclosures with little difficulty. Regular hunting, running, carting, bikejoring, skijoring, mushing,dog scootering or other vigorous activity can alleviate this desire to escape. Its natural instinct to hunt may result in occasional dead strays, such as cats, rats, pigeons and other urban animals, if not taken to hunting trips often or if not taught to distinguish among what is prey and what is not.

Like the other German Pointers (the German Wirehaired Pointer and the less well known German Longhaired Pointer), this is one of the few hunting breeds that can perform virtually all gundog roles. It is pointer and retriever, an upland bird dog and water dog, can be used for hunting larger and more dangerous game, and in addition has a scent hound's talented nose. It is an excellent swimmer but also works well in rough terrain. It is tenacious, tireless, hardy, and reliable. In short, it is a superb all-around field dog that remains popular with hunters of many nationalities.

This is an intelligent and highly trainable breed. Like the other versatile breeds, the German shorthaired pointer was developed to be comparatively independent and thoroughly capable of working out of sight of its handler. This independence can lead to the dog appearing to have a mind of its own, and so this breed especially requires training to ensure that it understands that the owner is in charge. The dog may, at times, instinctually claim to be the owner of the hunt. Along with its superb hunting ability and companionable personality, its superior intelligence and biddability (trainability) continue to make this one of the more popular large breeds.

During hunting sessions, a completely instinctive scent-hiding activity through rubbing against carrion can be observed.

Health

The Shorthaired Pointer is generally a healthy breed. Epilpetic seizures have been a problem in some lines, and a few individuals may suffer from hip dysplasia, genetic eye diseases, skin disorders and cancerous lesions in the mouth, on the skin and other areas of the body. Most German Shorthaired Pointers are tough, healthy dogs, but according to Margo B. Maloney DVM (NAVHDA Versatile Hunting Dog Magazine, April, 2003) the breed can be subject to a number of hereditary disorders just as any other purebred.

Unexplained swelling and growth of the nipples by age in males, if not sensitive to the touch, are considered normal in this breed and is fairly common. Although a biopsy can reveal more, a simple check by any veterinarian is sufficient. Occasional bleeding may suggest infection or cancer.

As with any other hunting dog, contact with game can cause the spread of fungi that can easily colonise in the gums and bacteria which can cause infections on open wounds and small cuts from scratching against plants and bushes during a regular hunting session.

Care

Its short coat needs very little grooming, just occasional brushing. The dog should be bathed only when needed.

Like all dogs with flop ears, it can be prone to ear infections and its ears require regular checking and cleaning. It has a longer life expectancy than many breeds of this size, commonly living 12 to 14 years, with individual dogs living to 16 to 18 years not uncommon.

As it is a large, active breed, it can require considerable food; however, it can also become obese if too much food is given for its activity level. A healthy weight should permit the last two ribs to be felt under the coat, and the dog should have a distinct waist or "tuck-up".

Due to its short coat, body heat management is easier compared to other breeds. However, the breed-specific high levels of activity require the breed to drink considerable amounts of water to prevent dehydration. Early symptoms of dehydration show itself as thick saliva and urine with an excessively strong and distinct smell.

History

The German Shorthaired Pointer is descended from the old Spanish Pointer, which was taken to Germany in the 1600s. From that time until the first studbook was created in 1870, however, it is impossible to identify all of the dogs that went into creating this breed. Most-likely candidates for its ancestors include local German breeds such as other hunting dogs, the schweisshund, an early German tracking hound, the Foxhound, various French hounds, assorted Scandinavian breeds, the German Bird Dog, and the Italian Pointer. It is generally accepted that no Bloodhound was used as foundation material. In the late 1800s, breeders included the English Pointer to the foundational breeding program, adding style and run to round out the breed's all-around versatility as a hunting dog. Prince Albrecht zu Solms-Braunfeld of the Royal House of Hanover was credited with encouraging breeders to select early specimens on the basis of function rather than form. It is believed that this enlightened guidance was instrumental in making the breed what it is today.

Modern breeds similar in form and function (but not in color) to the German Shorthaired Pointer include the copper-russet Viszla and the silver-beige or blue-black Weimaraners.

In art and literature

Robert B. Parker's most popular mystery series features a Boston detective known only as Spenser who has had a series of three solid-liver German Shorthairs, all named Pearl: one who stood with him during a bear charge in his rural youth; one given to his girlfriend by her ex-husband; and the third Pearl, to keep company with Spenser and his girlfriend in their late middle age. Author Parker appears on many of the Spenser dustjackets with a solid-liver GSP bitch identical to the three incarnations of Pearl in the series.

Rick Bass's ruminations on living and hunting with a German Shorthaired Pointer in Montana can be found in the book Colter: The True Story of the Best Dog I Ever Had.

Sportswriter Mel Wallis' memoir Run, Rainey, Run, explores the extraordinary relationship he had with an extremely intelligent and versatile hunting German Shorthaired Pointer.

The logo of the American Kennel Club is a Pointer, not a German Shorthaired Pointer, though frequently mistaken for the latter.

Simon the Pointer by Joan Brown captures the personality of pointing dogs, however, this book is about an English Pointer, not a German Shorthaired Pointer. They have a history however of hunting as many birds as possible. If they see a bird they become automaticaly addicted to it. They never lose their hunting skill as a dog.

See also

• German Longhaired Pointer
• German Wirehaired Pointer

External links

• North American Deutsch Kurzhaar Club
• GSP Club of America
• German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Canada
• The German Shorthaired Pointer Club
• GSP Rescue of North Texas
• Mid-Atlantic GSP Rescue

References

• Alderton, David (1984). The Dog. Quill Publishing; Chartwell Books. ISBN 0-89009-786-0.
• Barnes, Duncan (ed.) (1983). The AKC's World of the Pure-Bred Dog. Nick Lyons Books. ISBN 0-87605-406-8.
• Brown, Joan (1996). Simon the Pointer. Viking US. ISBN 0-6708-6662-8.
• Cunliffe, Juliette (2004). The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. Parragon Publishing. ISBN 0-7525-8276-3.
• Ellis, Mel (1985). Run, Rainey, Run. Top Dogs: Northword Publishing. ISBN 0-942802-11-X.
• Fogle, Bruce, DVM (2000). The new Encyclopedia of the Dog. Doring Kindersley (DK). ISBN 0-7894-6130-7.
• Marder, Amy, VMD (2004). The Complete Dog Owner's Manual. Fog City Press. ISBN 1-74089-313-1.
• Maxwell, C Bede (1982) "The New German Shorthaired Pointer" Howell Book House. ISBN 0-87605-157-3.
• Palmer, Joan (1994). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. Wellfleet Press. ISBN 0-7858-0030-1.
• Rollston, Dr. Christopher A. "A Brief History of the German Shorthair (Deutsch Kurzhaar)." _Shorthair Journal_ Volume 7 Issue 6 (2006):8-10. Web Version of article and bibliography: Chestnut Vale Kennels
• Schuler, Elizabeth Meriwether (ed.) (1980). Simon & Schuster's Guide to Dogs. Fireside: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-671-25527-4.

Breeds of gundog
Pointers	English Setter  · Gordon Setter  · Irish Red and White Setter  · Irish Setter  · Pointer
Versatile gundogs	Ariege Pointer  · Blue Picardy Spaniel  · Bracco Italiano  · Braque du Bourbonnais  · Braque d'Auvergne  · Braque Français  · Braque Saint-Germain  · Brittany  · Cesky Fousek  · German Longhaired Pointer  · German Shorthaired Pointer  · German Wirehaired Pointer  · Large Münsterländer  · Old Danish Pointer  · Old Spanish Pointer  · Picardy Spaniel  · Portuguese Pointer  · Pudelpointer  · Small Münsterländer  · Spanish Pointer  · Spinone Italiano  · Vizsla  · Weimaraner  · Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Retrievers	Chesapeake Bay Retriever  · Curly-Coated Retriever  · Flat-Coated Retriever  · Golden Retriever  · Labrador Retriever  · Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever  · Standard Poodle
Spaniels	American Cocker Spaniel  · Boykin Spaniel  · Clumber Spaniel  · English Cocker Spaniel  · English Springer Spaniel  · Field Spaniel  · French Spaniel  · German Spaniel  · Pont-Audemer Spaniel  · Russian Spaniel  · Sussex Spaniel  · Welsh Springer Spaniel  ·
Water dogs	American Water Spaniel  · Barbet  · Irish Water Spaniel  · Lagotto Romagnolo  · Portuguese Water Dog  · Spanish Water Dog  · Wetterhoun

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