German Shorthaired Pointer

The German Shorthaired Pointer is the all-round continental gun dog — bred to track, point, retrieve and work water, on fur as readily as feather.

History

It was assembled in nineteenth-century Germany from Spanish and German pointing stock crossed with English Pointers and tracking hounds, to a specification unlike the British one: German hunters wanted a single dog that could do the whole job, including following wounded game and dispatching vermin. Breeding to performance tests rather than to appearance has continued ever since.

Temperament

The breed is known for being enthusiastic, biddable and enormously energetic, affectionate with its family and friendly with almost everyone.

Care and training

It needs a very great deal of exercise — more than most owners expect — and real mental work. It trains willingly. The short coat is easy, and offers little protection from cold water it will happily enter anyway.

Health

Known tendencies include hip dysplasia, bloat given the deep chest, and a predisposition to certain cancers. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.