German Longhaired Pointer

The German Longhaired Pointer is a versatile German gun dog in solid brown or brown roan — the long-coated member of the German pointer family.

History

It was standardised in Germany in the nineteenth century from older longhaired bird dogs, bred to point, retrieve and track and to work equally on land and in water. German breeders fixed it as a brown dog, which is why the black-and-white dogs became the Large Münsterländer instead.

Temperament

The breed is known for being calm, affectionate and biddable, a gun dog with an unusually gentle disposition that suits a family provided the work happens.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of exercise and genuine work; it trains easily and dislikes being idle. The long feathered coat needs regular brushing and the ears want checking after water.

Health

Generally sound, with hip dysplasia and ear infections among the known tendencies. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.