The German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) is a dog breed of medium to large size that originated in the 19th century, in Germany. This breed is known for having strong and powerful built together with great legs that make them run really fast. The ears are floppy while the muzzle is strong, broad, and long which enables any German Shorthaired Pointer to retrieve game of almost any weight.
When it comes to this dog’s eyes, they are usually brown.
Breed Characteristics
Dog Breed Group: | Sporting Dogs |
Height: | 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch tall at the shoulder |
Weight: | Generally 45 to 70 pounds |
Life Span: | 12 to 15 years |
Having in mind that this breed has a very short coat you’ll understand why they are very vulnerable to low temperatures and cold climate in general. They also have almost no undercoat at all therefore they should not spend too much time outside during winter.
When it comes to their adaptability with novice owners, it is not very high – this breed is intelligent, but also stubborn and requires much training. An owner who is a novice would not be able to handle all this pressure.
The German Shorthaired Pointer does not adapt well to apartment living, simply because he loves nature, hunting, running and spending a lot of time outdoors. If you cannot give this to your pet, you should not consider taking this breed at all. This is also related to them not liking to be alone, which means that you should never leave them confined for a long period of time. They like to be with their owner and they are even happier when they can be with him/her outdoors.
When it comes to barking and howling, the German Shorthaired Pointers do not do this very often, but they still make various noises when hunting down game. Another very important and also most known trait in this breed is their wanderlust potential. If they are not trained properly, they will simply wander off, which can turn into a disastrous situation. To avoid this, you need to train obedience from an early age so your dog does not take off whenever he hears an interesting noise or sees something that takes his interest.
The GSP is known as a very intelligent, aloof, active and playful dog. He is a great hunter and loves catching the game for his owner. Their specialty is going after water fowl in the water and going after all kinds of birds in the wild.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the German Shorthaired Pointer is a dog that needs lots of exercising and playing. He loves being around his owner and he prefers a house over an apartment.
This breed has an inborn instinct for hunting and killing smaller animals, and he also can be easily distracted by interesting noises in the wild and movements. Additionally, he has a tendency for mouthiness, which means that he might nip at you or other family members, which is a way of showing affection and playfulness. However, as you already know, that is not comfortable for people, so he should be trained to nip at toys instead of your arms and legs.
An early socialization with other people, children and small pets is a must. Otherwise, your parrot, cats or hamsters might be in danger.
Before getting a specific dog breed, you should get informed beforehand about its specific characteristic, so you can be sure whether you can or not give the dog the best life he deserves. Hopefully this article has been proven helpful in that regard. The German Shorthaired Pointer is definitely a beautiful and intelligent dog that will love you as much as possible, and he also deserves the same.