The name of this dog breed may be an apparent gift on its country of origin. The German Shorthaired Pointer actually originated in Germany in the late 19th Century. With an extended heritage of hunting various game and birds, sports enthusiasts decided to develop a capable and versatile gundog that would hunt and recover game. A friendly and trainable personality that might make the dog a competent partner also as a simple companion was also important within the development of this handyman canine.
To accomplish this, it’s believed that a spread of German breeds and European hunting dogs were bred to optimize the breed for the needs of tracking, pointing, and retrieval. The now non-existent German sporting dog, and English/Spanish pointing dogs interbred to gradually create what would simply become the “short-haired” breed of the dog we know today. In 1870, the first record of a “stud-book” was created for the breed.
Outside of Bavaria, the breed has become the German shorthair pointer. Hunters across Europe and, therefore us, quickly recognized the GSP’s ability to hunt small game or become a fowl hunter’s dream dog. In fact, this breed of dog enjoys swimming, has webbed paws, and athletic body that’s compatible with speeding through water.
GSP’s Introduction To the United States
The first German shorthair pointers were delivered to the United States in the late 1920s. By the spring of 1930, the breed had achieved AKC status. There has been no turning back for the GSP since then. Today, German Shorthairs are the 9th hottest AKC dog breed in the US. Clearly, these dogs are a winning choice for sportsmen trying to find a daily dog, but they’re also fashionable individuals and families who want a lively, ready-to-go canine companion.
The German shorthaired dog of America advocates for the event of a dog that excels within the field and within the show ring. A “double champion” maybe a dog that has succeeded at the very best level in both sorts of competition. This versatility may be a clear example of what makes the GSP so popular and a testament to the commitment of enthusiasts to the breed. While many hunting dogs today have diverged into “field” and “show” type dogs, the GSP may be a versatile dog breed.
Characteristics of The German Shorthair Pointer
The German Shorthaired Pointer may be a versatile dog who is presented in virtually all dog sports. When hunting, no terrain scares him, whether it swamps, forests, or the great plains …your GSP is ready.
GSP’s are a sporty dog, ready to jump high and run without ever getting exhausted! Because of this, they are characterized by this boundless energy. German Shorthair Pointers require tons of stimulation, whether physically or intellectually, he will need to be stimulated. His ideal environment may be a house with a large yard, where he has room to run and burn that excess energy.
The German Shorthaired Pointer may be a wonderful, affectionate, intelligent, and delicate family dog. He’s very sociable, loves human contact but will need to be supervised when he’s within the presence of very young children. Together with his large movements, he could hurt without realizing it.
GSP Physical Appearance
The German Shorthaired Pointer may be a robust, sporty, and athletic dog. His movements are lively and rapid. The word pointer is employed for the purpose position it takes when near a prey. Its position resembles an arrow. GSP’s have a regal stance, and its emphasized when pointing, their neck is stretched, the gaze is stoic, their ears are raised, and one paw is folded. He then remains motionless, with a sure and attentive gaze.
The GSP ears are droopy, set high, and moderately long. The coat of the German short-haired pointer is often of an outsized number of various colors (liver, black, black and white, liver and white, black and white) or of various patterns, uniform on the top, spotted or speckled on the body. The color of the nose always matches that of the coat. For dark brown coats (liver), the nose will always be brown. An equivalent for dogs with black coats, the nose is going to be shiny black.
The coat is dense, waterproof, and protects the dog from heat, and it’s an insulating effect. It also has the importance of being easy to wash, and the dirt doesn’t adhere to the hair. However, the German Pointer still has the disadvantage of losing his hair tons.
German Shorthair Care
The German Shorthaired Pointer may be a quick learner who thrives on having employment to try to. Since this breed of dog was bred to spend hours with hunters tracking, pointing, and retrieving game, they need a tireless work ethic that must be channeled into positive activity.
In fact, the character of the dog is so closely associated with the personality of the German Shorthaired Pointer that a lot of puppies exhibit a pointing behavior of their own. Intense gaze, a lowered stance, and even a “pointy” front paw seems to return naturally to the breed.
If you’re an athlete, this dog will never hand over before you are doing. On the opposite hand, anyone who wants a dog able to choose a jog, hike, or other adventure will find a willing companion within the GSP. They also excel in virtually all dog competitions, including agility, flyball, dock diving, rallying, and field trials. Pick your sport, and your pointer will find how to use their natural talents and athleticism.
Whatever your activities, decide to involve your PGS. These types of dogs like to be with their families, and that they need tons of exercise. Once they get both, they’re a cheerful, outgoing dog breed. Without enough exercise, the keenness of SPG quickly turns into destructive energy.
You should decide to give this breed a minimum of two good workouts every day. The old saying goes, “A tired dog may be a happy dog,” which is extremely true of a pointer – but achieving fatigue will take quite just walking around the block. The longer you spend mentally and physically challenging your PGS, the happier it’ll be.
GSP’s Love To Be Family Dogs
Since these dogs were bred to be people-oriented, they need a robust desire to please you. Cultivate and develop this tendency through early and ongoing obedience training. You’ll have a caring, well-behaved dog, and your GSP will better understand what you would like from him. For more on this, read our piece on GSP’s and Your Family.
These dogs, in general, get along well with other breeds. They need prey, which may prompt them to hunt cats or other small pets, so this is often an element to think about if you’ve got small animals. And while the GSP is usually obedient and may be easily recalled, driving prey can cloud your dog’s thinking and may lead him into a wild chase. Take extra caution if you choose to exercise your GSP off-leash.
The coat is coarse and comparatively thick but short long. A short-haired German pointer is often either solid liver color or white ticking liver. Grooming a GSP is straightforward and typically only requires a fast wipe down with a grooming glove and perhaps an occasional bath, especially if your dog finds a scent that he decides to roll. However, be prepared for a gentle loss. The tiny hairs of GSP are frequently found on your furniture, floors, and clothing.
Conclusion
Hopefully this was helpful in learning about the history and characteristic of the German Shorthair Pointer breed. Wondering where you can rescue a GSP? Check out our Ultimate GSP Rescue National Directory, seriously, we found everyone in every state!
