Weimaraner And GSP Mix: Here’s The Deal


When choosing a new dog, reading up and researching all the different dog breeds and possible crosses is part of the enjoyment.

While not as popular as the labradoodle, some breeders have begun to cross Weimaraners and German Shorthaired Pointers together to create the German Shorthaired Weimaraner or German Pointeraner.

The German Shorthaired Weimaraner or German Pointeraner is the result of crossing a German Shorthaired Pointer with a Weimaraner.

Both parent breeds are medium-large dogs with short coats, friendly temperaments, and an abundance of energy which is passed onto the crossbreed offspring. 

The ideal German Shorthaired Weimaraner is notable for its unique looks and innate hunting ability.

However, not all hunting enthusiasts or dog lovers believe that the cross provides a beneficial contribution to the current dog population. 

Weimaraner And GSP Mix Pictures

Why Cross Weimaraners With German Shorthaired Pointers?

The Weimaraner is a soft, people-orientated dog who can be stubborn and challenging to train in the field. Known for its elegant, ghost-like appearance, the friendly Weimaraner is a fantastic family dog

By contrast, the German Shorthaired Pointer is admired throughout hunting communities for its innate gundog abilities, ease of training, and no-nonsense approach to life.

However, their independent natures, workaholic tendencies, and plain looks have made them less popular as non-working pets. 

Crossing a Weimaraner with a German Shorthaired Pointer should ideally result in a dog possessing the unerring hunting instincts and trainability of the German Shorthaired Pointer and the exotic looks and companionability of the Weimaraner; in short, the ideal family-hunting dog!

Are Designer Dog Breeds A Good Thing?

Many breeders and breed enthusiasts will vigorously defend the superiority of their purebred dogs while deriding the functionality of crossbreed dogs marketed as designer breeds.

There’re two sides to this discussion, and it is up to the prospective German Shorthaired Weimaraner to make up their minds!

Each breed association will have a different set of requirements for breeders to make the list of “recommended breeders.”

Reputable breed associations will require that recommended breeders comply with all health and genetic testing, have an excellent reputation with repeat business, and have a proven track record in either the field or show ring. 

The strict regulations and rules governing the breed association ensure that breeders breed healthy, high-quality dogs who adhere to breed standards. 

As a designer crossbreed, the German Shorthaired Weimaraner does not have an overseeing breed association.

So, irresponsible breeders using poor-quality dogs can slip through the radar undetected. 

While that covers the argument against the purposeful breeding of German Shorthaired Weimaraners, the argument for creating this designer dog breed is to breed robust, healthy dogs with plenty of hybrid vigor.

Purebred dog populations often become inundated with genetic diseases due to small populations and line-breeding.

The introduction of diverse genes from the Weimaraner and German Shorthaired breeds will hopefully result in a healthier puppy, free of genetic diseases. 

Why Is There More Variation Amongst Designer Dog Breeds?

Purebred dogs have a highly homogenous genetic pool.

Because of this, the puppy is likely to inherit similar genes from both parents, i.e., the puppy should closely resemble his parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents.

Dog breeds that consistently breed replicas of themselves are said to be true-breeding.

Crossbreed puppies like the German Shorthaired Weimaraner will randomly inherit one copy of each gene from their parents.

How these genes come together and are expressed depends on which genes were inherited from the very different genetic profiles of the parent breeds. 

Thus, designer dog breeds will show more variations than purebred dogs.

German Shorthaired Weimaraners from the same litter may be more like their German Shorthaired dad, their Weimaraner mom, or an equal mix of both parents. 

Neither F1 nor F2 German Shorthaired Weimaraners will be true-breeding; it will be a lucky-packet surprise to discover which parent your German Shorthaired Weimaraner resembles!

How Big Do German Shorthaired Weimaraners Grow?

German Shorthaired Weimaraners grow into tall, long-legged robust dogs. They have a sturdy frame, thin whip-like tail, and broad floppy ears.

Their height and weight will typically fall within the heigh-weight range of their parents. 

German Shorthaired Pointers are similar in size and weight to Weimaraners.

Parent Breed And GenderHeightWeight
German Shorthaired Pointer Male22 – 25 inches55 – 70 pounds
German Shorthaired Pointer Female21 – 23 inches45 – 60 pounds
Weimaraner Male25-27 inches70 – 90 pounds
Weimaraner Female23 – 25 inches55 – 75 pounds
German Shorthaired Weimaraner Male22 – 27 inches55 – 90 pounds
German Shorthaired Weimaraner Female21 – 27 inches45 – 75 pounds

German Shorthaired Weimaraners bred from German Shorthaired Pointer fathers, and Weimaraner mothers will be taller and heavier than those bred from German Shorthaired Pointer mothers and Weimaraner fathers.

When Do German Shorthaired Weimaraners Finish Growing?

Both German Shorthaired Pointers and Weimaraners finish growing at approximately 12 to 14 months; most dogs will reach their full height at 8 months.

German Shorthaired Weimaraners show similar growth and maturity patterns to their parents. 

Your German Shorthaired Weimaraner will spend a couple of months looking like an ultra-leggy model before their frame is filled out with their adult musculature. 

It is important not to over-exercise your young German Shorthaired Weimaraner. High-impact exercises can cause microfractures in your young dog’s growth plates.

As these tiny fractures heal, they are replaced by mature non-growing bone and will consequently stunt your dog’s growth in that leg. 

Free play, swimming, and short structured training sessions are usually adequate for juvenile German Shorthaired Weimaraners.

German Shorthaired Weimaraner Coat 

Both parents of the German Shorthaired Weimaraner have short sleek coats.

Unfortunately, the dilute genes that give the Weimaraner its famous “Ghost” appearance will not change the appearance of their F1 offspring. 

F2 offspring may inherit one dilute gene from each of their F1 parents and thus show the gorgeous faded silver ghost color of purebred Weimaraners.

Most F1 German Shorthaired Weimaraners are solid liver or black colors.

F2 German Shorthaired Weimaraners show more color variation and may be solid-colored or have broken patterns (i.e., solid coat colors with white patches, roaning, or ticking)

The coat of a German Shorthaired Weimaraner is easy to care for and a quick brush once a week is usually sufficient to remove excess hair. 

German Shorthaired Weimaraner Temperament

Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and Weimaraner have friendly, excitable temperaments.

These dogs tend to be loyal to only one person and family, which is true for both parent breeds and their hybrid puppies. 

German Shorthaired Weimaraners are gentle family dogs if raised with little children and family pets, although they have been known to knock little kids over with their Tigger-Like bouncing! 

The Temperament Variances In German Shorthaired Weimaraners 

The difference between the German Shorthaired Pointer and Weimaraner lies in their trainability and independence. 

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a classic perfectionist and hard worker; if this dog had a motto, it would be “Yes, Coach!”.

These dogs are easy to train and respond positively to most training methods; they are forgiving of mistakes and are good dogs for novice owners to learn with. 

By contrast, the Weimaraner is a bit more neurotic, opinionated, and attached to his owner.

The Velcro-like behavior of the Weimaraner does not lend itself to outside living or kennelling arrangements.

These dogs NEED to be near their owners to thrive and develop their confidence. 

Weimaraners are not as easy to work with as German Shorthaired Pointers. To successfully train Weimaraners, their owners need to learn how to motivate their dogs and provide a reason for the Weimaraner to work with them. 

Weimaraners have a reputation for stubbornness and will not respond to harsh training. These dogs need a skillful and light hand with plenty of positive reinforcement to fulfill their potential as functional hunting dogs. 

The German Shorthaired Weimaraner’s temperament exists on a spectrum ranging between their parents’ temperaments.

The trainability, confidence, innate hunting ability, and desire for companionship will differ according to which parent they resemble the most. 

The Best Homes For German Shorthaired Weimaraners

Pet homes should look at German Shorthaired Weimaraners that closely match the Weimaraner’s temperament, whereas gundog homes should look at dogs that more closely resemble the German Shorthaired Pointer’s temperament. 

Insightful breeders who know their puppies will guide prospective buyers in picking the best puppy for their family, training experience, and home situation. 

German Shorthaired Weimaraner Energy Levels

German Shorthaired Weimaraners are high-energy. In case you missed that, German Shorthaired Weimaraners are HIGH ENERGY.

These dogs need large yards and multiple structured exercise programs each day. 

They will need at least 45 minutes (but preferably more) of high-energy exercise to burn off their extra energy. 

These dogs are bred to work tirelessly, day after day, while out in the field. 

Dogs who are kept inside and never allowed to use all their pent-up energy may become destructive, bark excessively or develop nervous or stress-related behaviors. 

What Health Problems Do German Shorthaired Weimaraners Have?

German Shorthaired Weimaraners are vulnerable to any condition controlled by dominant gene mutations occurring in either parent breed or any autosomal recessive disorder present in both parents. 

German Shorthaired Weimaraners are vulnerable to:

  1. Bloat
  2. Hip and elbow dysplasia
  3. Eye conditions, e.g., progressive retinal atrophy
  4. Thyroid conditions, e.g., autoimmune thyroiditis
  5. Skin allergies

Choosing A Responsible Breeder 

Typically, most vets, animal behaviorists, and dog trainers will advise prospective buyers to contact the local breed registry or association and ask them to recommend one of their registered breeders. 

However, as a designer breed, the German Shorthaired Weimaraner is not an official American Kennel Club breed and thus has no dedicated breed association. 

There are four categories of German Shorthaired Weimaraner breeders:

  1. Those that are breeding crossbreed dogs to make a profit. 
  2. Breeders who have a specific goal in mind and who are trying to breed a superior dog
  3. Responsible owners who accidentally bred German Shorthaired Weimaraners
  4. Irresponsible owners who don’t care that their dogs are breeding

German Shorthaired Weimaraners From Puppy Mills

The first category of breeders are typically puppy mill owners, who are easily spotted:

  1. They breed multiple dog breeds each year, including designer breeds
  2. They have multiple litters each year
  3. Their dogs are not proven in the field or show ring 
  4. They cannot give prospective owners their German Shorthaired Pointer’s and Weimaraner’s health records
  5. They do not allow the new puppy owners to see the litter, and both parents

Unfortunately, these unethical and irresponsible breeders are quick to start breeding designer dog breeds like the German Shorthaired Weimaraner.

These breeders are all about the profit and don’t mind selling inferior problematic dogs to inexperienced homes. 

Improvement Breeders Of German Shorthaired Weimaraners

These breeders are individuals who have decided to improve on one or both of the parent breeds by creating a hybrid dog.

Through CAREFUL SELECTIVE breeding, these breeders attempt to create a superior dog (i.e., better health, temperament, and functionality). 

Throughout the years, improvement breeders have been instrumental in creating new dog breeds and positively diversifying the gene pool of current dog breeds. 

If these breeders succeed in creating a true-breeding superior dog, like the German Shorthaired Weimaraner, they will petition the AKC to recognize a new dog breed. 

These breeders differ from puppy mills in that:

  1. They only breed from high-quality Weimaraners and German Shorthaired Pointers
  2. Will retain all puppies that show the desired characteristics
  3. Have a predefined breeding goal, which they carefully adhere to
  4. Both parents will have had their field ability tested, as well as extensive health, genetic and temperament testing done
  5. These breeders will be happy to discuss which puppy will fit in best with your home and are willing to show you the litter and both parents.

Accidental Breeders Of German Shorthaired Weimaraners

The last category of breeders is split into two subsections: responsible and irresponsible breeders. These individuals are not professional breeders and generally own pet dogs. 

As such, neither parent will be tested for health issues and is unlikely to have a field or show record.

However, the difference between responsible and irresponsible owners lies in how they care for their bitch and puppies, if it is a one-time occurrence and how much money they try to make off the puppies.

Accidents happen, but responsible owners will take ownership of the accident and ensure the puppies and females are well cared for, socialized, and vaccinated.

These owners will also take proactive steps to ensure that the unwanted pregnancy does not happen again. The puppy cost should be high enough to deter impulsive buyers but low enough that it just covers the puppies’ costs. 

Irresponsible owners will typically neglect their puppies, fail to vaccinate them, and refuse to sterilize their male and female dogs.

They may give away the German Shorthaired Weimaraner puppies or charge exorbitantly high prices for a “designer breed.”

GSP Items We Love

More info:

Carhartt Tradesman Leash: Every dog owner needs a good leash, and all leashes are NOT treated the same.

This Carhartt dog leash is very well made, and is durable enough to deal with a GSP’s strength (yes, pulling too). I’ve had cheap leashes in the past, they aren’t worth it, grab this instead.

Furhaven orthopedic and Memory Foam Bed: If you have a GSP, you know, they LOVE to lay around, cuddle and sleep (when they aren’t running circles around the living room and yard.

This dog bed is so great because GSP’s love to rest their head on “pillows” just like humans and this dog bed has a built-in “pillow” perimeter that my dog uses every day as a pillow. Hank loves this bed.

SportDOG Brand 425X Remote Trainer: You know what sucks more than having your GSP run around the neighborhood or after a rabbit at your local park? Not having the ability to stop your GSP and recall them in an instant.

With the Sport Dog 425x, you have complete control for up to 500 yards (yes, 5 football fields end-to-end). Its battery lasts a LONG time, it’s sleek, lightweight and your pup won’t ever be out of your control with it on.

WEST PAW Zogoflex Qwizl Dog Puzzle Treat Toy: Our GSP’s love to play, even when we may not have the energy to entertain them ourselves. Maybe it’s work, maybe it’s the end of a long day, who knows.

But, all you need to do is give this Kong to your GSP and they will entertain themselves for quite a while, while you finally get some rest. Hank has had this for years now and it’s still kickin!

GSP German Shorthaired Pointer Hat: Represent your GSP pride with this great trucker, snapback style German Shorthaired Pointer ball cap. It’s got a modern look but also shows others your favorite dog breed.

The best part? The glances and smiles from those who also have a GSP, it’s always a conversation starter!

Kurgo Baxter Backpack for Dogs, Saddlebag Back Pack Harness: I don’t know about you, but my GSP loves to adventure with us out here in Colorado. That means hiking, mountain biking, and camping all year.

Our GSP sees this saddle bag break out and he can’t stop wiggling his butt knowing where are headed outdoors.

Toss in the car keys, a snack bar and some kibble, you are on your way to outdoor fun with your pup!

URPOWER Dog Seat Cover Car Seat Cover: Ok, this is last but it is the MOST beneficial item you will get. Don’t, believe me, Take a road trip with your GSP in the back seat. Once you arrive, you will have GSP shedding hair all over your back sweat.

This slick hammock-style seat cover creates a waterproof barrier between your lovely truck’s interior and your GSP’s shedding hair.

Hunting and having a wet GSP? No Problem! Did your GSP decide to chase a goose into the lake? No big deal! This seat cover is a lifesaver.

Conclusion

German Shorthaired Weimaraners are the product of crossing a German Shorthaired Pointer with a Weimaraner.

They are good-natured, happy dogs; however, their trainability and performance in the hunting fields largely depend on which parent they more closely resemble. 

meastt09

An Owner and a huge fan of GSP's! I have owned my GSP for 7 years now and learned so many things along the way to share with you all about German Shorthaired Pointers!

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