The German Shorthaired Pointer, also known as the Deutsher Kurzhaariger Vorstehhund, the Deutsch Kurzhaar, the Kurzhaar and the GSP, is an energetic, intelligent breed that enjoys having a job to do but also thrives as a human companion with a strong desire to please. Potential owners of this breed should be aware of its high energy and intelligence, traits which contribute to its need for vigorous daily exercise and regular mental stimulation to alleviate boredom. The GSP also has a strong hunting instinct and must be trained to learn that cats, birds and other small animals are not acceptable prey.
The German Shorthaired Pointer was admitted to the American Kennel Club’s Stud Book in 1930. The first AKC-licensed specialty show for German Shorthairs was held by the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America at the 1941 International Kennel Club show in Chicago, and the first AKC-licensed field trial for the breed was held by the parent club in Minnesota in 1944. The GSP is a member of the American Kennel Club’s Sporting Group.
Mature male German Shorthairs should stand 23 to 25 inches at the withers, and females should be 21 to 23 inches in height. Dogs should weigh between 55 and 70 pounds, while bitches should weigh 45 to 60 pounds. Their short, thick double coat is easy to care for and must be liver or liver-and-white, often with speckling, under the American Kennel Club standard, although solid black and black-and-white with or without ticking are permitted in some registries. The German Shorthaired Pointer’s tail is traditionally docked shortly after birth. Its soft, floppy ears should be cleaned on a regular basis and checked frequently for signs of infection or foreign material.
Little documentation about the origin of the German Shorthaired Pointer existed before the Klub Kurzhaar Stud Book was formed in the 1870s, although certainly German hunters spent many years before then breeding for a versatile, obedient, all-around dog. The early Shorthairs descended from the German Bird Dog, the old Spanish Pointer and local German scent-hounds, track and trail dogs, gun dogs and water dogs that varied widely in appearance. These early pointers were rather heavy-bodied
Bred to be versatile hunting dogs, the German Shorthaired Pointer is a much a loving family companion as he is a focused field assistant. GSP's love to be with people and are happiest when outdoors among friends. This breed is excellent with kids, though toddlers may get knocked over by a well meaning dog, so play should always be supervised. They are excellent watchdogs, and can be counted on to bark when there is a
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a lean, well-balanced hunting dog with a long muzzle, expressive, almond-shaped eyes, a large nose, and broad, floppy ears. They are slightly smaller than a standard Pointer and do not have as pronounced an occipital bone. Shorthaired Pointers have a short, dense, sleek coat liver-colored coat that comes in either solid, or the GSP distinctive patterns of patched, ticked, or roan. Their skin is tight over their lean muscle, and
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