German Shorthaired Pointer

General Information - German Shorthaired Pointer

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History

Nineteenth-century German Hunters required a dog with a good nose that would point within a reasonable distance for a man hunting on foot. The dog needed to retrieve both fur and feather, from water or land, and also be a fine tracker. The German breeding incorporated the Old Spanish Pointer, Hounds of St. Hubert, the Foxhound, other hounds, and eventually the English Pointer, which made it faster and more energetic. Today's German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) is the successful result of the German hunter’s efforts. The GSP is a versatile hunter and an all-purpose gundog capable of high performance in both field and water. He is a fine natural retriever, an excellent companion for a hunter on foot, and requires little training. The GSP is an ideal dog for the weekend hunter who also wishes to own a bright, agreeable family companion and watchdog. Due to the breed's natural ability, German Shorthairs are campaigned successfully in the show ring, obedience and tracking trials, field trials, and hunting tests.

Temperament

The German Shorthaired Pointer is an energetic dog. If not given a sufficient amount of exercise, both mental and physical, this dog breed can become frustrated. The GSP is a family dog, but sometimes it can be overly rowdy with small children and aggressive with small pets due to the hunting background. If raised properly with other pets though, the GSP can be trained to leave them alone. Loyal and protective, he loves all family members equally, especially if they are carrying the leash, car key, gun or Frisbee. They are very people-oriented, and not happy if isolated from the family. The GSP is considered to be an independent dog breed.

Upkeep

The GSP is an all-purpose close working gundog that combines agility, power and endurance. It is square or slightly longer than tall; although it has a short back, it should stand over plenty of ground. It should have a clean-cut head, graceful outline, strong quarters and an athletic physique. The gait is smooth, light and ground-covering. The coat is short and tough.

German Shorthaired Pointer

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions and exaggerations, as well as being mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

Breed Standard - German Shorthaired Pointer

Temperament: Gentle, affectionate and even tempered. Alert, biddable and very loyal.

Characteristic: Dual purpose Pointer/Retriever, very keen nose, perseverance in searching and initiative in game finding, excellence in field, a naturally keen worker, equally good on land and in water.

General Appearance: Noble, steady dog showing power, endurance and speed, giving the immediate impression of an alert and energetic dog whose movements are well co-ordinated. Of medium size, with a short back standing over plenty of ground. Grace of outline, clean cut head, long sloping shoulders, deep chest, short back, powerful hindquarters, good bone composition, adequate muscle, well carried tail and taut coat.

Head and Skull: Clean cut, neither too light nor too heavy, well:proportioned to body. Skull sufficiently broad and slightly round. Nasal bone rising gradually from nose to forehead (this more pronounced in dogs) and never possessing a definite stop, but when viewed from side a well defined stop effect due to position of eyebrows. Lips falling away almost vertically from somewhat protruding nose and continuing in a slight curve to corner of mouth. Lips well developed but not over hung. Jaws powerful and sufficiently long to enable the dog to pick up and carry game. Dish-face and snipy muzzle not desirable. Nose solid brown or black depending on coat colour. Wide nostrils well opened and soft.

Eyes: Medium size, soft and intelligent, neither protruding nor too deep set. Varying in shades of brown to tone with coat. Light eye undesirable. Eyelids should close properly.

Ears: Broad and set high; neither too fleshy nor too thin with a short soft coat; hung close to head, no pronounced fold, rounded at tip and reaching almost to corner of mouth when brought forward.

Mouth: Teeth sound and strong. Jaws strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to jaws.

Neck: Moderately long, muscular and slightly arched, thickening towards shoulders. Skin not fitting too loosely.

Forequarters: Shoulder sloping and very muscular, top of shoulder blades close; upper arm bones between shoulder and elbow long. Elbows well laid back, neither pointing outwards nor inwards. Forelegs straight and lean, sufficiently muscular and strong but not coarse-boned. Pasterns slightly sloping.

Body: Chest must appear deep rather than wide but in proportion to the rest of the body; ribs deep and well sprung, never barrel:shaped nor flat; back ribs reaching well down to tucked up loins. Chest measurement immediately behind the elbows smaller than about a hands-breadth behind the elbows, so that the upper arm has freedom of movement. Firm, short back, not arched. The loin wide and slightly arched; the croup wide and sufficiently long, neither too heavy nor too sloping starting on a level with the back and sloping gradually towards the tail. Bones solid and strong. Skin should not fit loosely or fold.

Hindquarters: Hips broad and wide falling slightly towards tail. Thighs strong and well muscled. Stifles well bent. Hocks square with body and slightly bent, turning neither in nor out. Pasterns nearly upright.

Feet: Compact, close:knit, round to spoon shaped, well padded, turning neither in nor out. Toes well arched with strong nails.

Gait: Smooth lithe gait essential. As gait increases from walk to a faster speed, legs converge beneath body (single tracking). Forelegs reach well ahead, effortlessly covering plenty of ground with each stride and followed by hind legs, which give forceful propulsion.

Tail: Starts high and thick growing gradually thinner. Customarily docked to leave half to three:fifths of the tail. When quiet, tail should be carried down. When moving, horizontally, never held high over the back or bent.

Coat: Short, flat and coarse to touch, slightly longer under tail.

Colour: Solid liver, liver and white spotted, liver and white spotted and ticked, liver and white ticked, solid black or black and white in same variations. (not tricolour).
Size at the shoulder - Dogs 58 - 64 cm (23-25 in) Bitches: 53-59 cm (21 - 23 in). Symmetry is most essential.

Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness of the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
FCI No 119
Copyright Dogs New Zealand
23 Dec 2013

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.