German Short Haired Pointer
Recommended for: Families
Maintenance Level: Medium-high
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Temperament:
Alert, active, intelligent
Alert, active, intelligent
Health Risk:
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Breed Overview
German Shorthaired Pointers are a large sized dog. Their coats are short, thick, and water-repellent with the head area featuring softer hair than the rest of the body. German Shorthaired Pointers can come in a variety of colours including solid liver, liver and white, liver with ticked or patches, white ticked or liver roan.
This breed has a smooth and short coat which means they don’t shed as much as other dogs, but they still shed a little. It’s recommended to brush German Shorthaired Pointers once a week.
Female German Shorthaired Pointers usually weigh up to 28 kg and can grow as tall as 60 cm. Males weigh up to 32 kg and can also grow up to 60cm.
Personality and Temperament
This breed is very smart, enthusiastic, kind, gentle, and nervous. They don’t like to be left alone for too long because they suffer from separation anxiety. It is also important to know that this breed is much happier as a house dog rather than a yard dog.
These dogs are very easy to train and they are more than willing to learn. You should know that German Shorthaired Pointers are avid explorers and need to constantly go and see new places. It is recommended to take them to walks in new places often. They require a significant amount of exercise and stimulation.
German Shorthaired Pointers are great when they grow up with children because they see themselves as one of the family and they can be less aggressive to children if they have grown up together. In some instances it is better to purchase a German Shorthaired Pointer when you have teenage or older children.
These dogs get along perfectly with dogs of the opposite sex but they can get aggressive to those of the same sex. They can also get aggressive to furry animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and furry cats.
A secure yard is a must because their inquisitive nature can cause them to run away, jump fences, and dig deep holes if they are bored or simply if something exciting grabs their attention.
Common German Short Haired Pointer Diseases & Conditions
Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
- Canine Hip Dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is a condition where the thighbone and hip joint do not fit together properly, causing pain and lameness. Less severe cases can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications, but surgery may be required for serious cases.
- Lymphedema. German Shorthaired Pointers can suffer from this disorder which is a valvular blockage of lymph flow or twisted lymphatic ducts. Symptoms of this disease include swelling of the feet, legs, feet, chest, abdomen, ear, or tail. If you notice these symptoms, take your dog to the vet. Treatment can come in forms of tablets and can range to surgery if it is serious.
- Entropion is a condition which generally occurs in young dogs and causes the eyelid to roll inwards, which can lead to irritation or injury of the eyeball. Signs include rubbing or scratching around the eye area. It can be treated surgically if necessary.
- Von Willebrand’s Disease. This is a disease that is quite common in the German Shorthaired Pointer breed. Von Willebrand’s Disease causes clotting problems in the blood. Failure for the blood to clot properly can result in a number of serious health issues. Symptoms include nosebleeds, blood in feces, bloody urine, bleeding gums, and bleeding from genitals. If you notice any of these, take your dog to the vet immediately.
- Dog Bloat, ‘Bloat’, ‘Twisted Stomach’ or Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), as it’s formally known, is a life-threatening condition that causes the stomach will with gases and rotate on itself, cutting off blood circulation. Symptoms include restlessness, directionless pacing, constant retching, and random distress. If you notice any or all of these, take your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
Not all conditions are covered by Pet Insurance. For details of Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance cover, refer to the Product Disclosure Statement.
What do German Short Haired Pointer owners claim for the most?
History
German Shorthaired Pointers do not really have a clear documented history of their roots. The American Kennel Club believes that their ancestors are the German Bird Dog breed which is related to the Spanish Pointer which was introduced to Germany during the 1700s. The reason why these dogs have a confused history is because there was so much cross-breeding.
The first German Shorthaired Pointer was brought to America in 1925 by Dr Charles Thornton of Montana. They were also sued during the mid-19th century as hunting dogs.
They joined the American Kennel Club in 1930, only five years after coming to America.
German Short Haired Pointer Facts!
- The first German Shorthaired Pointer registered in the AKC was called Greif v.d. Fliegerhalde.
- It takes German Short Haired Pointers nearly 3 years to become fully grown.
- German Short Haired Pointers are often referred to as GSPs.
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MORE INFORMATION
The German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Victoria Inc. http://www.gspclubvic.net/
German Shorthaired Pointer Club of SA Inc. http://www.dogssa.com.au/?club=german-shorthaired-pointer-club-of-sa-inc
GSP Club of WA: http://www.gspclubwa.net/
