There is not a lot of information on the German Shorthaired Lab hybrid itself, but we can learn about the parent breeds in order to understand what to expect from the hybrid breed. The German Shorthaired Pointer was once described as the German Bird Dog and was crossed with the very useful Bloodhound and the athletic Spanish Pointer, creating an agile breed who loved to follow a scent. Once brought to the United States, this canine was further developed by Dr. Charles Thornton, an enthusiast of the breed. He was influential in reviving the German Shorthaired Pointer after a decline in popularity in the early 1900s, specifically after the World Wars. A loyal companion and an excellent helpmate on the field, this breed can track, retrieve and point. He is presently the American Kennel Club's 11th most popular breed and is a member of the Sporting Group. A canine known for his prowess in the water, the Labrador Retriever is now the most popular dog in North America. He is native to Newfoundland, Canada and was first called the St. John's dog. He fished the Labrador sea, assisting the hard working fisherman in his day to day duties. A proficient netminder and retriever of lost fish, he was later imported to England where his soft mouth enabled him to retrieve waterfowl as well as fish. He became the Labrador Retriever, named after the Labrador sea where he once worked. Like the German Shorthaired Pointer, he is registered with the American Kennel Club in the Sporting Group.
