German Shorthaired Pointer

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45-60 lbs
21-23"
Germany
German Pointer (Shorthaired), Deutscher, Kurzhaariger Vortsehund, Kurzhaar

If you have ever seen a cartoon dog discovering something with a quick stiffening of the body into a dramatic point, then you’ve seen the function of a Pointer; or at least a very exaggerated version of it! The German Shorthaired Pointer, or GSP for short, is a sporty hunting dog that was developed in Germany and has been used through generations as an all-around hunting dog.  The breed as we know it today was created in the early 19th century and is distinguished easily by its short, spot covered coat, chiseled head, and long tapered body shape from nose point to tail tip.  Earlier ancestors of the breed were found in the 1600s, and are known to have played an important part in the development of the canine as he is now. This energetic and playful dog is extremely intelligent and makes an excellent house pet as well as a hunter or sport dog. Thanks to his pointer and bloodhound ancestry the German Shorthaired Pointer is talkative and active, so he’ll need plenty of exercise to keep his energy in check. He may bark at strangers but not in an aggressive way as this breed is very friendly. Although hunting is their main purpose, the German Shorthaired Pointer is used more as a family dog and show dog nowadays.
purpose Purpose
general hunting
history Date of Origin
1600s
ancestry Ancestry
german bird dog, spanish pointers, bloodhounds

German Shorthaired Pointer Health

Sketch of German Shorthaired Pointer
Average Size
Male German Shorthaired Pointer size stats
Height: 23-25 inches Weight: 55-70 lbs
Female German Shorthaired Pointer size stats
Height: 21-23 inches Weight: 45-60 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Hip Dysplasia
Minor Concerns
  • Entropion
  • Cherry Eye
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Cataracts
  • Hemivertebrae
  • Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis
  • Von Willebrand's Disease
  • Acral Mutation Syndrome
  • Lupoid Dermatitis
Occasional Tests
  • Cardiac
  • Eye
  • Hip
  • Dna Test For Vwd
  • (Blood)
  • Skeletal
  • Skin Scraping

German Shorthaired Pointer Breed History

The German Shorthaired Pointer was developed in Germany during the mid 19th century. These dogs were created by combining German bird dogs and scent hounds, which is where the original body style and personality comes from. Although the German Shorthaired Pointer is similar to its ancestors from the 17th century; this breed brought a bit of elegance to the Pointer sport dogs. Originally, Pointers were stockier and thick, but with the German Shorthaired Pointer, skinny and sleek were the new look. These dogs take their name from their country of origin as well as their sleek, short hair. German Shorthaired Pointers were developed from the get-go to be extremely athletic and intelligent hunters that could retrieve game both on land and the water. They are much loved for their strong sense of smell and affectionate personality. Besides being fantastic at hunting however, this breed is also incredible in the show ring. They are capable of showcasing amazing grace and elegance, and have actually taken Best in Show multiple times since their creation. The first German Shorthaired Pointer was welcomed to the United States in the year 1925. They were then bred by a man by the name of Dr. Charles Thornton in Montana, who helped to grow these dogs in popularity. A short time later, the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club and could partake in shows. While the breed is extremely popular now, number 16 in fact, they became quite difficult to find in the years following World War II. This was due to the fact that people began to hide their cherished possessions away, including the German Shorthaired Pointer. It took quite some time for the breed to be rebuilt after this event, but now these dogs are flourishing and used all over as wonderful family pets and hunters to this day.

German Shorthaired Pointer Breed Appearance

 There is no doubt that the German Shorthaired Pointer has stunning looks. They are of a medium build, with a long body that is wider in the chest (barreled) and tapers itself to a point at the tail. While this sounds odd, it is similar to the idea of streamlining, with a pointy nose and a slim body the German Shorthaired Pointer is a very athletically build dog breed. The tail is usually docked at 40% of its natural length to give it that stumped appearance at the end. German Shorthaired Pointers have a chiseled head with a muzzle that should be equally proportioned. Their eyes are almond shaped, brown, and very intelligent. Perhaps one of the most fascinating features of this breed is their webbed feet. Because of the webbing between their toes, the German Shorthaired Pointer are excellent swimmers, making them perfect for retrieving animals hunted over the water. Color patterns range from a solid liver color to a coat that is ticked or patched in white.
Appearance of German Shorthaired Pointer
Eye Color Possibilities
brown German Shorthaired Pointer eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black German Shorthaired Pointer nose
Black
brown German Shorthaired Pointer nose
Brown
Coat Color Possibilities
brown German Shorthaired Pointer coat
Brown
black German Shorthaired Pointer coat
Black
white German Shorthaired Pointer coat
White
pied German Shorthaired Pointer coat
Pied
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
German Shorthaired Pointer wiry coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

German Shorthaired Pointer Breed Maintenance

Even though it would seem that as a shorthaired dog, the German Shorthaired Pointer would not shed much, they do tend to shed quite often. Seasonally they will do something that is referred to as “blowing coat” where the average shedding then turns to much larger amounts of shedding. In order to properly care for your dog’s coat, it is recommended to brush this breed weekly with a rubber mitt or firm bristle brush in order to minimize shedding and keep the fur and skin healthy. The coarse hair of this breed can be difficult to remove from furniture and carpet so it may be wise to brush him outside and invest in a good vacuum to clean up any pesky hair. Besides brushing, the German Shorthaired Pointer needs to be bathed only when necessary and can be rubbed with a piece of chamois afterwards to make the fur gleam. Due to their floppy, low ears, the German Shorthaired Pointer does not always have sufficient airflow to dry out any moisture within the ear. Because of this, it is important to clean the dog’s ears frequently in order to decrease the chance of any ear infections. Regular nail trimming should be done to keep the feet healthy and free of any sharp nails that could scratch people or floors.
Brushes for German Shorthaired Pointer
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
German Shorthaired Pointer requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

German Shorthaired Pointer Temperament

People love the German Shorthaired Pointer because of his happy-go-lucky and eager to please personality. This breed is easy going, yet a very hard worker that can be high energy. Because of this, it is important to ensure that your German Shorthaired Pointer receives plenty of exercise and a nice big area to live in. These dogs do not do especially well in living areas such as an apartment. Despite this, the German Shorthaired Pointer loves his family and will want to be with them at all time. He is loyal, intelligent, and very friendly. Be sure to socialize your dog young and establish a sense of trust through consistent training. If a German Shorthaired Pointer lacks rules and leadership, he can become bored and destructive. If they are well socialized, however, and have plenty of exercise, an adult German Shorthaired Pointer does wonderfully with other pets and children. This breed does like to bark, but it is rarely out of aggression. If you are looking for a wonderful companion to take on adventures or keep you busy, then this happy and active dog may be perfect for you.

German Shorthaired Pointer Activity Requirements
Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
14 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
90 minutes
activity minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to German Shorthaired Pointer

Similarly Sized Breeds to German Shorthaired Pointer

German Shorthaired Pointer Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.8 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00
food bag monthly cost

German Shorthaired Pointer Height & Weight

6 Months
Sketch of German Shorthaired Pointer at six months
Male German Shorthaired Pointer size stats at six months
Height: 18.5 inches Weight: 30.0 lbs
Female German Shorthaired Pointer size stats at six months
Height: 18.0 inches Weight: 26.0 lbs
12 Months
Sketch of German Shorthaired Pointer at 12 months
Male German Shorthaired Pointer size stats at 12 months
Height: 24.0 inches Weight: 42.5 lbs
Female German Shorthaired Pointer size stats at 12 months
Height: 22.0 inches Weight: 37.5 lbs
18 Months
Sketch of German Shorthaired Pointer at 18 months
Male German Shorthaired Pointer size stats at 18 months
Height: 24.0 inches Weight: 62.5 lbs
Female German Shorthaired Pointer size stats at 18 months
Height: 22.0 inches Weight: 52.5 lbs

Top German Shorthaired Pointer Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable German Shorthaired Pointer breeders of 2024.
Top German Shorthaired Pointer breeder Buggytown Bird Dogs
Buggytown Bird Dogs
Barnesville, Georgia
Top German Shorthaired Pointer breeder VJK-MYST Kennels
VJK-MYST Kennels
Phelan, California
Top German Shorthaired Pointer breeder Azkaban Kennels
Azkaban Kennels
Henderson, North Carolina
Top German Shorthaired Pointer breeder KMK Shorthairs
KMK Shorthairs
Fulda, Minnesota
Top German Shorthaired Pointer breeder Edelmarke Reg'd - German Shorthaired Pointers
Edelmarke Reg'd - German Shorthaired Pointers
Ocklawaha, Florida
Top German Shorthaired Pointer breeder Braerwood Kennels
Braerwood Kennels
Haughton, Louisiana
Top German Shorthaired Pointer breeder Up N'Adam Kennels
Up N'Adam Kennels
Washington, Connecticut
Top German Shorthaired Pointer breeder It's About Time Kennels
It's About Time Kennels
Sacramento, California
Top German Shorthaired Pointer breeder Mi Karma German Shorthaired Pointers
Mi Karma German Shorthaired Pointers
Stephens City, Virginia

German Shorthaired Pointer Owner Experiences

Josey
12 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Car rides
Josey, in her younger years, was an adequate pheasant hunter, a killer of squirrels, a fun dog to be play with and train.
3 years, 5 months ago
Dexter
14 Years
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walks and dog park
Need lots of exercise! Not a breed for non-active owners. Talks a lot and has separation anxiety!
7 years ago
Cocoa
6 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
The best breed I have worked with--but you have to have lots of room. I live in a rural subdivision, with an acre lot, and 50 acre common area park, and lots of very rural roads, where Cocoa averages about 30 MILES weekly. She is 6 years old now, and averages between 52 and 54 lbs all the time.
7 years ago
1 Year
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Running
The German Shorthaired Pointer can be VERY excitable. They are a sweet, nice dog but definitely need a lot of exercise and need to be run regularly. Walking them can be a bit of a challenge because they pull and like to chase anything that moves. They would be a good running companion and enjoy playing fetch and getting a lot of time outdoors. They are sweet dogs but definitely require a lot of time, care and outside space.
6 years, 12 months ago
4 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing fetch
Running
Sniffing
swimming
German Shorthaired Pointers are definitely one of the most intelligent breeds. They are easily trained and very loyal to their family. They have a hypersensitive nose and love sniffing on walks. German Shorthaired Pointers have a lot of energy and could play fetch with a tennis ball for hours on end. They also love swimming. Due to their energy and their propensity to pull, a pronged collar is most ideal for them to wear on walks. Although they love people, German Shorthaired Pointers can sometimes be indifferent to other dogs. Even though they have a lot of energy, at the end of the day they're happy to lay on the couch and get some head rubs.
6 years, 12 months ago
18 Weeks
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
The temperament of dogs can be affected by different factors, including heredity, training, and socialization.[4] The German Shorthaired Pointer was developed to be a dog suited for family life, as well as a versatile hunter. Therefore its temperament is that of an intelligent, bold, boisterous, eccentric, and characteristically affectionate dog that is cooperative and easily trained. This breed is smart, friendly, willing, and enthusiastic.[4] The GSP is usually good with children, although care should be taken because the breed can be boisterous especially when young. These dogs love interaction with humans and are suitable pets for active families who will give them an outlet for their considerable energy; they must be avidly run multiple times a week. The breed should be socialized, which includes exposure to different people, sights, sounds, and experiences when they are young.[4] This early socializing will help to ensure that your German Shorthaired Pointer puppy will grow up to be a well-rounded dog. An important part of training would be to enroll your dog into a training class.[4] Most German Shorthaired Pointers make excellent watchdogs. The breed generally gets along well with other dogs, though females appear to be much more dominant during interbreed interaction. A strong hunting instinct is correct for the breed, which is not always good for other small pets such as cats or rabbits.
6 years, 12 months ago
4 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Had a wonderful time with this dog very obedient love to run and walk and play very enjoyable time
6 years, 12 months ago
1 Year
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
My experience with this breed was that they have a lot of energy and a lot of continuous training that is needed. They are so high maintenance but are quick learners. They do love their exercise and love to get attention. This particular breed is very friendly, protective, and love to have company, as any other pup. It was really easy during the walk to tire them out because you can run and jog with them and they will enjoy it.
6 years, 12 months ago
4 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
Run
I walked a German Shorthaired Pointer recently that lives on a house boat in Seattle, sharing my name, Max. He was relatively young and obviously a bit frightened of me. Max peed on the floor a couple times when we were doing the dance around the house trying to get his harness on. I think that he was not a fan of sudden movements. The second the harness was attached, we were ready to be on our way. He was excited to get outside and get some fresh air. Pointers are happy dogs when exercising. They will gladly return a ball you throw. They like long walks and hikes in the woods. Max was not aggressive towards others and I think that is a good indication of how other Pointers act.
6 years, 12 months ago
6 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
Kona was extremely high energy. The first time we met she was very stand offish. Very scary attitude. The first walk we had was almost impossible. She saw every single squirrel or bunny that could be found. The pulling towards those animals kept me on my toes. Barely. German Shorthaired Pointer is a two handed walk. Keep tight control. The GSP did not listen. She constantly fought for control. I walked her on a recurring basis for well over a month or two. She became a little more controllable as the walks went on. The GSP was so excited when I came to the house each time. It took time to get her calmed down so that I could get her leash on. I am not saying that the GSP is a bad dog. That is far from it. She is very lovable after the walk. She just needs to get some energy out on a daily basis.
6 years, 12 months ago
11 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Sniffing
Kisses
walki
Walking this pup was an adventure. He pooped in a bush and liked sniffing everything. He had lots of energy and loved the ocean air. We got to walk along a pier and he didn’t seem afraid at all to walk above the sand. He was very friendly and wanted to say hi to the other people who would pass by. He gave kisses and loved being pet. When we got home he didn’t want me to leave. I enjoyed walking him and I would love to walk this breed again
6 years, 12 months ago
3 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Lots of energy. Especially during fetching, he was completely addicted to the ball. So much so that when I try to hold the ball while walking, he will continually jump up at my hand to try to get it. Overall, quite responsive though. I could let him off the leash and although he might get distracted by a puddle or smell from time to time, he stayed focused on my commands. Great personality. Very loving and not aggressive. From the first time I met him, he was never hostile towards me. Over-excited, but never aggressive. His size is also pretty ideal. I've also never seen him act aggressively towards other dogs. In fact, he isn't typically interested in socializing with other dogs. He will whine a little but rarely barks. He would rather focus on fetching the ball. While walking, he stays focused on the path ahead and will only stop occasionally to smell. He is pretty dependent on attention. He always has an excess of energy when I greet him and whines with sadness when I leave. He definitely has separation anxiety. Makes it hard to leave him :( Grooming wise, his short hair seems to make him not too messy of a pet. He was well trained, so I imagine the owners took the time to make sure he was trained properly.
6 years, 12 months ago
5 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Hunt
Walk
Playing in the snow
I had a good experience walking a German Shorthaired Pointer. He was very excitable and was more than ready to get going on his walk! Very intelligent…he knew exactly what to do when it was time to get ready. He seemed pretty skittish on the walk and was distracted by every smell and noise. He didn’t pull too much, though, and clearly loved being outside in the snow. It was so cute to see him jump around and play. He had lots of energy and didn’t seem to tire during our short 30 minute walk. When we finally got home, he knew it was time to go back in his crate but I could tell he didn’t want to! After some love and bribing with a bone, he finally wandered back in.
6 years, 12 months ago
5 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Shake
Walk
Tracking
Play
Agility training
The German Wirehaired Pointer that I walked was SO ready to go the moment that I arrived. I got her suited up, leashed, and out the door with relative easy. She was very interested in sniffing everything and this combined with her seemingly endless energy made her quite the puller. Despite her lack of leash skills, she had been otherwise trained quite well and could easily run through the basic tricks. She was very alert and bright-eyed, but is not altogether personable upon the first meeting. I suspect that if she had a regular walker that she could really bond with that her skills could improve quite rapidly. She's obviously smart and has the motivation and energy in order to absorb new information quite easily.
6 years, 11 months ago
3 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playdate
Run
Explore the woods
Learn a new trick
Play keep away
Play
Fetch
Escaping
All of them have had a LOT of energy! Also they're very smart! While this one dog was boarding with us, he had to have a cage within a cage just to keep him contained. He was very smart and didn't want to be contained and he could always find a way to escape. He had a lot of energy and was always running around! He didn't really play with the other dogs but he chased them. For the most part he was the fun police, if other dogs were having too much fun he would go and try and break it up haha! Even after a full day of playing with dogs he still had a lot of energy I would throw the ball about twenty times and he still wasn't tired. That was his favorite past time probably! Whenever he saw me playing fetch with another dog he would start whining and his cries were soooo dramatic it was so funny. He had so much personality! But usually with this breed that I've experienced is that they have a lot of energy and instead of playing with other dogs they just run and sniff and maybe chase here and there but are very smart and will try and break away from being contained!
6 years, 11 months ago
Theo
1 Year
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
Run
Hike
Swim
Nap
Hunt
Camp
Backpack
Train
Travel
Playing in the snow
Theo has been a great running, hiking, hunting, road tripping, camping, and overall adventurer. He has adapted to everything we have thrown at him, moving from an apartment to a house out in the country, multiple week long road trips, and having young children hang on his neck. He isn't as hyper as a lot of shorthairs I have seen, he seems to be pretty calm (maybe from all the exercise) and gets along great with dogs and people. He seems to know which ones to leave alone. He doesn't chase wild animals unless given the "okay" command. I did have to put a lot of training into him so that he wouldn't chase or ignore commands. I grew up with shorthairs and know they can be a handful if not properly trained. Walking on a leash is still a process, some days he doesn't pull and other days he needs a few reminders of where he is supposed to be. He is still a dog after all. Overall I love the breed they have such soft eyes and big hearts.
6 years, 10 months ago
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