German Short-haired Pointer - Dog Breed Profile

Author: Dooziedog.com

Key Facts:

Size: Medium

Height: 53 - 64 cm (21 -25 inches)

Weight: 20 - 32 kg (45 - 70 lb)

Life Span: 12 years

Grooming: Easy

Exercise: Essential

Feeding: Medium

Temperament: Highly trainable & friendly

Country of Origin: Germany

AKC Group: Sporting

Other Names: Deutscher Drahthaariger Vorstehhund

Temperament:

The German Short Haired Pointer is intelligent, active and friendly. German Pointers are very intelligent and eager to learn, making them easily trainable. They enjoy working for their handler and like to be occupied. They are generally friendly towards people and animals. The German Short Haired Pointer is loyal and brave and can be trained to be a watch dog.

Grooming:

German Short Haired Pointers only need occasional brushing to keep the coat looking healthy. The ears should also be checked from time to time to ensure they are clean.

Exercise:

German Short Haired Pointers are most suited for active families. They tend to enjoy swimming and retrieving. Exercise is essential as they are hunting dogs and need to be kept busy. If the owner is unable to hunt with them then they should be taken for long walks and given opportunities to run and play off the lead.

History:

Dogs have been used for hunting for thousands of years. Different dog breeds were developed for different hunting tasks, such as pointing to the game or retrieving from land or water. German hunters decided to breed for an all purpose dog which could track, point and retrieve. The German Short-haired Pointers evolved from crosses with the German tracking dogs, the old Spanish Pointer, the English Foxhound and the English Pointer.

Physical Characteristics:

General Appearance: Muscular, sturdy and graceful.

Color: Solid black, liver or white. Or these colors with patches, ticking or completely roaned.

Coat: Short, flat and coarse to touch.

Tail: Set high, tapering, carried horizontally or slightly raised and commonly docked.

Ears: Set high, rounded at the tip, broad at the base and hanging flat against the cheek.

Body: The shoulders are sloping and muscular. The back is short, firm and level. The croup is wide, long and not sloping.

Additional Comments:

German Short-haired Pointers can become hyperactive if kept confined or do not receive adequate exercise.

German Short Haired Pointers are genuine all-rounders with their overall abilities in hunting and sport.

About the author: This article provided courtesy of http://www.dooziedog.com/dog_breeds/german_short_haired_pointer/