Step into the realm of the AKC German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP), where sleek physiques and boundless energy paint a picture of a dog bred for purpose.
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Written By: The Dog Journal
From the sprawling fields of nineteenth-century Germany to the loving homes of families today, follow the GSP on its remarkable journey. Discover how to care for this athletic breed, from their short, glossy coat to their boundless enthusiasm.
Uncover their bravery in the field and tales of GSPs excelling in hunting and competition. Join us on an adventure where every sprint ignites a passion for the breed, and each wag of the tail reveals the heart of the AKC German Shorthaired Pointer.
Deep within Germany’s sprawling landscapes, dense forests met open fields, teeming with a diverse range of wildlife. From feathered grouse to elusive rabbits, cunning foxes to majestic deer, the land was a hunter’s paradise. German hunters envisioned a canine companion that could excel in every aspect of this varied environment.
Their dream dog required a keen nose, capable of detecting prey at a useful distance. Since hunters typically traversed the land on foot, the dog needed discipline and an ingrained pointing instinct to remain steady until the hunter could approach the quarry. Retrieving fallen game, both on land and in water, was another key function. Additionally, facing larger prey like wild boar or deer demanded a certain boldness and the ability to track them through dense forests.
Finally, these hunters craved a loyal companion, a protector for their homes and families. With these aspirations in mind, the foundation for the German Shorthaired Pointer was laid.
The exact lineage of the German Shorthaired Pointer remains somewhat shrouded in mystery. However, most experts believe the journey began with a cross between the Old Spanish Pointer and traditional continental pointers, including the Old German Pointer and Braque Français. These initial pairings provided a base for the desired traits, but German hunters sought further refinement.
Tracking hounds like the German Bloodhound and French Gascon were introduced to enhance scenting abilities and soften the temperament of the emerging breed. These additions also addressed some unwanted characteristics, such as limited tracking ability, a dislike for water, and a lack of assertiveness towards predators.
Despite these improvements, the early results weren’t quite what hunters envisioned. The dogs lacked the agility and speed needed for efficient hunts. While the bloodhound’s scenting prowess was valuable, its physical appearance wasn’t what they desired. In the 1860s, another crucial cross was made – the English Pointer. This infusion boosted speed, style, and pointing instincts, shaping the breed’s overall look and hunting prowess.
Through these meticulous crossings, a sleek, intelligent, and loyal gundog emerged. The German Shorthaired Pointer possessed incredible stamina, an acute sense of smell, a strong pointing instinct, and an eagerness to retrieve both on land and in water. This versatile dog could track and scent a variety of game, point and retrieve birds, and face larger prey with courage and strength. The German hunters finally had the ultimate companion for their diverse hunting grounds.
German Shorthaired Pointers are energetic companions with short, dense coats that shed year-round. While their grooming needs are moderate, regular care ensures a healthy, shiny coat and overall well-being.
Weekly brushing with a rubber grooming mitt or bristle brush removes loose hair and keeps their coat healthy. GSPs don’t require frequent baths; every 2-3 months or after a particularly dirty adventure is sufficient. When bath time rolls around, use a gentle dog shampoo to avoid irritating their skin.
Their floppy ears are prone to infection, so a weekly cleaning with a vet-approved solution is important. Be sure to watch for signs of redness, irritation, or unusual discharge. Regular nail trims (every 3-4 weeks) with dog nail clippers or a grinder are essential for your GSPs comfort and health.
Like all breeds, GSPs need dental care. Brushing their teeth daily with dog toothpaste, or at least a few times a week, promotes good oral health. Finally, incorporate skin checks into your grooming routine. Look for any unusual bumps, lumps, cuts, or parasites. Regular checks can help detect potential health issues early, allowing for prompt treatment. By following these simple steps, you can ensure your GSP stays healthy and looking their best.
German Shorthaired Pointers are not built for a life of leisure. Their boundless energy craves daily outlets, and a bored GSP can quickly turn into a mischievous one, resorting to destructive chewing, excessive barking, or enthusiastic digging projects. To keep your GSP happy and well-adjusted, exercise is key.
Think beyond the typical walk around the block. GSPs excel as hiking companions, their boundless enthusiasm perfectly matched to exploring new trails. Let them sniff and explore their surroundings, but ensure they stay within a safe and controlled distance. Swimming is another fantastic option, providing a lowimpact workout that’s easy on their joints. Just remember, supervision is crucial around water, and an exit ramp or stairs will make pool time even more enjoyable for them.
Their athleticism and trainability shine in agility training. This challenging course filled with obstacles puts their skills to the test, requiring them to navigate jumps, tunnels, and weaves while following your commands. For their powerful noses, scent work activities are a stimulating game. Hide treats around the house or yard for them to find, or consider enrolling them in specialized nose work classes designed specifically for dogs.
Remember, a tired GSP is a happy GSP. A wellexercised dog translates to a calmer and more manageable companion in the home. But exercise isn’t the whole picture. Mental stimulation is equally important for these intelligent dogs.
Food puzzles and treat-dispensing toys provide a mental challenge, keeping them occupied as they work out how to access the hidden rewards. Interactive games like hide-and-seek or fetch with different types of toys not only entertain them but also keep their minds active and engaged. Short, positive reinforcement training sessions are another great way to stimulate their minds. Reinforce basic commands while teaching them new tricks, keeping their brains sharp and their bond with you strong.
By providing a healthy balance of physical exercise and mental stimulation, you can ensure your GSP thrives and lives a happy, fulfilling life.
Beyond the hunting grounds, the talents of the GSP truly shine. Their athleticism and eagerness to please translate perfectly into various canine sports. Agility courses, with their challenging obstacle runs, become a playground for their speed, agility, and obedience. Here, their natural talents are on full display as they weave through tunnels, jump hurdles, and follow your commands with precision. In the competitive world of field trials, GSPs consistently find themselves at the forefront. These simulated hunting scenarios test their ability to find and point birds, follow scent trails, and retrieve downed game – a testament to their ingrained hunting instincts. Even the water holds opportunities for the GSP to showcase its skills. Dock diving, where dogs launch themselves off a dock to retrieve a toy, perfectly combines their love of water with their athletic prowess.
But the GSP’s talents extend far beyond the realm of sports and competition. Their keen sense of smell makes them invaluable assets in professional settings. Search and rescue operations benefit greatly from their exceptional tracking abilities, allowing them to locate missing people in even the most challenging environments. Law enforcement and security roles also utilize their skills in detection work, where they can be trained to identify specific scents like narcotics or explosives.
The Rottweiler’s reputation as a strong and protective yet loving companion gradually grew, and the breed found its place in American households.
In 1907, the International Rottweiler Club (IRK) was founded in Germany to promote the breed’s standard and characteristics. The IRK played a pivotal role in shaping the breed’s future. The Rottweiler’s journey to international recognition continued as it made its way to North America. The breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1931, opening the door for Rottweilers to participate in AKC events and dog shows. This recognition marked a significant milestone in the breed’s history, contributing to its increasing popularity in the United States and around the world.
Today, Rottweilers stand as a testament to their enduring legacy. They are not only beloved family pets but also serve as dedicated working dogs in roles such as search and rescue, police work, and as service animals. Their rich history, from their origins in the Roman Empire to their present-day recognition, showcases their remarkable journey and the deep bond that exists between these majestic dogs and their human companions.
Rockin Rollin Billy’s name echoes through the halls of GSP field trial history. Those lucky enough to witness his performance at the 1997 Booneville NGSPA trials saw a true “friggin bird dog” in action. Handler Newcombe expertly guided Billy, who displayed an almost supernatural ability to locate birds, racking up four finds on a notoriously difficult course – wet, muddy, and a real test of any dog’s determination.
Billy’s dominance wasn’t a one-time event. He went on to claim victory in a staggering 7 or 8 NGSPA one-hour championships, further solidifying his reputation as an AKC Field Champion. Despite his impressive record, Billy wasn’t bred extensively, with some estimates suggesting fewer than 10 litters sired by him.
This limited breeding has done little to diminish his legacy. Today, his offspring and even grand-offspring continue to win prestigious competitions, a testament to the exceptional bloodline he established. While some breeders attempt to perpetuate his lineage, many never had the privilege of witnessing his brilliance firsthand.
There’s a whisper among GSP enthusiasts that had Billy competed in the Midwest circuit, his popularity might have rivaled legends like Clown or Sick. Regardless of regional accolades, Rockin Rollin Billy’s impact is undeniable. Through his offspring, like Rockin Rollin Jane, Sllick Willy, Sport, and countless others, his exceptional bird finding talents and unwavering focus live on in the hearts of field trial competitors and GSP admirers everywhere.
The German Shorthaired Pointer, with its elegance, intelligence, and boundless energy, continues to capture the hearts of dog lovers worldwide. From their origins as hunting companions to their modern roles in families and various professions, GSPs embody a spirit of adventure and unwavering devotion. Whether it’s their lightning-fast speed in the field, their eagerness to please in training, or their gentle companionship at home, the German Shorthaired Pointer stands as a testament to the enduring bond between humans and their canine partners.
Owning a GSP is a commitment to an active and intelligent dog. With proper care, training, and exercise, GSPs become cherished members of the family, enriching lives with their playful spirit, unwavering loyalty, and boundless enthusiasm for life’s adventures.
General Appearance: The German Shorthaired Pointer is a versatile hunter, an all-purpose gun dog capable of high performance in field and water. The judgment of Shorthairs in the show ring reflects this basic characteristic. The overall picture which is created in the observer’s eye is that of an aristocratic, well balanced, symmetrical animal with conformation indicating power, endurance and agility and a look of intelligence and animation. The dog is neither unduly small nor conspicuously large. It gives the impression of medium size, but is like the proper hunter, “with a short back, but standing over plenty of ground.” Symmetry and field quality are most essential. A dog in hard and lean field condition is not to be penalized; however, overly fat or poorly muscled dogs are to be penalized. A dog well balanced in all points is preferable to one with outstanding good qualities and defects. Grace of outline, clean-cut head, sloping shoulders, deep chest, powerful back, strong quarters, good bone composition, adequate muscle, well carried tail and taut coat produce a look of nobility and indicate a heritage of purposefully conducted breeding. Further evidence of this heritage is movement which is balanced, alertly coordinated and without wasted motion.
Size, Proportion, Substance: Size – height of dogs, measured at the withers, 23 to 25 inches. Height of bitches, measured at the withers, 21 to 23 inches. Deviations of one inch above or below the described heights are to be severely penalized. Weight of dogs 55 to 70 pounds. Weight of bitches 45 to 60 pounds. Proportion – measuring from the forechest to the rearmost projection of the rump and from the withers to the ground, the Shorthair is permissibly either square or slightly longer than he is tall. Substance – thin and fine bones are by no means desirable in a dog which must possess strength and be able to work over any type of terrain. The main importance is not laid so much on the size of bone, but rather on the bone being in proper proportion to the body. Bone structure too heavy or too light is a fault. Tall and leggy dogs, dogs which are ponderous because of excess substance, doggy bitches, and bitchy dogs are to be faulted.
Head: The head is clean-cut, is neither too light nor too heavy, and is in proper proportion to the body. The eyes are of medium size, full of intelligence and expression, good-humored and yet radiating energy, neither protruding nor sunken. The eye is almond shaped, not circular. The preferred color is dark brown. Light yellow eyes are not desirable and are a fault. Closely set eyes are to be faulted. China or wall eyes are to be disqualified. The ears are broad and set fairly high, lie flat and never hang away from the head. Their placement is just above eye level. The ears laid in front without being pulled, should extend to the corner of the mouth. In the case of heavier dogs, the ears are correspondingly longer. Ears too long or fleshy are to be faulted. The skull is reasonably broad, arched on the side and slightly round on top. Unlike the Pointer, the median line between the eyes at the forehead is not too deep and the occipital bone is not very conspicuous. The foreface rises gradually from nose to forehead. The rise is more strongly pronounced in the dog than in the bitch. The jaw is powerful and the muscles well developed. The line to the forehead rises gradually and never has a definite stop as that of the Pointer, but rather a stop-effect when viewed from the side, due to the position of the eyebrows. The muzzle is sufficiently long to enable the dog to seize game properly and be able to carry it for a long time. A pointed muzzle is not desirable. The depth is in the right proportion to the length, both in the muzzle and in the skull proper. The length of the muzzle should equal the length of the skull. A dish-shaped muzzle is a fault. A definite Pointer stop is a serious fault. Too many wrinkles in the forehead is a fault. The nose is brown on a liver dog and black on a black dog. The larger the nose the better and nostrils should be well opened and broad. A spotted nose is not desirable. A flesh colored nose disqualifies. The chops fall away from the somewhat projecting nose. Lips are full and deep yet are never flewy. The teeth are strong and healthy. The molars intermesh properly. The bite is a true scissors bite. A perfect level bite is not desirable and must be penalized. Extreme overshot or undershot disqualifies.
Neck, Topline, Body: Neck: The neck is of proper length to permit the jaws reaching game to be retrieved, sloping downwards on beautifully curving lines. The nape is rather muscular, becoming gradually larger toward the shoulders. Moderate throatiness is permitted. The skin is close and tight. The chest in general gives the impression of depth rather than breadth; for all that, it is in correct proportion to the other parts of the body. The chest reaches down to the elbows, the ribs forming the thorax show a rib spring and are not flat or slabsided; they are not perfectly round or barrel-shaped. The back ribs reach well down. The circumference of the thorax immediately behind the elbows is smaller than that of the thorax about a hand’s breadth behind elbows, so that the upper arm has room for movement. Tuck-up is apparent. The back is short, strong, and straight with a slight rise from the root of the tail to the withers. The loin is strong, is of moderate length, and is slightly arched. An excessively long, roached or swayed back must be penalized. The hips are broad with hip sockets wide apart and fall slightly toward the tail in a graceful curve. A steep croup is a fault. The tail is set high and firm, and must be docked, leaving approximately 40 percent of its length. The tail hangs down when the dog is quiet and is held horizontally when he is walking. The tail must never be curved over the back toward the head when the dog is moving. A tail curved or bent toward the head is to be severely penalized.
Forequarters: The shoulders are sloping, movable, and well covered with muscle. The shoulder blades lie flat and are well laid back nearing a 45 degree angle. The upper arm (the bones between the shoulder and the elbow joint) is as long as possible, standing away somewhat from the trunk so that the straight and closely muscled legs, when viewed from the front, appear to be parallel. Elbows which stand away from the body or are too close result in toes turning inwards or outwards and must be faulted. Pasterns are strong, short and nearly vertical with a slight spring. Loose, short-bladed or straight shoulders must be faulted. Knuckling over is to be faulted. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed. The feet are compact, close-knit and round to spoonshaped. The toes are sufficiently arched and heavily nailed. The pads are strong, hard and thick.
Hindquarters: Thighs are strong and well muscled. Stifles are well bent. Hock joints are well angulated and strong with straight bone structure from hock to pad. Angulation of both stifle and hock joint is such as to achieve the optimal balance of drive and traction. Hocks turn neither in nor out. Cowhocked legs are a serious fault.
Coat: The hair is short and thick and feels tough to the hand; it is somewhat longer on the underside of the tail and the back edges of the haunches. The hair is softer, thinner and shorter on the ears and the head. Any dog with long hair in the body coat is to be severely penalized.
Color: The coat may be of solid liver or a combination of liver and white such as liver and white ticked, liver patched and white ticked, or liver roan. Or the coat may be of solid black or any combination of black and white such as black and white ticked, black patched, and white ticked, or black roan. Any other color or color combination is a disqualification. A dog with any area of red, orange, lemon or tan, or a dog solid white will be disqualified.
Gait: A smooth lithe gait is essential. It is to be noted that as gait increases from the walk to a faster speed, the legs converge beneath the body. The tendency to single track is desirable. The forelegs reach well ahead as if to pull in the ground without giving the appearance of a hackney gait. The hindquarters drive the back legs smoothly and with great power.
Temperament: The Shorthair is friendly, intelligent, and willing to please. The first impression is that of a keen enthusiasm for work without indication of nervous or flightly character.
Disqualifications: China or wall eyes. Flesh colored nose. Extreme overshot or undershot. Any color combination of colors other than liver or black as described in the standard. A dog with any area of red, orange, lemon or tan or a dog solid white.
Ok, so we agree that it’s efficient, if all you care about is cutting down on chore time. However, rationing and feeding twice a day instead of on a free choice basis has some serious upsides.
Held at the Allentown Fairgrounds in Allentown, PA, from Friday, Feb 2, through Sunday the 4th, this event had something for everyone who loves pets, from snakes to dogs to cats and more.
Round The Table Question: How does Parvo work and what can I do to prevent or treat it? Answered by: Dr. Aly Cohen Answer: Canine
