Dog breed · Sporting / Gundog
German Shorthaired Pointer
An all-purpose hunting dog bred to point, retrieve and track on land and in water. GSPs are friendly and biddable but have very high exercise needs and a strong desire to be involved in whatever their people are doing.
Large10–12 yearsGermanyNeeds more space
Breed characteristics
- Group
- Sporting / Gundog
- Origin
- Germany
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 20–32 kg (45–70 lb)
- Height
- 53–64 cm
- Lifespan
- 10–12 years
- Coat
- Short, dense, water-repellent coat
- Temperament
- EnergeticEagerAffectionateVersatile
History
Developed in nineteenth-century Germany by combining pointer, hound and tracking-dog bloodlines to create a versatile gundog suited to varied terrain and game.
Appearance
A lean, athletic, short-coated dog, usually liver or liver-and-white with a docked or natural tail depending on country.
Exercise and activity
Very high — 90 minutes or more of vigorous activity daily, ideally including off-lead running, retrieving or scent work.
Care and grooming
Minimal grooming beyond an occasional wipe-down; the coat sheds moderately but is easy to maintain.
Health considerations
- Hip dysplasia
- Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat)
- Von Willebrand disease
- Lymphedema
- Entropion