German shorthaired pointer

If a German shorthaired pointer could not leave the house, even an inexperienced owner would cope with it. But the dog of this breed must go for long walks, and there – oh, that’s a completely different story …

Nature

The German shorthaired pointer has a great temperament, is confident, balanced, energetic, with great hunting passion. Affectionate and calm on a daily basis, he changes beyond recognition – he becomes a fast, relentless dog, stubborn and completely absorbed in work.

The representative of this breed willingly surrenders to the owner, who can impose his will on him without resorting to violence and will take care of his mental and physical development. As a rule, he does not tend to dominate, but if a man proves to be a weak and inept guide, he willingly takes control in the family.

He can be disobedient, hyperactive, run away on walks or destroy objects. By nature gentle and friendly, he gets along well with children and is a great companion to play with. However, due to its size and mobility, it can be hardly attentive, which is why it’s better to supervise its contacts with children.

He can share the house with other dogs, and he usually doesn’t conflict with strangers, but when he is attacked, he will definitely defend himself. He will easily accept a cat or rabbit if we show him that they are members of the herd. However, the strong hunting instinct makes it possible to hunt small animals on walks.

The German shorthaired pointer can live anywhere, but requires a lot of movement and exercise. He is a dog created for action, he hates boredom and inaction. Walking on a leash is not enough for him, he should be able to run freely for an hour or two every day. It’s best if you go with him to the meadow or let him train in the water. It can also accompany a runner or cyclist.

German shorthaired pointer. Skills

The German shorthaired pointer is a versatile dog. As a result of breeding selection, a durable hunter helper was obtained, working both before and after the shot. It is characterized by, among others endurance (he can work constantly for several hours), perseverance, strong hunting passion, fast gaits, work with upper and lower wind, moving the field with the head raised high and a strong stand-up collar.

It works perfectly in dry terrain, in water and in swampy areas – eagerly searches for animals in inaccessible thickets or thick rushes and retrieves gunshots. It is also used as a hunter to hunt small and big animals and predators in the forest.

Each dog of this breed used for breeding, in addition to the required grades from shows, must pass tests to check the innate and acquired characteristics of a hunting dog. These include no fear after the shot, search method, stand-up (stopping in a characteristic pose after weathering the game) or a tendency to work in the water.

Usable qualities representatives of this breed can also present at work pointer competitions, including: work in a dry field trials, work in the field and water before and after the shot (multilateral pointer competition), work in the field, water and forest before and after the shot (versatile pointer competition).

According to the FCI (International Kennel Club), the German Shorthaired Pointer is a breed subject to work trials, which means that to obtain the title of International Beauty Champion (CIB), apart from the results at exhibitions, a diploma from a pointer work competition is required (the dog must obtain a minimum of 70% points) .

Owners who are not interested in hunting a representative of this breed can try their hand at sports – the pointer will work in, for example, agility, obedience, dog trekking, bikejoring or sled sports. Few pointers are also used in dog therapy and as rescue dogs.

German shorthaired pointer. Training and education

The German pointer is intelligent, likes to learn and willingly works with people. Hunters value him for independence and independence, but on a daily basis, these features can cause problems for less experienced owners. Therefore, from a puppy, it is necessary to determine the rules of functioning of the dog in the family and consistently follow them.

It is also important to properly socialize the little pointer and learn basic obedience. We start training at the age of three months (you can use classes at a dog kindergarten). We teach a puppy to walk on a leash and loose, sit down, lay down, etc.

We place great emphasis on learning how to return to command. It is worth using a special whistle for this purpose, thanks to which it will be easier to summon the dog in the open, when they have gone a long distance (a representative of this breed usually behaves like this when lowered on walks).

At the age of 4-5 months, we familiarize the pointer with the field and water, we also slowly begin to learn to retrieve (he should not chew or nibble the retrieve). Initially, young dogs present only a visual stand-up, e.g. playing with kinsmen or displaying pigeons. Exposing animals to the nose appears later and depends on the dog’s temperament, his mental maturity and his familiarity with the fishery.

Who is this race for?

German shorthaired pointer is a dog for active people who like contact with nature. He requires training, consistent upbringing, a lot of movement and appropriate activity that will allow him to discharge his energy.

German shorthaired pointer. Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages

• bored can destroy things
• released loose moves away considerably
• can hunt on its own paw

Advantages

• intelligent, eager to learn
• excellent utility dog
• can play dog ​​sports
• gets along well with his compatriots
• will accept small pets
• easy to care for

German shorthaired pointer. Health

The German shorthaired pointer had to cope with the tasks set before it regardless of weather and terrain conditions, therefore it is inherently strong, resistant and durable. It tolerates both high and low temperatures well. It does not require protection against the cold, especially when it is in motion. In the summer – as with any dog ​​- you need to watch out for overheating and take care of the water in the bowl.

Currently, the breed is rarely harassed by health problems, because most breeding cares for the prevention and proper selection of animals for breeding. However, like any dog, a pointer may be exposed to some medical conditions and injuries. In dogs working in the field or in the forest, mechanical injuries occur, e.g. injuries to paws, ears or tail. Intensive work in the water, however, entails the need for greater care for the ears, skin and fur.

Hip dysplasia (less often elbow joints) can occur, which is why most breeders examine their pupils in this direction, although this is not required. Because of the deep chest, representatives of this breed are sometimes exposed to enlargement and torsion of the stomach.

Sometimes allergies, eye (e.g. cataract) and eyelid diseases as well as cardiac problems (SAS – subarapular aortic stenosis) occur. EBJ occasionally occurs – vesicular epidermal separation. It is a genetic disease that is characterized by the formation of blisters on the skin due to mechanical injuries. In southern Europe, breeders perform genetic tests in their direction, which are a condition for obtaining breeding licenses.

Prevention is very important – periodic vaccinations (in the case of a working dog, special attention should be paid to vaccination against leptospirosis), regular deworming and protection of the pet against fleas and ticks.

Feeding

Pointers are not picky and usually have a good appetite. The diet must be adapted to the quadruped’s lifestyle. During training and hunting, dogs need high-energy foods rich in protein necessary to build muscle mass. In contrast, animals that do not have enough movement should be given regular food (with moderate content of protein and fat) so as not to lead to excess weight.

When choosing dry food, pay attention to its composition, especially the ratio of calcium to phosphorus and the addition of supplements that affect the structure and regeneration of articular cartilage. If we want to prepare food for the pointer ourselves, we must supplement it with appropriate calcium and mineral preparations, preferably after consulting a veterinarian or an experienced breeder. The daily portion should be divided into at least two meals and keep the dog calm after eating.

Care

The short and dense German pointer coat does not require any special care. It is enough to comb the dog once a week with a rubber comb and wipe with a damp towel, thanks to which we will get rid of dust and small impurities. The representative of this breed molts seasonally in spring and autumn (then you have to comb it more often).

The intensity of hair replacement is an individual matter and depends, among others on the conditions in which the pet resides and on the diet. The coat is quite hard, it sticks easily into carpets or upholstery, it is also quite difficult to remove it from clothes.

Regularly check your ears (especially for dogs that spend a lot of time working in the water) and trim the claws if they do not wear themselves. The condition of the nails and pads has a great impact on the quality of the quadruped’s work.

Wherever necessary, we bathe in good quality moisturizing or regenerating shampoos for short-haired dogs, e.g. with the addition of jojoba oil, tea tree extract or horsetail extract. The representative of this breed does not need any hairdressing before the show.

However, due to his high temperament, it is advisable to learn the exhibition position and to practice trot running. We present the Wyższa on a ring matching the color of the coat or in a clamping chain and on a thin leash.

Accessories

We can take a dog for walks in leather or material collar and on a double leash (adjustable length). To take a puppy, cotton cords, rubber balls of the right size or water retriever toys will work best. You can also give natural chews, e.g. smoked ears or beef masseuses.

German shorthaired pointer. History

The history of all shorthaired pointer probably dates back to the Roman Empire, when the Germanic tribes of the Visigoths settled in the Iberian and Balkan Peninsulas. In the Latin law collection called Leges Barbarorum, for the first time, there were mentions of quadrupeds that stopped after the weather of the birds.

Over the centuries, with the invention of new forms of hunting, the expectations of hunters for dogs have changed. When hunting with nets, they were supposed to first display the birds, and then approach them imperceptibly, enabling people to cover them with the net. The invention of the double-shot weapon in 1750 completely changed the technique of hunting and initiated the transformation of the display dog ​​into a multilateral hunting dog. From then on, he had to not only post-capture, but also search and retrieve shots.

The immediate ancestor of the breed was an old German short-haired pointer, which apparently originated from hunting dogs found in the 17th and 18th centuries in France, Italy and Spain. He was characterized by a strong physique, slightly phlegmatic disposition, slow gait and work by the bottom wind.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, thanks to the introduction of the pointer’s blood, not only a lighter figure were obtained, but also the ability to use the upper wind. Three types of German pointer developed then. The first of them – the so-called North German – focused dogs with a small admixture of pointer’s blood (quite heavy, massive, slow).

The second group consisted of quadrupeds in which the pointer’s influence was already strongly visible (faster, lighter, white or chestnut in color with mottling and patches). The third type (so-called Württemberg) are heavy dogs with very strong heads and sagging skin around the neck – at the exhibition in Hanover in 1879 they were eliminated from further breeding.

The most important document for the development of a pointer in Germany was the “Book of German Shorthaired Pointer” (“Zuchtbuch Deutsch-Kurzhaar”) published in 1897 by Albrecht de Solms-Braunfeld. It presents the characteristic features of the breed, breeding rules, assessment of the exterior and basic methods of carrying out work tests.

Initially, the standard allowed only dogs with brown ointment and its varieties. In 1907, a uniformly black pointer was introduced to the German pointer population. The first black short-haired pointer was registered in German breeding books in 1924. Seven years later, the black variety was recognized as brown. Crossings between the colors were also allowed.

Template

German Shorthaired Pointer – Group VII FCI, Section 1, Model No. 119

• Country of origin: Germany
• Size: height of the withers 62-66 cm, bitches 58-63 cm
• Coat: short, dense, dry to the touch, hard
• Color: brown without meaning; brown with small white spots or spots on the chest and limbs; brown roan; roan light brown; white with brown markings on the head, brown patches or spots; black in the same varieties as brown and roan
• Maturity: 12-18 months
• Lifespan: 12-15 years
• Weather resistance: high

Interesting facts

The German shorthaired pointer is the most famous breed of this group of pointer, but hardly anyone knows that there are a total of four varieties of German pointer!

In addition to the German Shorthaired Pointer, the FCI model contains separately described breeds: German Wirehaired Pointer and German Longhair Pointer.