German Shorthaired Pointer Dog Breed

If your family enjoys long walks in the countryside every day and can provide plenty of companionship, then the GSP could make a wonderful addition to your home. 

They’re lithe, with lots of stamina and boundless energy. They might be a bit too boisterous for young children that are not yet steady on their feet, and their need for particularly long walks can also be too much for a younger child to keep up with.  However, they are incredibly affectionate so will love snuggling with children and enjoying playtime in the garden. GSPs can be emotionally sensitive, so the children they encounter should be well versed in how to behave around dogs.  

Yes, yes, and yes!

The German Shorthaired Pointer forms strong bonds with their family.  They love nothing more than to snuggle on the sofa with you or share your bed at night. They crave companionship as much as long countryside walks. 

Their love of their people means that many GSP’s can suffer with separation related problems. So, if you work from home or have a lifestyle that means your dog’s alone time would be at a minimum, a German Shorthaired Pointer could be a great choice.  

German Shorthaired Pointers are very playful and super goofy! 

Their innate drive to seek, find and retrieve means that they want to do the same thing with their toys. This kind of play gives them the perfect outlet for their natural behaviour.

Scent games are essential as they replicate a pointer tracking their prey. Try hiding their favourite toys or treats around the house and garden for them to find.

Retrieve games are also a vital part of living with a German Shorthaired Pointer. These games satisfy their need to pick up, carry and return game to their handler. Throwing toys into long grass for them to locate and return to you is another great game to play to satiate their retrieving instinct. Your GSP cannot live their best life without the opportunity to play every day, so consideration must be given to how much time and energy you have to properly fulfil these needs.

The German Shorthaired Pointer is not a particularly noisy breed. However, they can be protective of their home. They’ll certainly let you know if anyone approaches your property, invited or not. Their protectiveness generally stops there but their deep bark should be enough to deter intruders.

As is obvious by now, GSP’s need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. If they’re not getting enough of either they may develop a barking problem due to boredom and frustration. 

They can also struggle with separation related issues, and this can lead to barking/howling when left alone for extended periods

GSP’s are full of energy, very intelligent and thrive on companionship. If their needs are not met they can develop behavioural problems. 

They need a lot of exercise, without it they can become noisy, destructive, and boisterous. They may also attempt to escape from their garden to exercise themselves!

They are naturally reserved with strangers and without appropriate socialisation they can develop fear-based aggression towards them. 

Their love for their family and need for companionship can lead to separation related issues if home alone training is not built up slowly. 

As natural hunting dogs they’re prone to picking up a scent and running off.  They are not to be trusted around wildlife or small pets. 

All these issues can be avoided or reduced if your German Shorthaired Pointer is adequately trained, and their physical and emotional needs are properly met. 

German Shorthaired Pointers need a home that has a good sized, fully enclosed garden. 

They also need access to green spaces and/or enclosed fields for daily off lead exercise. Their innate desire to hunt means a lot of time and effort must be put into training them to come when called.  

They can make great family pets providing their physical and mental exercise needs are met. 

Their loyalty and attachment to their family means that they do not cope well with being left home alone for extended periods. 

If adequately socialised they can live with other dogs, but they can be unreliable/unsafe with cats and small pets as well as wildlife.  

Sharing your home with a GSP can be great fun. They will keep you fit and provide you with a loyal shadow.

The GSP needs a considerable amount of exercise. 

You’ll need to be lacing up your walking boots for two walks a day across the countryside, beach, or enclosed fields.  

They’re an athletic breed that enjoy jumping over logs, crashing through undergrowth, and swimming in any water they can find.  

They enjoy running around or working in wintry weather, but they would benefit from a cold weather jacket if they’re simply walking or waiting around, their short coat isn’t always warm enough.

Such an intelligent breed needs mental stimulation too. Daily play sessions that involve them using their noses to seek and find their toys, along with retrieving games, are essential to keeping GSPs emotionally satisfied.  

Delivering their food in enrichment toys such as Kongs, snuffle mats etc. is another easy way to keep their brains busy.

Training, exercising and caring for a GSP is time consuming, but totally worth it.

German Shorthaired Pointers are very bright. They’re food and toy motivated, and thrive on positive reinforcement based training. 

It’s easier to start training young puppies as their brains are like sponges, but stay on your toes... they learn bad habits as quickly as good ones! 

All puppies need socialisation and habituation training in order to cope with sights, sounds, people and other animals. Failure to do so can result in fear-based behaviours. 

GSP’s have an innate desire to hunt, so training a solid recall is essential for them to enjoy off lead exercise.  

Their energy and intelligence means GSPs can be challenging until they reach maturity. Hang in there with your training, your efforts will be rewarded once adolescence is over.  

If a GSP doesn’t receive adequate training, exercise, mental stimulation, and companionship they can develop behavioural issues, including: 

• Escaping 
• Excessive barking 
• Killing wildlife 
• Fear based aggression towards strangers 
• Separation related issues 

GSP’s are moderate shedders. They have short, thick fur that protects them during their work.  

Short, daily grooming sessions will keep hair shedding to a manageable level. 

A slicker brush will help remove the dead under-coat and a rubber grooming mitt will keep the topcoat sleek and shiny.  

Regular grooming sessions also give you the opportunity to check their body for lumps, cuts, and unwanted parasites.  

The GSP is a relatively healthy breed but just like other pedigrees they can be prone to a few health issues. 

It’s always best practice to select a breeder that carries out health screening on their breeding stock to ensure the health of any puppies they produce. 

Conditions to speak to a breeder about are: 

• Hip and Elbow Dysplasia (malformed sockets that cause arthritis and pain) 
• Pannu Pannus (a painful eye condition) 
• Osteochondrosis Dissecans (painful joint disease) 
• Entropion (where eye lashes rub against the eye) 
• Epilepsy 
• Hypothyroidism 

Owing to their deep chests GSP’s are also prone to Bloat. This is a life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical intervention.