The German Shorthaired Pointer is a versatile medium to large sized hunting dog breed known for its intelligence, energy and loyalty. It is noted for its elegant appearance, short, dense coat, and exceptional abilities to track, target and retrieve prey both on land and in water.
General details
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a medium to large breed. Males usually measure between 60 and 67 cm at the withers, while females measure between 55 and 62 cm. In terms of weight, males range between 25 and 32 kg and females between 20 and 27 kg. According to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), this breed belongs to Group 7, which includes pointers. Their life expectancy is approximately 12 to 14 years.
Breed history in brief
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a breed of hunting dog that originated in Germany in the 19th century. Its history begins with the blending of local breeds of pointers, hounds and tracking dogs, with the goal of creating a versatile and hardy hunting dog that could perform in a variety of terrain and weather conditions. Its versatility and hunting abilities made it a popular breed among hunters, landowners and gamekeepers in Germany and other European countries.
Today, the German Shorthaired Pointer remains a highly prized breed for its hunting ability and versatility, as well as its friendly and loyal disposition, making it an ideal family companion and working dog. In addition to its roles in hunting and sport, the breed has also been employed in search and rescue, drug and explosives detection, and as guide dogs for the visually impaired.
Breed characteristics
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a medium to large sized, athletic and well-proportioned hunting dog breed. It has a head proportional to the body, dark brown eyes, broad ears and a high set tail.
Its coat is short, dense and harsh, with characteristic colors including solid brown, brown with white or mottled markings, and white with brown or mottled markings.
The temperament of the German Shorthaired Pointer is characterized by versatility in hunting, intelligence, energy, endurance and loyalty. They are hard-working, affectionate dogs that get along well with people and other animals. They are ideal as hunting companions, family dogs and loyal companions in general.
Common health problems
Some of the most common diseases in this breed include hip dysplasia, volvulus-gastric dilatation, entropion, progressive retinal atrophy and epilepsy.
In addition to the above conditions, the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) recommends a cardiac (minimum age 24 months) and ocular (up to age 6 years) evaluation exam, as well as a series of tests to assess for the following diseases: elbow dysplasia, autoimmune thyroiditis and von Willebrand's disease.
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