The German Shorthaired Pointer
A versatile hunter and all-purpose gun dog, the German Shorthaired Pointer possesses keen scenting power and high intelligence. The breed is proficient with many different types of game and sport, including trailing, retrieving, and pointing pheasant, quail, grouse, waterfowl, racoons, possum, and even deer. A medium-sized breed, he has an aristocratic bearing and can be solid liver or liver and white in color.
A Look Back
The origin of the German Shorthaired Pointer is not clear, but the source of
the breed seems to have been the German Bird Dog, related to the old Spanish
Pointer, and various crossings with local German scent hounds and track and
trail dogs. When the Germans introduced the English Pointers to lend
elegance to the German Shorthaired Pointer prototype, the result was a
utility dog that combined sporting virtue with clean lines, good looks and
sound temperament.
Right Breed for You?
The German Shorthaired Pointer thrives as part of an active family. He is an
even-tempered, intelligent and loyal family watchdog that has enthusiasm for
its work. An athlete, he can adapt to his living situation, but requires
consistent exercise. The GSP’s short coat sheds, but grooming is minimal.
German Shorthaired Pointer AKC Breed Standards
General Appearance
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a versatile hunter, an all-purpose gun dog
capable of high performance in field and water. The judgement 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 when 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 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, the larger the better, and with
nostrils 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
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% 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 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 spoon-shaped. 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. A dog
with any area of black, 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.
A dog with any area of black, red, orange, lemon, or tan, or a dog solid
white.