The German Shorthaired Pointer is one of the most versatile gundogs there is, and that's exactly what makes it such a real challenge in everyday life, but also such a fascinating companion. If you're interested in this breed, you should know this: a German Shorthaired Pointer is no living-room dog content with a stroll round the block. It wants to work, think and move, ideally all day long. In this guide you'll learn where the breed comes from, what defines the German Shorthaired Pointer's temperament, how much exercise it really needs and what to look out for when it comes to feeding, so your dog stays fit, healthy and balanced. If you're still unsure whether the German Shorthaired Pointer suits your lifestyle, our Breed Finder can help you decide.
Profile and temperament
The German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP for short) is a medium to large pointing dog with an athletic, muscular build. Males reach a shoulder height of around 62 to 66 centimetres, females are usually between 58 and 63 centimetres. Weight usually ranges between 20 and 32 kilograms, though active gundogs often look heavier than they actually are thanks to their trained musculature. The coat is short, dense and low-maintenance, usually coloured liver, liver roan or black roan.
In temperament, the German Shorthaired Pointer is an alert, attentive and highly intelligent dog. It's considered loyal, affectionate and family-friendly, while also having a pronounced drive to work and a strong hunting instinct. Towards strangers it tends to be reserved to watchful, without being aggressive. Within the family it develops a close bond and would ideally like to be involved in everything, whether jogging, cycling or hunting. This versatility is already built into the breed's name: the German Shorthaired Pointer is used both before and after the shot, meaning it quests, points, retrieves and swims just as naturally as it covers ground on land.
For keeping purely as a pet, the German Shorthaired Pointer is only suitable if its basic needs for exercise, mental work and meaningful activity are fully met. Without enough exercise it quickly develops unwanted behaviour such as excessive barking, destructiveness or constantly escaping in search of something to do.
Origin and history
The roots of the German Shorthaired Pointer go back to the 19th century. It emerged from crossing the old Spanish Pointer, already native to Germany at the time, with English Pointers and other pointing breeds. The breeders' goal was a dog that didn't just hunt one type of game but could be used universally, working just as reliably in the field, in the woods and in the water. In 1897, the first breed club for the German Shorthaired Pointer was founded in Germany, laying the foundation for today's strongly performance-oriented breeding.
To this day, the breed is primarily bred and kept by hunters, which is why the focus remains consistently on working ability, stamina, nose and strength of character, rather than purely on looks. This sets the German Shorthaired Pointer apart from many other breeds, where appearance has moved increasingly into the foreground over time. A German Shorthaired Pointer from a reputable breeder usually undergoes working trials before being approved for further breeding at all. This explains why the breed has remained so capable, robust and eager to work to this day, but also why it places such high demands on exercise and activity.
Exercise and training
Anyone bringing a German Shorthaired Pointer into their home should be clear about one thing: this breed needs considerably more exercise than most other dogs. Two to three hours of active exercise a day are not unusual for a healthy, fully grown German Shorthaired Pointer, they're the norm. Plain walks aren't enough on their own. The dog needs tasks that let it use its nose, mind and body all at once.
Classic forms of activity are, of course, hunting itself or hunting-oriented exercises such as retrieving, drag-line work or pointing training. But dog sports such as agility, dummy training, tracking, mantrailing or extended cycling and jogging can also help channel its urge to move. What matters here is the combination of physical and mental stimulation. A German Shorthaired Pointer that is only tired out physically, without its mind being challenged, remains restless inside and often develops behavioural issues anyway.
In training, the German Shorthaired Pointer proves very eager to learn and attentive, while also thinking independently. Consistency, clarity and early, consistent socialisation are crucial so that its pronounced hunting instinct remains controllable. The recall in particular should be trained intensively from puppyhood, because a German Shorthaired Pointer following an interesting scent trail is barely reachable in that moment. Anyone not aiming for hunting work should still regularly work with an experienced trainer or dog school to give the dog meaningful physical and mental exercise. For active hunters, runners, cyclists or people with plenty of time for extended forest walks, on the other hand, the German Shorthaired Pointer is an exceptionally reliable, hard-working partner.
The right diet for the German Shorthaired Pointer
The German Shorthaired Pointer's high urge to move is reflected directly in its energy requirements. An active German Shorthaired Pointer used for sport or hunting burns noticeably more calories than an average family dog of the same size. It therefore needs food with a high proportion of high-quality animal protein that supports muscle development and provides long-lasting energy. Healthy fats are also important to cover the increased calorie needs during intense working phases without having to unnecessarily bulk up the amount of food.
Especially during hunting season or particularly intense training phases, energy requirements can rise significantly again, while dropping back during quieter periods. It's therefore worth adjusting the amount and composition of food to the dog's actual activity level rather than sticking rigidly to a fixed amount. Our Food Finder helps you find a suitable food for your dog's individual energy needs, whether you prefer dry food, favour wet food, or combine both.
One particularly important issue for deep-chested breeds like the German Shorthaired Pointer is bloat. Due to its narrow, deep chest, this breed and similar ones have an increased risk of what's known as gastric torsion, where the stomach, filled with food or air, twists around its own axis. This is an acute emergency that needs immediate veterinary treatment. To reduce the risk, you should follow a few simple but effective rules:
Feed your German Shorthaired Pointer several smaller portions a day rather than one large meal. Two to three meals a day make much more sense for active dogs of this breed than a single large ration. Give your dog enough rest before and after eating, at least an hour before intense exercise, and likewise a period of rest after eating before romping about or running again. Also make sure your dog doesn't wolf down its food in a hurry and doesn't drink large amounts of water all at once straight afterwards. For deep-chested, very active breeds like the German Shorthaired Pointer, these points are no small matter, they're an essential part of responsible feeding.
Chews and treats
Alongside the main meal, meaningful activity through chewing also plays an important role for such a mentally sharp and hard-working dog as the German Shorthaired Pointer. Chewing reduces stress, promotes dental health and gives the dog a calm, focused task that suits the breed's pronounced drive to work perfectly. Especially after strenuous training sessions or long days out hunting, high-quality natural chews are a wonderful way to help the dog wind down while still challenging it mentally.
For daily training work, whether recall training, tracking work or dog school, small, easily portioned natural treats are particularly well suited. They're easy to measure out, so even during intensive training sessions you won't risk blowing your dog's total food intake. Make sure to factor the amount of treats into the daily energy balance, though with a dog as active as the German Shorthaired Pointer this is usually easy to manage.
When choosing the right chews, you should also consider your dog's size, bite strength and chewing intensity. A German Shorthaired Pointer with a strong, tireless bite needs more robust chews than a smaller, calmer dog. Our Chew Finder helps you find the right chew for your dog's size, bite strength and needs, so that chewing stays safe, species-appropriate and genuinely enjoyable.
Health and care
Overall, the German Shorthaired Pointer is considered a robust, healthy breed with comparatively few breed-typical conditions. Nevertheless, there are a few points worth keeping an eye on. Besides the bloat already mentioned, some lines can be affected by hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia or heart conditions, which is why it's worth sourcing puppies exclusively from breeders who carry out appropriate health testing on the parent dogs. Eye conditions can also occasionally occur and should be kept in mind during regular vet checks.
A frequently underestimated issue for working gundogs is the ears. The German Shorthaired Pointer's drop ears should be checked regularly, especially after swimming or working in dense undergrowth, as moisture, awns or small injuries can easily collect here and lead to infections. The paws also deserve a careful check after intense runs, particularly on uneven terrain or in contact with sharp branches and stones.
When it comes to coat care, the German Shorthaired Pointer is very low-maintenance thanks to its short, dense coat. Occasional brushing is generally quite enough to remove loose hairs and keep the coat glossy. More important than pure coat care for this breed is checking it over after every outing, to spot ticks, injuries or foreign objects early. As the German Shorthaired Pointer usually spends a great deal of time outdoors, reliable parasite protection is also an important part of its healthcare.
Frequently asked questions
Is the German Shorthaired Pointer also suitable as a family dog?
Yes, in principle the German Shorthaired Pointer can also be kept as a family dog without being used for hunting, as long as its high demands for exercise and activity are fully met. It's affectionate, loyal and generally good with children when properly socialised. It's important that the family is genuinely very active and can offer the dog several hours of meaningful exercise every day.
How much exercise does a German Shorthaired Pointer need daily?
A healthy, adult German Shorthaired Pointer generally needs two to three hours of active exercise a day, ideally combined with mental work such as tracking, dummy training or search games. Short, plain walks alone aren't enough for this breed in the long run and can lead to behavioural problems.
Why is bloat such an important issue for the German Shorthaired Pointer?
Because of its deep, narrow chest, the German Shorthaired Pointer is among the breeds with an increased risk of bloat. Several small meals instead of one large portion, enough rest before and after eating, and calm feeding behaviour all help reduce the risk significantly.
Which food best suits an active German Shorthaired Pointer?
Given its high energy needs, a food with a high proportion of high-quality animal protein and a balanced fat content is particularly suitable. Whether dry food, wet food or a combination of both is the right choice depends on your dog's individual activity level, age and any intolerances. Our Food Finder helps you find the right composition for your German Shorthaired Pointer.
Character & who the German Shorthaired Pointer suits
In short, the German Shorthaired Pointer is best suited to: very active hunters and sports enthusiasts with plenty of time for exercise.
- Size: large
- Energy level: very active
- With children: very good with children
- Flat living: not really suited to flat living
- For beginners: better suited to experienced owners
- Coat care: low-maintenance
- Trainability: eager to learn
- Alertness: watchful
Not sure whether this breed suits your life? Find out with our Breed Finder "Which dog breed suits me?".
Also worth reading: Natural Chews
