German Shorthaired Pointer Breed Standard
Sporting Group
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.
Sporting Group
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.
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| "I ASKED GOD FOR A BEST FRIEND AND HE SENT ME A GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER'' |
German Shorthaired Puppy Breeder | Pennsylvania German Shorthaired Pointers For Sale | German Shorthaired Puppies
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Descriptions
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, raccoons, 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.
Sporting Group; AKC recognized in 1930.
Average size: 55 to 70 pounds and 23 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder.
Gun dog, family pet.
© The American Kennel Club, Inc.
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, raccoons, 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.
Sporting Group; AKC recognized in 1930.
Average size: 55 to 70 pounds and 23 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder.
Gun dog, family pet.
© The American Kennel Club, Inc.
German Shorthaired
Pointers
Pointers