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Breed profile

German Shorthaired Pointer

A tireless athlete. Brilliant running partner, chaos if under-exercised.

Liver-roan German Shorthaired Pointer striding across snow with a forest behind
A shorthaired pointer working a scent across winter ground.Photo: Горбунова М.С. / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Weight
20–32 kg44–71 lb
Height
53–64 cm21–25 in
Lifespan
10–14 yrs
Group
Gundog / Sporting
Origin
Germany
Popularity
#9 US#26 UK · 2025

Known for: Running partnersWorking dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Energetic, Friendly, Eager, Intelligent.

Health problems to know about

  • Bloat (GDV)
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Cone degeneration (DNA test available)
  • Inherited heart disease (breeders cardiac-screen)

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Two hours a day of real exercise: running, field work, canicross. Minimal grooming.

A good fit for

Runners, hikers, hunters, rural homes.

Probably not ideal for

Apartments, low-activity homes, long hours alone.

Sources

  1. German Shorthaired Pointer Dog Breed Information | American Kennel Club
  2. German Shorthaired Pointer | Breeds A to Z | The Royal Kennel Club
  3. German Shorthaired Pointer | VCA Animal Hospitals

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

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