How They Look

The German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) is a large hunting breed with a coat that’s short, sleek and dense. Color of the hair coat should be liver, liver and white or black and white, solid, patched and ticked or roan. They have a naturally lean build but are generally well muscled. Their tails should be docked to roughly forty percent of the normal full length.

How They Grow 

German Shorthairs are large dogs and grow at a fairly rapid pace. For adult dogs, height usually ranges from 21 to 25 inches from the ground to the highest point of the shoulders and weight usually ranges between 45 and 70 pounds. While you don’t want them to grow too fast it’s important to keep them well fed as they tend to run lean.

How They Hunt

A good hunting German Shorthair exhibits excellent speed and natural hunting instincts and will range and hunt within a comfortable shooting distance from the hunter. They work well with other dogs in the field and should point and honor instinctively. They’re very versatile and probably the most popular choice for the serious upland hunting enthusiast. In warm to moderate temperatures they’ll hunt enthusiastically on both land and water although they’re not particularly fond of very cold water in the coldest weather.

How They Behave

The German Shorthair is normally energetic, smart and eager to please. With a natural prey drive and a strong desire to hunt they still tend to be very social. They’re very loyal and make excellent family and hunting companions provided they’re kept active.

What To Feed

Hunting GSPs are more likely to struggle to maintain weight than become overweight. We generally recommend starting on the Power 30K formula and possibly switching to the Ultra 32K formula if your dog really struggles to maintain weight during heavy training, hunting or competition.