German Shorthaired Pointer

Coat and looks how to spot one

short, dense and harsh

A tight, short coat that feels rough and firm under the hand, finer and shorter on the head and ears. The body is lean, athletic and free of exaggeration, built for stamina and speed, with a clean head, a firmly carried tail and large, round feet with webbing between the toes for work in water.536

Personality what they are like

An upbeat, keen and affectionate dog that loves being part of the family. It is steady and dependable, neither timid nor sharp, and usually gets on well with children and other dogs. Bright and willing to learn, it responds well to positive training. Its strong hunting drive means early supervision around small pets is sensible.5347

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Very high. The Royal Kennel Club suggests more than two hours of exercise a day. Running, hiking, swimming, retrieving games and field sports such as pointing and tracking work suit it best.647

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Low grooming effort: a weekly brush with a rubber mitt or bristle brush keeps the short coat tidy and cuts down loose hair. Regular nail trims and checking the ears and feet after outdoor outings are good routine care.64

Home where they are happiest

Happiest in a house with a large, secure garden and easy access to open space, and best suited to country life or a very active owner.6

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A complete, good-quality dog food for large, active breeds, matched to life stage, with portions adjusted to how much the dog is working or exercising.4

Company who they like around

Very people-focused and forms close bonds with its family. It usually enjoys the company of other dogs and does not like being left alone for long periods without activity.43

The story where it all began

Pointing dogs that froze to show hidden birds were used across Europe for centuries, first with nets and later with guns. In 19th-century Germany, hunters set out to create one national short-coated dog that could find, point and retrieve both feathered and furred game on land and in water. They built on the old Spanish pointer and heavier German pointing dogs, bringing in scenthound blood for nose and English Pointer crosses from the 1860s for speed and style. Prince Albrecht zu Solms-Braunfels was a leading figure in shaping the breed, and the Deutsch Kurzhaar studbook has been kept since 1897. Dr Charles Thornton of Montana imported the first dogs to the USA in the 1920s, and the first documented American litter was born on 4 July 1925. The AKC admitted the breed to its studbook in 1930 and the FCI accepted it definitively in 1954. Today it is one of the most popular versatile gundogs in the world and a lively family companion.58326

Recognised by the official bits

FCI

Standard No. 119 (as Deutsch Kurzhaar / German Short-haired Pointing Dog), Group 7 (Pointing Dogs), Section 1.1 (Continental pointing dogs, Braque type), working trial; definitive acceptance 1 Jan 1954; current standard published 25 Oct 20001

AKC

Admitted to the AKC Stud Book March 1930; recognised in the Sporting Group 1935; ranked 9th most registered breed in 20258

UKC

Gun Dog Group; recognised 19483

The Royal Kennel Club

Gundog Group (Hunt, Point and Retrieve breed)6

Popularity Ranked 9th of AKC-registered breeds in 2025.12