A nosy German Shorthaired Pointer gets filmed and can’t quite figure out the video camera in his snout.

What is hip dysplasia? It is actually one of the worst canine diseases that can affect a lot of breeds including the German Shorthaired Pointer. Why does this disease occur? It is possible that it is related to more than one genetic problem. It is also possible that something in the dogs environment is responsible for the disease. Some of the environmental factors could be growth rate, type of exercise, nutritional factors. Although the German Shorthaired Pointer can have a predisposition for hip dysplasia, the disease may not be triggered without just the right combination of environmental factors.

Our original question was: what is hip dysplasia? We need to know something about the hip joint which is where the hind legs are attached to the canine hip. It is like a human hip joint which is called a ball and socket joint. The head of the femur (thigh bone) is the ball part of the joint while fits into an indented space in the pelvic bone (socket part). There are muscles and ligaments attached in a way that the ball and socket joint has appropriate movement capability. If there are problems such as loose ligaments or poor muscles and the smooth joint movement is compromised, the German Shorthaired Pointer can develop very painful arthritis. Hip dysplasia can occur unilaterally or bilaterally in the canine. There can be any number of issues that are involved, such as problems with either the ball section or the socket section of the joint or with the entire joint.

When the German Shorthaired Pointer is born, the hip joint is more than likely normal and appropriately functional for movement. If you recall, possible triggering factors were discussed above and it is probable that if the dog is exposed to one or more of these triggers, the abnormalities in the joint(s) can begin to affect the surrounding structures which then stretch so that the contact between ball and socket becomes abnormal. It can occur that walking will eventually become impossible. Although some puppies are diagnosed with hip dysplasia, it typically is diagnosed in canine adulthood. The dog owner will observe that the dog’s gait is changing; leg extension is decreasing; difficulty managing stairs will be noted and the GSP may seem to be in pain. The pain and accompanying movement disorder may result in an inability to walk. Hip dysplasia is really a miserable disease both for the GSP and the owner alike.

Many people are diagnosed as being “hypothyroid.” Although this disease is rare with the feline population, it can occur quite frequently with canines and the German Shorthaired Pointer is one of the breeds that can develop this metabolic disorder. The thyroid is an extremely important gland in the body which is double lobed and located on either side of the trachea (windpipe). The thyroid secretes a hormone that is responsible for regulating the body’s metabolic rate. If the thyroid isn’t producing enough thyroid hormone, the dog can become “hypothyroid” and this will slow the metabolic rate of the German Shorthaired Pointer. This is not a good thing to have happen to your dog.

The immune system of the dog is significantly involved with the development of hypothyroidism because this system doesn’t work properly and negatively affects the thyroid tissue and kills thyroid cells. At first, the German Shorthaired Pointer’s body retaliates by oversecreting thyroid hormone but the dog’s body will be unable to continue doing so and the lack of sufficient thyroid hormone results in the development of hypothyroidism. The scientific jury is still out on the exact reason for this particular autoimmune disorder, but believe in a genetic predisposition and possible contributory factors of allergies and possibly environmental pollutants.

Some of the symptoms that should result in a vet visit for your German Shorthaired Pointer include lethargy, little food consumption with weight gain. If you notice that your dog doesn’t seem to want to play, sleeps a lot, gets tired more easily when engaging in usual activities please see the vet for examination. If the GSP has hypothyroidism , the dog might also be prone to dry skin, bacterial skin infection, hair loss. The dog’s tolerance for temperature changes particularly colder temperatures may decrease. Some affected animals can end up with chronic ear infections and possibly negative behavior changes which will be easily observed by the astute owner.

When you take your GSP for examination, you will review the obvious symptoms and/or behavior and mood changes with your vet. The vet will draw blood for the test that can determine the level of thyroid hormone in your pet’s blood. If the results of the blood test indicate that your GSP is secreting a less than normal amount of thyroid hormone and is diagnosed with hypothyroidism, the vet will most likely prescribe a synthetic thyroid hormone which your dog will most likely need to continue for the rest of its life. This medication should resolve the problem and you should observe an increase in energy, and more positive mood and behavior changes.

At the present time, the public is used to dogs that are trained to do many jobs like being watchdogs, therapy dogs, show dogs and other things. The German Shorthaired Pointer is one such breed. However, back in the 19th century, the “hunting dog” was looked at as part of a nobleman’s wealth. Actually, in Europe at that time, since the wealthy owned most of the land, it was believed that only the wealthy could hunt with dogs. Some of the upper class even had different dogs for different hunting jobs like tracking, pointers to point out prey and retrievers to bring back the prey. When the industrial revolution took place, the middle class came into existence and liked the idea of hunting as sport. However, this class of people didn’t have the financial resources to pay for a lot of hunting dogs for their hunting parties. For this reason, the need arose for hunting dog that could perform all the tasks needed by a hunter. There were German hunters who began to experiment with breeding the “all purpose” hunting dog and the German Shorthaired Pointer was the end result.

Right now the GSP is considered the most versatile hunter one can own. This breed can find a range of game from the tiniest animal to a large deer or bear. This dog points, sets, can hold the game. The breed also retrieves extremely well on a variety of terrain, including land, mud, snow, and water. The webbed feet of the German Shorthaired Pointer considerably help the animal function beautifully just about anywhere. This breed also possesses a great nose and tracks very well because of the characteristics of the dog breeds that resulted in the German Shorthaired Pointer. This breed of dog takes very little training for its role as a master hunter because of all the inborn features related to its ancestors from Europe.

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a dog that is instinctually a hunter. Since the duties of a hunting dog are quite physical, this is a breed of dog that will require a lot of exercise and perhaps other activities that will provide outlets for its energy needs. Of course, many owners of German Shorthaired Pointers are not hunting dogs. If you are an owner, but not a hunter, it would be important to find these alternative outlets such as obedience trialing, competition, and agility training could be considered.

Video of Xena the German shorthaired pointer bird dog making Chewbacca sounds and doing tricks.

Dog picture taken by Alexandra Roberts.

This is my dog Adenine, a German Shorthaired Pointer, making a nest in his dog bed. He is trying to flatten it out by walking over it and pawing at it. He is about 11 months old in this video.

German shorthaired pointer from Finland

The German Shorthaired Pointer has a short thick coat that is predominately liver in colour, either solid liver, liver and white, liver patches/liver roan. In some countries their tails are docked, but this practice is now illegal in most countries. They have slightly long ears that lie flat and close to the head. They can stand up to 23 to 25 inches tall and weigh between 55 and 70 lbs. they are well proportioned dog with a broad and rounded skull, they have a slight stop and brown open nose. They have almond shaped eyes and compact feet that are webbed, their fur is rough to the touch but softer on their ears and head. They are streamlined dogs, powerful and are able to move and turn rapidly.

History: The German Shorthaired Pointer was bred to be an excellent Hunter as well as a good family companion. It is thought to descend from many German dogs including hunting dog, scent hounds and tracking dogs. They’re an all-purpose dog with an excellent nose and can be used as either a retriever or a gundog both in the field, and in water. They were officially recognized by the AKC in 1930. As well as hunting, this dog has been known to be used in Scandinavia as a sled dog for dogsled racing. Although not much is known about its history, it is thought to have been descended from the old Spanish Pointer and to have come to Germany in the 1600s, however no records were kept until the first studbook in 1870.

Temperament: The German Shorthaired Pointer is extremely energetic breed, they are eager to please and will love their family. They are a faithful dog who tend to have a happy air around them. They do need lots of exercise, and if they do not receive the amount they need they can become highly strung and very frustrated. They enjoy constructive activities, and they need an order and structure to their life. They need a calm yet firm owner, who the dog must know is in charge, without leadership these dogs can become nervous and destructive. They do not cope well with being kept in a kennel, but love nothing more than doing what they were bred to do, which is to hunt.

Health Issues: Overall a very healthy breed, but like many dogs they are prone to hip dysplasia and they can also suffer from epilepsy and genetic eye diseases. They can also get cancerous lesions in their mouth or on the skin in other areas of their body, and similar to other breeds the German Shorthaired Pointer females are prone to breast cancer if they are un-spayed. As with all hunting dogs, they are prone to the spread of fungi and bacteria through contact with the game, this can easily cause infections in their mouth or any open wounds or small cuts. Their life expectancy is 12 to 14 years, though it is not unheard of individual dogs to live up to 18 years.

Grooming: The German Shorthaired Pointers are generally very clean breed so only occasional brushing is required. They are minimal shedders, and normally only shed once a year. They should only be bathed when needed, for example if they are covered in mud.

Living Conditions: The German Shorthaired Pointer is not recommended for apartment life, they are a very active dog and would do best with a large garden. They are also best suited to an active family who can give them the amount of exercise they require. If under exercised they have been known become escape artists, being able to jump fences up to 6 foot high. They are tireless animals and on occasion can be more than a match for even the most active people, however if their exercise needs are not met they can become restless and destructive.

What is it that breeders are thinking when they breed German Shorthaired Pointers? It is possible that they could be considering the most handsome or beautiful dog ever to grace their kennels. On the other hand, some breeders might be considering the tasks that this particular breed may be required to do. Therefore, breeders may try to capitalize on either form (beauty), function (job) or both. At times, the importance of these two factors have been seriously debated. Many breeders started focusing on the appearance of the German Shorthaired Pointer, then gravitated to recognizing the importance of the breed’s function as a hunter. Both form and function involve the coat of the German Shorthaired Pointer, not only for its looks, but also the contribution of the coat to the hunting function. At present, it seems that breeders are in more agreement that both the form and the function of the German Shorthaired Pointer are important when breeding the dogs.

There are numerous color combinations in the German Shorthaired Pointer. If an owner wants to “show” the dog, the dog’s coat must be liver or liver and white in color if it is entered in specific dog breed conformation trials. However, some dogs of this breed may be or include orange, lemon, roan , red or black. The head is usually a solid color while the body may by speckled or patched with colors. The dogs of other coloring can enter other “show” competition events. No matter the color, the short, flat coat of the German Shorthaired Pointer is important for obedience trials.

The visible coat of the German Shorthaired Pointer is rough while the undercoat is more dense to provide protection from the weather extremes of heat and cold in which the dog may need to function. The rougher overcoat provides a kind of raincoat for the dog. Essentially the texture of the dog’s coat is very helpful in rugged winter weather. It is possible that the coat of the German Shorthaired Pointer is its most important feature because the dogs might have to work in geographic areas that are wickedly cold. In essence, the German Shorthaired Pointer has to be able to work in the bitter cold and to be able to work in the water. Therefore, the short, but dense and thick coat is assists with both aspects of function. This breed can function in the water, on land, and in very cold weather.

Dog picture taken by Thruhike98.

This is my dog Adenine, a German Shorthaired Pointer, trying to get a squirrel through a glass window. He is about 10 months old in this video.

My genius dog, Oreo, escaped out of her room.

Our little sleepy Stella

Dog picture taken by rorowe8.

Rachael the GSP runs clean at Tamsu Learning Centre in Ontario, Canada in the spring of 2007.

Earlier, the German Shorthaired Pointer’s tail had to be docked but from 1989 onwards the tail docking was banned. However, with tail injuries becoming a common thing, the Swedish German Pointer Club decided to get deeper into the matter.

It was found out that out of an odd 300 dogs, 81 suffered from tail injuries, which meant 27% of these dogs were affected. The male dogs are always more affected than the female of the species.

The tail injuries occurred mostly during hunting and the sledding dogs got injured whilst they were being trained.

The kinds of tail injuries that have occurred in the last few years are more or less of the same type, for example:

* Inflamed and infected tails.
* Lameness injuries and water tails
* Bleeding and damaged tail tips
* Broken tails

There were cases when the tail injuries had been so severe that nothing but amputation could save the dog from further harm.

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a heavyset dog with the ability to run fast even on rough terrains.

However, this dog was allowed to be amputated only till the 31st of December 1988, after which docking of the tails had been banned in Sweden.

In the autumn of 1990, 27% of the dogs aged between 1-1.5 yrs suffered from tail injuries and another year later, every third German Pointer had a tail injury and the causes were broken tails and swollen or wounded and bleeding tips that refused to heal.

The occurrence of tail injuries increased until 1991. The severity of the tail injuries is directly proportional to the liveliness of the dogs, the type of terrain they worked in and how much the dogs worked.

These were the observations with regard to the injuries:

* The more the dog is used for difficult work, like the German Pointer, which is used for hunting.
* The more lively and abrupt the dog, the male of the species being more prone to getting hurt.
* The more difficult the terrain the dog works in.

However, it has been decided upon, that docking the tails of these dogs, soon after their birth is now an absolute necessity.

The German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) was developed at the turn of the nineteenth century in Germany solely for the purpose of hunting. It is believe that there were quite a few dogs that went into creating this unique breed some of which include some German breeds such as the schweisshund, a German hound known for tracking, the Foxhound, different French hounds, assorted Scandinavian breeds, the German Bird Dog, and the Italian Pointer.

This breed is known for its ability to move quickly and with great strength. This is due to his very strong back legs that give him the ability to move rapidly and turn quickly if needed. His muzzle allows him to retrieve heavier game than most of the retrievers because it is strong and broad.

The German Shorthaired Pointer’s coat is water resistant due to his undercoat that is protected by guard hairs that are stiff. This also allows him to stay warm in even the coldest of weather. His color can vary, but is usually a dark brown, known as liver, black or both liver and black with some white mixed in. This mixed, darker coloring can make this breed harder to see in the winter seasons: a perfect dog for hunting without getting easily caught. When he is standing in snow and next to dead trees and shrubs, his white and brown coat camouflage him well.

The German Shorthaired Pointer can stand anywhere between twenty-one and twenty-five inches tall, categorizing him as a medium breed. Adults typically weigh anywhere from forty-five to seventy pounds and the female Pointer is usually a little bit shorter and slightly lighter than the male.

Although this gentle, obedient breed makes a great household pet, he needs to be trained at times to be affectionate and not “always on the hunt”. They are also very intelligent and bold. Generally speaking they are easy to train, but need a lot of attention as they can be easily distracted due to their superior scent ability. They have a tendency toward being stubborn, so early training is a necessity.

Inherently, they are bred to hunt, so the ability to get much exercise and keep a high activity level is very important. He needs constant jobs to do due to his intense activity level. For everyday family life and having a GSP as a pet, this breed is recommended to be a friendly, fun and loyal addition to the family, who tend to be protective of young children. However, great care must be taken around young children because of their high energy and activity level.

If the German Shorthaired Pointer seems like they are hyperactive or very destructive, it is probably due to a lack of correct training or a lack of plenty of exercise. This breed develops very strong attachments and bondings with their owners and the families they are with. However, if they do not receive the correct amount of exercise, they will take it upon themselves to be sure that they do and thus have a potentially destructive tendency.

As the GSP is a large, active breed, the dogs can require quite a bit of food; however, they can also become obese if fed too much for individual activity levels. A healthy weight is that the last two ribs should be able to be felt under the coat and the dog should have a distinct and defined waist. Recommended feeding for the German Short haired Pointer is one and a half to two and a half cans of high-quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal parts or five cupfuls of a complete, dry dog food.

Our GSP when she was only a few months old

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a human family oriented and hunter dog. They need quite a bit of exercise and are just as willing to hunt as they are to play games in the yard. They can tend to roam and they are known as escape artists so a properly fenced in yard for exercise is ideal. Some say that a six foot or higher fence is necessary. They can tend to be noisy dogs. They may chase cats and other pets so early socialization is key. They like older children. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.

Approximate Adult Size

The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the German Shorthaired Pointer male is 23 to 25 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 55 to 70 pounds. The female ranges from 21 to 23 inches to the withers and 45 to 60 pounds.

Special Health Considerations

Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the German Shorthaired Pointer is no exception. Be on the look out for Canine Hip Dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness), epilepsy (common in dogs), and Entropion, (hereditary disorder where eyelid, usually lower one, rolls inward and irritates the cornea and can cause visual problems. Surgery can correct this condition but may disqualify the dog from shows). This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.

She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.

Grooming

The German Shorthaired Pointer has a tough, short and thick coat. She should be brushed regularly. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat and help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.

Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.

Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.

Her ears should be checked once a week and be kept clean. If you have her professionally groomed, make sure ear cleaning and inspection is part of the package. No water or excess fluid should get in the dogs ears, and do not try to irrigate the ears. Ear cleaning is too complicated and critical to instruct here. Look for hair growing in the ear canal, excess wax, or moisture. If her ears have a discharge, foul odor or she seems to be in distress and you suspect an infection, or tumor, consult your veterinarian.

Life Span

The German Shorthaired Pointer can live between 14 and 16 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

History

The German Shorthaired Pointer comes from Germany where they were bred as hunting dogs. They may be a cross between the Bloodhound, Old Spanish Pointer, Hounds of St. Hubert and the German Pointer. They came to the United States in 1925. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1930.