German Shorthaired Pointer breed guide

German Shorthaired Pointers make happy, trainable pets that bond firmly with their families. AKC says they are known for power, speed, agility and endurance. Noble and aristocratic are words often used for their look.

An intelligent breed, it learns quickly with consistent sessions, but German Shorthaired Pointers need a purpose. AKC warns that without one they turn to trouble.

German Shorthaired Pointers live 10 to 12 years. AKC says breeders screen for hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and certain heart diseases.

German Shorthaired Pointers can also be affected by bloat, a life-threatening condition in which the stomach suddenly distends and often twists, so owners should learn the signs.

The coat is easy to groom most of the year, needing only a good once-over with a brush or grooming glove every few days, though it sheds despite being short, especially at certain times of year, when more frequent brushing is needed.

German Shorthaired Pointers do best with plenty of exercise and things to do, such as running, swimming and dog sports. AKC says their routine should ideally include ample physical activity twice a day.

German hunters spent generations crossing various breeds until they perfected this versatile bird dog sometime in the 1800s and German Shorthaired Pointers remain among the top-winning breeds in competitive hunting events.

The German bird-dog tradition dates to at least the 1700s, when master breeders experimented with tracking hound and pointing dog crosses and a key player in the breed's early development was a nobleman, Prince Albrecht zu Solms-Braunfels.