German Shorthaired Pointer

Breed overview

The German Shorthaired Pointer or Deutsch Kurzhaar is a German breed of continental pointing dog of Braque type. It originated in the nineteenth century in what is now Germany. It is of medium size, and is an all-purpose gun dog suitable for hunting and retrieving on both land and water. It may also be kept as a companion dog.

• Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
• Country of origin: GermanyBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

• The pointing dog breeds of Europe all derive from the now-extinct Old Spanish Pointer, which spread through France and the Low Countries and reached the princely houses of the German-speaking world, where at first they were used in bird-hunting with nets or falcons, and later by huntsmen with guns.
• Bird dogs were also brought from England; , in his Aufrichtiger Lehrprinz of 1751, describes these as taller and stronger than the local type.
• In the nineteenth century large numbers of dogs of Burgos Pointing Dog type were brought to Germany.
• In the early part of that century, the resulting mixed population had no specific name - the dogs were called Hühnerhunde ('bird dogs') or Jagdhunde ('hunting dogs').
• In 1878, at the annual dog show of the Verein zur Veredelung der Hunderassen in Frankfurt am Main, it was agreed that breed standards for German dogs would be established at the show to be held in Hannover in 1879; standards for both the Deutsch Kurzhaar and the Deutsch Langhaar were introduced in that year.

Size and appearance

The German Shorthaired Pointer is of medium size: dogs stand some 62 - 66 cm at the withers, bitches some 3 or 4 cm less. The coat is dense, short and rough-textured. It may be either brown or black, in any of three patterns: the solid-coloured, either with or without small flecks of white on the chest and legs; the white, with coloured head and coloured flecks or patches on the body; and the roan, either dark - in which coloured hairs predominate over white - or light, in which there are more white than coloured hairs. The head is of moderate size, with a convex profile and a long, broad, and strong muzzle suitable for carrying game; the eyes are brown, the ears are rounded and set on high, and hang close to the head. Where not prohibited, the tail of a working dog may be docked to about half its length; it is carried roughly horizontally when the dog is moving and hangs down when it is at rest.

• Height reference: Up to 63 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum.
• Height reference: 58 cm or moreBreed reference height. female, minimum.
• Height reference: 62 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum.
• Height reference: Up to 66 cmBreed reference height. male, maximum.

• Coat length: short
• Height category: tall

Personality and behavior

Care planning: record what your dog enjoys, how they greet visitors, and how they respond to new places. Add notes after walks and training so you can see their habits over time. Where this profile includes behavior research, use the same named measures when comparing your shortlist.

• Attachment and attention seeking (C-BARQ mean): 2.04 / 4Owner-reported attachment and attention seeking factor mean for US reference population German Shorthaired Pointer.
• Chasing (C-BARQ mean): 2.56 / 4Owner-reported chasing factor mean for US reference population German Shorthaired Pointer.
• Dog-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.66 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population German Shorthaired Pointer.
• Dog-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.61 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed fear factor mean for US reference population German Shorthaired Pointer.
• Energy (C-BARQ mean): 2.71 / 4Owner-reported energy factor mean for US reference population German Shorthaired Pointer.
• Excitability (C-BARQ mean): 2.26 / 4Owner-reported excitability factor mean for US reference population German Shorthaired Pointer.
• Familiar-dog aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.45 / 4Owner-reported familiar-dog aggression factor mean for US reference population German Shorthaired Pointer.
• Non-social fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.69 / 4Owner-reported non-social fear factor mean for US reference population German Shorthaired Pointer.
• Owner-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.07 / 4Owner-reported owner-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population German Shorthaired Pointer.
• Separation-related problems (C-BARQ mean): 0.66 / 4Owner-reported separation-related problems factor mean for US reference population German Shorthaired Pointer.
• Stranger-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.41 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population German Shorthaired Pointer.
• Stranger-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.43 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed fear factor mean for US reference population German Shorthaired Pointer.
• Touch sensitivity (C-BARQ mean): 0.81 / 4Owner-reported touch sensitivity factor mean for US reference population German Shorthaired Pointer.
• Trainability (C-BARQ mean): 2.75 / 4Owner-reported trainability factor mean for US reference population German Shorthaired Pointer.

Exercise and activities

The German Shorthaired Pointer was bred to be a versatile all-round gun dog. It is capable of working in all weathers, on all terrains and in all types of cover; of finding and pointing to game, whether feathered or furred; of retrieving gently both in water and on land; of following a blood trail to find wounded game; and of defending against poachers and predators. Registration is subject to successful completion of a working trial. In addition to hunting and field trials, German Shorthaired Pointer performs well in many dog sports such as agility, dock diving, and obedience. German Shorthaired Pointers are also used in law enforcement for nosework, such as the detection of illicit substances.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

• Coat length: short

Health and lifespan

Care planning: keep your dog's veterinary records, health-check dates and agreed care plan together. Add reminders for appointments and record changes you want to discuss at the next visit. Use the linked breed organizations and original references to explore their current health resources.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

Compare breeds

Compare supported adult height and weight ranges, matching research measures and sourced coat and care categories.

Breed history

The pointing dog breeds of Europe all derive from the now-extinct Old Spanish Pointer, which spread through France and the Low Countries and reached the princely houses of the German-speaking world, where at first they were used in bird-hunting with nets or falcons, and later by huntsmen with guns. Bird dogs were also brought from England; , in his Aufrichtiger Lehrprinz of 1751, describes these as taller and stronger than the local type. In the nineteenth century large numbers of dogs of Burgos Pointing Dog type were brought to Germany. In the early part of that century, the resulting mixed population had no specific name - the dogs were called Hühnerhunde ('bird dogs') or Jagdhunde ('hunting dogs'). In 1878, at the annual dog show of the Verein zur Veredelung der Hunderassen in Frankfurt am Main, it was agreed that breed standards for German dogs would be established at the show to be held in Hannover in 1879; standards for both the Deutsch Kurzhaar and the Deutsch Langhaar were introduced in that year. The first stud-book for the Kurzhaar was published in 1897.

Clubs and further reading

• German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America
• German Shorthaired Pointer - article and references

Sources

1. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
2. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
3. File:Duitse staande korthaar 10-10-2.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Duitse staande korthaar 10-10-2.jpg - Bonnie van den Born, http://www.bonfoto.nl. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duitse_staande_korthaar_10-10-2.jpg. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
4. German Shorthaired Pointer - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, German Shorthaired Pointer, revision 1377205096. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_Shorthaired_Pointer&action=history
5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.