Dogs are wonderful companions to have in different stages of life; finding one to suit your personality and lifestyle would be ideal so you can have a best friend for life. There are so many different breeds of dogs to choose from with other characters; there is one for you.
German Short Haired Pointers (GPS’s) are friendly, loyal dogs who love to go on adventures and make a bit of noise. German Short Haired Pointers are high-energy, very athletic dogs, making excellent first dogs for active families who can handle some shenanigans.
If you and your fantastic family are active and enjoy the quirks of life, getting a German Short Haired Pointer may be the perfect choice for you. As with any big decision, there are things that you would need to know before you can fully commit.
Are German Shorthaired Pointers Good First Dogs?
German Short Haired Pointers are descendants of the German Bird Dog, and since they were initially bred for hunting, they are extremely loyal dogs and make excellent companions. They help in hunts by finding the prey, pointing them out, hence the “pointer” in their name.
They use their bodies to form sort of an arrow to “point” out the prey. If they were well trained, they would retrieve the target once successfully hunted; just think how great these dogs would be in a game of fetch! Like some other bird and hunting dogs, the German Short Haired Pointer is pretty fond of water.
These dogs are extraordinary pets and will love you with their whole lives, but there are things you would need to do from your side, including ensuring that the dog gets enough exercise and gets mentally stimulated. If a GPS is cooped up inside the house all day, you can’t blame them for destroying some furniture.
German Short Haired Pointers would be best suited to have ample yard space and plenty of toys. There are several exciting toys available on the market that would stimulate the brain of your dog. Some of these are puzzle toys where the dog needs to solve the puzzle of where the treat is, and when they do, they get the treat.
Are German Shorthaired Pointers Good With Kids?
German Short Haired Pointers are amazing all-around dogs; however, it would be best not to have them around young children. Children under school-going age, that is, since these dogs can be a bit on the wild side when they get excited, could lead to some unpleasant situations if there are small kids around.
Older kids would know to move out the way if the pointer has got “zoomies” as to not to be run over by a 50-pound ball of barking energy. Older kids would also be wise enough not to bother the dog while it is eating or take away a toy that it is territorial of.
How To Groom A German Shorthaired Pointer
German Short Haired Pointers shed right through the year. It would be in your best interest to have your dog groomed at least once every two months, although once a month might make everyone’s lives a little bit easier. It would be ideal to brush your German Short-Haired Pointer weekly to remove excess hairs, maintain a healthy coat, and decrease shedding.
It is also essential to have their nails trimmed and clipped, their ears cleaned, and their anal glands checked; you can have all this done at their monthly or bi-monthly grooming appointments. Find yourself a groomer that you trust, and you’re set for life; there are even some mobile groomers that make it so much more convenient.
German Shorthaired Pointer Health Issues
These fantastic dogs have an average lifespan of 10 to 14 years; it never seems long enough no matter how long our dogs are with us. There are some health issues, a few which could be pretty serious, that German Short Haired Pointers risk getting. These issues include things like hip dysplasia and ectropion.
These dogs risk having either ectropion or entropion, which are both disorders involving the eyelids. If your dog has ectropion, that means that your dog has a droopy eye(s). This condition may come about because of genetics but may also start after nerve damage causing trauma to your dog’s face.
Other issues your German Short Haired pointer may face are gastric torsion which is when the stomach twists because it has filled with fluid or gas, the stomach expands, causing there to be no space for the organs, so the stomach twists. This condition is commonly called “bloat,” A vet would have to fix this with surgery.
Are German Shorthaired Pointers Good With Other Dogs?
German Short Haired Pointers are generally good with other dogs; they are better with animals they grew up with from a young age. If you introduce a GPS puppy to an older dog of any breed, they will make great friends, given the older dog likes making new friends.
German Short Haired pointers may experience food aggression, and if this is not adequately trained out of them come dinner time, there might be some issues. If your dog has food aggression and you could not teach them out of it, you may need to feed your animals in separate rooms to keep the peace.
Conclusion
German Short Haired Pointers are loyal, loving dogs who would make excellent first pets. If you are an active individual or part of a family with older kids, then adopting a German Short Haired Pointer is the right call for you. They are loving and loyal creatures who love adventure and water!
They are good with other dogs, even more so if they grew up together. If they experience food aggression and it wasn’t trained out of them, they should be fed separately. They have some minor health issues but a generally long life span and easy to maintain coat. They are fantastic first pets to the right family.
References
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/eyes/c_dg_ectropion
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/c_dg_german_shorthaired_pointer
- https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/german-shorthaired-pointer
- https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/german-shorthaired-pointer-facts/#:~:text=German%20Shorthaired%20Pointers%20make%20great,a%20handful%20for%20small%20children&text=The%20GSP%20is%20a%20very,households%20with%20children%20under%20seven.
- https://pheasantsforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Pheasants-Forever/Breed-Profile-German-Shorthaired-Pointer.aspx
- https://gearjunkie.com/outdoor/hunt-fish/german-shorthaired-pointer
- https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/dog-breeds/german-shorthaired-pointer