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German Shorthaired Pointer: gear and buying guides

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a versatile pointing dog of 25 to 32 kg, athletic, affectionate and blessed with almost inexhaustible energy. Without one to two hours of intense daily exercise it paces and destroys; the gear must keep up with its athletic pace. Its short coat simplifies grooming but leaves it sensitive to cold.

Profile : Large dog, 53 to 66 cm and 25 to 32 kg, short dense coat, very high energy.

See it in the Planète Pets shop: Microfibre drying robe for dogs (€25.90) · the whole shop

See it in the Planète Pets shop: Folding wire dog crate 24 in (61 cm), single door, with tray ($62.90, ships from the US) · the US shop

We don’t ship products to your country yet; our practical guide downloads anywhere: Raising Your Puppy: The First Six Months (€19)

Species profile

Lifespan

12 to 14 years

Adult weight

25 to 32 kg

Size

53 to 66 cm

Temperament

A versatile pointing dog, affectionate and blessed with almost inexhaustible energy.

Health watch

gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat) · hip dysplasia

🩺 This health information is general in nature and does not replace a consultation: at the slightest doubt about your animal’s condition, talk to your vet.

German Shorthaired Pointer gear, family by family

• 🍖 Food

  An athlete with a fast metabolism, it needs around 300 to 450 g of protein-rich kibble per day, more during hunting or sport season. With its deep chest, split food into two meals and enforce an hour of rest before and after exercise to reduce the risk of bloat.

• 🧴 Care & grooming

  Its short coat only needs a weekly grooming mitt, though it sheds more than you would expect. Systematically check the drop ears, pads and armpits after every outing in brush: grass seeds and ticks are routine for this field dog.

• 🎾 Toys & enrichment

  Retrieving is its bliss: balls, training dummies and water games channel its hunting instinct. Add nose work (dummy searches, mantrailing): tiring its brain matters as much as tiring its legs.

• 🏠 Bedding & habitat

  After exercise, this short-coated dog seeks warmth: a plush size L bed, or even a blanket to burrow under, is quickly adopted. A garden fenced to at least 1.80 m is a must, as this athletic jumper clears low fences when game beckons.

• 🧳 Travel & safety

  A regular traveler to hunting grounds and sport fields, it is best transported in a rigid size L crate, safer and easier to clean after a muddy outing. On walks, its pointing and chasing instinct demands serious recall training, backed by a long line in the early years.

• 🧰 Accessories

  Kit it out like an athlete: a canicross or pulling harness (35 to 60 euros), a 10 m long line, a recall whistle and a high-visibility vest during hunting season. In winter, a waterproof coat protects the short coat, which insulates poorly in cold rain.

Guides to read

• No-pull front-clip harness for dogs: what does the science actually show?Accessories

  Front-clip no-pull harness for dogs: what a recent study measured on pulling force, compared with a plain collar and a prong-style collar.

• Why does my dog eat grass? What the research actually saysCare & grooming

  Dog eating grass: what two studies show about how common the behavior is, its link with vomiting, and the cases that should raise concern.

• Reflective vest vs light-up collar for dogs: what's the real difference?Accessories

  Dog visibility at night: what pedestrian-conspicuity research reveals about the real gap between a reflective vest and a light-up collar.

• Anxious dog in the car: motion sickness or real fear of the ride?Travel & safety

  Dog car travel anxiety: what a veterinary study shows about the signs of travel-related problems and the factors that explain them best.

• BARF raw diet for dogs: what are the real benefits, what are the real risks?Food

  Raw BARF diet for dogs: what studies actually show about the claimed benefits, bacterial risk, and real nutritional balance.

• Separation anxiety in dogs: what does research show, what actually helps?Care & grooming

  Dog separation anxiety: what a veterinary study reveals about how common it is, its risk factors, and the solutions that actually work.

• Mental activities for dogs in winter: which indoor games actually work?Toys & enrichment

  Winter mental enrichment for dogs: what a study shows about scent games and indoor activities that make up for shorter walks.

• Microchip or tattoo: which ID actually gets a lost dog home?Travel & safety

  Dog identification: what a study shows about return-to-owner rates depending on whether the dog is microchipped or not.