German Shorthaired Pointer
Did you know?
- The German Shorthaired Pointer was first admitted into the
AKC Stud Book in March 1930.
- The first AKC Licensed Specialty Show for the breed was held
in Chicago on March 29-30, 1941 at the International Kennel
Club Show.
- German Shorthaired Pointers are versatile hunters and all-purpose
gun dogs.
So you want to own a German Shorthaired Pointer?
A German Shorthaired Pointer is a hardy dog who makes a great
companion in the field or the home.
The German Shorthaired Pointer needs exercise, which makes him
better suited for families who live in the country.
The German Shorthaired Pointer is an affectionate breed who loves
his home and family.
Breed Standard
General Appearance
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a versatile hunter, an all-purpose
gun dog capable of high performance in field and water. The judgement
of Shorthairs in the show ring reflects this basic characteristic.
The overall picture which is created in the observer's eye is
that of an aristocratic, well balanced, symmetrical animal with
conformation indicating power, endurance and agility and a look
of intelligence and animation. The dog is neither unduly small
nor conspicuously large. It gives the impression of medium size,
but is like the proper hunter, "with a short back, but standing
over plenty of ground." Symmetry and field quality are most
essential. A dog in hard and lean field condition is not to be
penalized; however, overly fat or poorly muscled dogs are to be
penalized. A dog well balanced in all points is preferable to
one with outstanding good qualities and defects. Grace of outline,
clean-cut head, sloping shoulders, deep chest, powerful back,
strong quarters, good bone composition, adequate muscle, well
carried tail and taut coat produce a look of nobility and indicate
a heritage of purposefully conducted breeding. Further evidence
of this heritage is movement which is balanced, alertly coordinated
and without wasted motion.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size--height of dogs, measured at the withers, 23 to 25 inches.
Height of bitches, measured at the withers, 21 to 23 inches. Deviations
of one inch above or below the described heights are to be severely
penalized. Weight of dogs 55 to 70 pounds. Weight of bitches 45
to 60 pounds. Proportion--measuring from the forechest to the
rearmost projection of the rump and from the withers to the ground,
the Shorthair is permissibly either square or slightly longer
than he is tall. Substance--thin and fine bones are by no means
desirable in a dog which must possess strength and be able to
work over any type of terrain. The main importance is not laid
so much on the size of bone, but rather on the bone being in proper
proportion to the body. Bone structure too heavy or too light
is a fault. Tall and leggy dogs, dogs which are ponderous because
of excess substance, doggy bitches, and bitchy dogs are to be
faulted.
Head
The head is clean-cut, is neither too light nor too heavy, and
is in proper proportion to the body. The eyes are of medium size,
full of intelligence and expression, good-humored and yet radiating
energy, neither protruding nor sunken. The eye is almond shaped,
not circular. The preferred color is dark brown. Light yellow
eyes are not desirable and are a fault. Closely set eyes are to
be faulted. China or wall eyes are to be disqualified. The ears
are broad and set fairly high, lie flat and never hang away from
the head. Their placement is just above eye level. The ears when
laid in front without being pulled, should extend to the corner
of the mouth. In the case of heavier dogs, the ears are correspondingly
longer. Ears too long or fleshy are to be faulted. The skull is
reasonably broad, arched on the side and slightly round on top.
Unlike the Pointer, the median line between the eyes at the forehead
is not too deep and the occipital bone is not very conspicuous.
The foreface rises gradually from nose to forehead. The rise is
more strongly pronounced in the dog than in the bitch. The jaw
is powerful and the muscles well developed. The line to the forehead
rises gradually and never has a definite stop as that of the Pointer,
but rather a stop-effect when viewed from the side, due to the
position of the eyebrows. The muzzle is sufficiently long to enable
the dog to seize game properly and be able to carry it for a long
time. A pointed muzzle is not desirable. The depth is in the right
proportion to the length, both in the muzzle and in the skull
proper. The length of the muzzle should equal the length of skull.
A dish-shaped muzzle is a fault. A definite Pointer stop is a
serious fault. Too many wrinkles in the forehead is a fault. The
nose is brown, the larger the better, and with nostrils well opened
and broad. A spotted nose is not desirable. A flesh colored nose
disqualifies. The chops fall away from the somewhat projecting
nose. Lips are full and deep yet are never flewy. The teeth are
strong and healthy. The molars intermesh properly. The bite is
a true scissors bite. A perfect level bite is not desirable and
must be penalized. Extreme overshot or undershot disqualifies.
Neck, Topline, Body
The neck is of proper length to permit the jaws reaching game
to be retrieved, sloping downwards on beautifully curving lines.
The nape is rather muscular, becoming gradually larger toward
the shoulders. Moderate throatiness is permitted. The skin is
close and tight. The chest in general gives the impression of
depth rather than breadth; for all that, it is in correct proportion
to the other parts of the body. The chest reaches down to the
elbows, the ribs forming the thorax show a rib spring and are
not flat or slabsided; they are not perfectly round or barrel-shaped.
The back ribs reach well down. The circumference of the thorax
immediately behind the elbows is smaller than that of the thorax
about a hand's breadth behind elbows, so that the upper arm has
room for movement. Tuck-up is apparent. The back is short, strong,
and straight with a slight rise from the root of the tail to the
withers. The loin is strong, is of moderate length, and is slightly
arched. An excessively long, roached or swayed back must be penalized.
The hips are broad with hip sockets wide apart and fall slightly
toward the tail in a graceful curve. A steep croup is a fault.
The tail is set high and firm, and must be docked, leaving approximately
40% of its length. The tail hangs down when the dog is quiet and
is held horizontally when he is walking. The tail must never be
curved over the back toward the head when the dog is moving. A
tail curved or bent toward the head is to be severely penalized.
Forequarters
The shoulders are sloping, movable, and well covered with muscle.
The shoulder blades lie flat and are well laid back nearing a
45 degree angle. The upper arm (the bones between the shoulder
and elbow joint) is as long as possible, standing away somewhat
from the trunk so that the straight and closely muscled legs,
when viewed from the front, appear to be parallel. Elbows which
stand away from the body or are too close result in toes turning
inwards or outwards and must be faulted. Pasterns are strong,
short and nearly vertical with a slight spring. Loose, short-bladed
or straight shoulders must be faulted. Knuckling over is to be
faulted. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed. The feet are
compact, close-knit and round to spoon-shaped. The toes are sufficiently
arched and heavily nailed. The pads are strong, hard and thick.
Hindquarters
Thighs are strong and well muscled. Stifles are well bent. Hock
joints are well angulated and strong with straight bone structure
from hock to pad. Angulation of both stifle and hock joint is
such as to achieve the optimal balance of drive and traction.
Hocks turn neither in nor out. Cowhocked legs are a serious fault.
Coat
The hair is short and thick and feels tough to the hand; it
is somewhat longer on the underside of the tail and the back edges
of the haunches. The hair is softer, thinner and shorter on the
ears and the head. Any dog with long hair in the body coat is
to be severely penalized.
Color
The coat may be of solid liver or a combination of liver and
white such as liver and white ticked, liver patched and white
ticked, or liver roan. A dog with any area of black, red, orange,
lemon or tan, or a dog solid white will be disqualified.
Gait
A smooth lithe gait is essential. It is to be noted that as
gait increases from the walk to a faster speed, the legs converge
beneath the body. The tendency to single track is desirable. The
forelegs reach well ahead as if to pull in the ground without
giving the appearance of a hackney gait. The hindquarters drive
the back legs smoothly and with great power.
Temperament
The Shorthair is friendly, intelligent, and willing to please.
The first impression is that of a keen enthusiasm for work without
indication of nervous or flightly character.
Disqualifications
- China or wall eyes.
- Flesh colored nose.
- Extreme overshot or undershot.
- A dog with any area of black, red, orange, lemon, or tan,
or a dog solid white.
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