German Shorthaired Pointer Information & Dog Breed Facts

Fulfilling a need

In Germany, dense forests blended with open fields and housed all types of feather and fur, including grouse, rabbit, fox, deer, wolves, and wild boar. It was there that the Teutonic hunters aspired to produce a hunting dog that could effectively hunt all types of wildlife in all types of terrain available in their country. They needed a canine with a sensitive nose that could find a game from a safe distance. As most German hunters hunted on foot, they needed a dog with enough discipline and inbred instinct to stay on point once the game was discovered, allowing the hunters to close in on the target. Moreover, they wanted a hunting partner that could rescue fallen wildlife on land and in the water. In addition, the dog had to be courageous and aggressive enough to deal with and follow larger animals in the deep German forests, such as wild cats, foxes, and deer. Finally, and perhaps most crucially, these hunters desired a domestic pet who could be counted on to adequately protect the home and those inside when necessary. Keeping all of these quantities in mind, the seed of this dream was effectively planted, and the work has begun to develop such a dog.

Origins

The German Shorthaired Pointed was developed in the 19^th century, but there are many different theories regarding the actual origins and ancestry of the breed. According to experts, the breed development was initiated by a cross between the old Spanish Pointer and traditional continental pointers, including the old German Pointer and the Braque Francais. Furthermore, to improve scenting abilities and soften the temperament of the new breed, German hunters decided to cross it with tracking hounds as the German Bloodhound and French Gascon. The genes of the German tracking hounds also helped to overcome many of the unpleasant or undesirable features of the traditional pointers, including reduced trailing ability, a natural dislike for water work, and a noticeable lack of aggressiveness towards predators.

However, early breeders remained dissatisfied despite all of these advancements. The dogs produced by the previous crossings were too slow in the hunt and lacked true agility. Furthermore, these hunters loved the scenting abilities that came from the Bloodhound but didn’t want their new breed to look like it. As a result, another cross with the English Pointer was made in the 1860s to improve the breed’s speed, style, appearance, and pointing instincts. All of these efforts resulted in a sleek, good-looking, clever, loyal, and versatile gundog with exceptional stamina, a keen sense of smell, a highly developed pointing instinct, and a desire to retrieve fallen game on land or in water. The German hunters now had a partner who could track and scent both furred and feathered game, point and retriever game birds, and deal with larger species such as deer, fox, and boar because he had the size, strength, and courage. Furthermore, the first studbook for the German Shorthaired Pointer as its own defined breed did not come about until 1870. Though the standard for the breed in Germany was set in 1879, many individuals out there were removed from the breeding pool as the standard set a correct type for the breed and started to standardize it.

The 20^th century

As Germany became more united, the German Pointer evolved as well. Unfortunately, the two World Wars in which Germany was involved resulted in significant gaps in the breeding stock. Some kennels that thrived before the World Wars found it impossible to rehabilitate thereafter. During World War II, the fascist government-controlled hunting and the breeding of all hunting dogs with Hermann Goering minister responsible for all matters relating to both. At that time his order said that all clear white and liver dogs should be destroyed because they did not blend in with the woods like the solid liver and liver roans. There was little to no information about the kennels of East Germany as very little of the breeding stock was rescued or survived. What is known for sure is that a breeder named Gustav Machetanz has managed to escape with a few dogs ahead of the approaching Russian army and resettle in West Germany. This is very significant because one of his dogs, Axel vom Wasserschling proved to be one of the most important sires after the war and was essential in rebuilding the breed in Germany.

Outside of Germany/U.S recognition

Fortunately, before the World Wars, the German Shorthaired Pointer had also caught some American hunters’ attention. These hunters imported dogs into the United States. The breed was admitted into the American Kennel Club in 1935, and its popularity increased in 1938 in Minnesota and Wisconsin, which allowed dedicated breeders to apply to the AKC for a club status, which resulted in the formation of the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America. This sparked a wave of significant revisions in the breed standard. The first was in 1946,  again the following year in 1947, along with several more. The last and most recent being in 1992.