German Shorthaired Pointer Training & Breed Information

a sleek, athletic body and a unique dappled coat, the German shorthaired pointer is an instantly recognizable breed. Wonderful both as family and hunting dogs, this breed has an ancient and rich background, and is a worthwhile study for anyone thinking about getting a dog.

The earliest dog that the German shorthaired pointer can be traced to is the Spanish pointer, which was introduced in Germany at some point in the 1600's. From this breed the Germans wanted to create a dog that was excellent at both pointing and retrieving and could traverse land and sea.

They were really aiming to create an all-purpose hunting machine. It is not entirely known what breeds were mixed with the Spanish pointer to achieve the German shorthaired pointer of today, but it is thought that the foxhound, schweisshund, German bird dog, English pointer, and several Scandinavian breeds were mixed along the way to create the breed. It was in the 19th century that German shorthaired pointers were truly refined, with the first stud book being created in 1870.
One of the driving forces behind the shaping of the breed was Prince Albrecht zu Solms-Brounfield of the Royal House of Hanover, who encouraged breeders to breed for function rather than form.