The German Shorthaired Pointer
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1 History and General Description
2 Breed Standard per the Canadian Kennel Club
3 Breed Standard per the American Kennel Club
1 History and General Description
The German Shorthaired Pointer is an active, even-tempered and intelligent
breed. Affectionate and friendly, they make wonderful family pets, yet
are capable hunting dogs. They are responsive, easily trained and hardworking
with no nervous or flighty tendencies. Since they are an energetic breed,
German Shorthaired Pointers need exercise and are suited to families who
live in the country rather than an urban setting.
German Shorthaired Pointers have a short, flat, dense coat that is coarse
to touch and easy to groom. Colouring is dark, reddish-brown and white,
speckled and in patches. Fully-grown males stand 58-64cm (23-25")
tall at the shoulders and weigh 25-32kg (55 and 70 pounds). Females generally
grow to 53-58cm (21-23") at the shoulders and weigh 20-27kg (45-60
pounds).
The breed traces back to Germany where it was developed as a hunting dog
in the 1600s. Breeders crossed Spanish Pointers with Bloodhounds to create
a dog with an attractive temperament and excellent hunting abilities.
English Pointers were then mixed with the breed to create a more lean
and agile dog. German Shorthaired Pointers, known in Germany as Kurzhaars,
are popular with hunters who seek them for their excellent tracking, pointing
and retrieving abilities.
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2 Breed Standard per the Canadian Kennel Club
General Appearance
The over all picture which is created in the observer's eye should be
that of an aristocratic, well balanced, symmetrical animal with conformation
indicating power, endurance, and agility and a look of intelligence and
animation. The dog should be neither unduly small nor conspicuously large.
It should rather give the impression of medium size, but be like the proper
hunter, "with a short back, but standing over plenty of ground."
Tall, leggy individuals seldom possess endurance or sound movement. Dogs
which are ponderous or unbalanced because of excess substance should be
definitely rejected. The first impression should be that of keenness which
denotes full enthusiasm for work without indication of nervous or flighty
character. Movement should be alertly coordinated without waste of motion.
Grace of outline, clean cut head, sloping shoulders, deep breast, powerful
back, strong quarters, good bone composition, adequate muscle, well carried
tail and taut coat, all of which should combine to produce a look of nobility
and an indication of anatomical structure essential to correct gait which
must indicate a heritage of purposefully conducted breeding.
Head
Clean cut, neither too light nor too heavy, in proper proportion to the
body. Skull should be reasonably broad, arched on side and slightly round
on top. Scissura (median line between the eyes at the forehead) not too
deep, occipital bone not as conspicuous as in the case of the Pointer.
The fore face should rise gradually from nose to forehead, not resembling
the Roman nose. This is more strongly pronounced in the dog than in the
female, as befitting his gender. The chops should fall away from the somewhat
projecting nose. Lips should be full and deep, never flewy. The chops
should not fall over too much, but form a proper fold in the angle. The
jaw should be powerful and the muscles well developed. The line to the
forehead should rise gradually and should never possess a definite stop
as in the case of the Pointer, but rather a stop effect when viewed from
the side, due to the position of the eyebrows. The muzzle should be sufficiently
long to enable the dog to seize properly and to facilitate his carrying
game a long time. A pointed muzzle is not desirable. The entire head should
never give the impression of tapering to a point. The depth should be
in the right proportion to the length, both in the muzzle and in the skull
proper.
Ears
Ears should be broad and set fairly high, lie flat and never hang away
from the head. Placement should be above eye level. The ears, when laid
in front without being pulled, should about meet the lip angle. In the
case of heavier dogs they should be correspondingly longer.
Eyes
The eyes should be of medium size, full of intelligence and expression,
good humored and yet radiating energy, neither protruding nor sunk. The
eyelids should close well. The best colour is a dark shade of brown. Light
yellow, china or wall (bird of prey) eyes are not desirable.
Nose
The nose is brown in colour and the larger the better; nostrils well opened
and broad. Flesh coloured and spotted noses are not desirable.
Teeth
The teeth should be strong and healthy. The molars should intermesh properly.
Incisors should fit close in a true scissors bite. Jaws should be neither
overshot nor undershot.
Neck
Of adequate length to permit the jaws reaching game to be retrieved, sloping
downwards on beautifully curving lines. The nape should be rather muscular,
becoming gradually larger towards the shoulders. Moderate hound-like throatiness
is permitted.
Chest and Thorax
The chest, in general, should give the impression of depth rather than
breadth; for all that it should be in correct proportion to the other
parts of the body with a fair depth of chest. The chest in general should
give the impression of depth rather than breadth; for all that it should
be in correct proportion to the other parts of the body with a fair depth
of chest. The ribs forming the thorax should be well curved and not flat;
they should not be absolutely round or barrel shaped. Ribs that are entirely
round prevent the necessary expansion of the chest when taking breath.
The back ribs should reach well down. The circumference of the chest immediately
behind the elbows should be smaller than that of the chest about a hands
breadth behind elbows, so that the upper arm has room for movement.
Back and Loins
Back should be short, strong and straight with slight rise from root of
tail to withers. Excessively long or hog-backed should be penalized. Loins
strong, of moderate length and slightly arched. Tuck up should be apparent.
Assembly of Back Members
The hips should be broad with the hip sockets wide apart and fall slightly
towards the tail in a graceful curve. Thighs strong and well muscled.
Stifles well bent. Hock joints should be well angulated with strong, straight
bone structure from hock to pad. Angulation of both stifle and hocks should
be such as to combine maximum combination of both drive and traction.
Hocks should turn neither in nor out. The hips should be broad with the
hip sockets wide apart and fall slightly towards the tail in a graceful
curve. Thighs strong and well muscled. Stifles well bent. Hock joints
should be well angulated with strong, straight bone structure from hock
to pad. Angulation of both stifle and hocks should be such as to combine
maximum combination of both drive and traction. Hocks should turn neither
in nor out.
Assembly of Front Members
The shoulders should be sloping, movable, well covered with muscle.
The shoulder blades should lie flat. The upper arm (also called the cross
bar, i.e. the bones between the shoulder and elbow joints) should be as
long as possible, standing away somewhat from the trunk so that the straight
and closely muscled legs, when viewed from in front, should appear to
be parallel. Elbows which stand away from the body or are pressed right
into same indicate toes turning inwards or outwards, which should be regarded
as faults. Pasterns should be strong, short and nearly vertical.
Feet
Should be compact, close knit and round to spoon shaped. The toes sufficiently
arched and heavily nailed. The pad should be strong and hard.
Coat and Skin
The skin should look close and tight. The hair should be short and thick
and feel tough and hard to the hand; it is somewhat longer on the underside
of the tail and the back edge of the haunches. It is softer, thinner and
shorter on ears and head.
Tail
Is set high and firm, and must be docked, leaving approximately two-fifths
of length. The tail hangs down when the dog is quiet, is held horizontally
when he is walking, never turned over the back or considerably bent but
violently wagged when he is on the search.
Bones
Thin and fine bones are by no means desirable in a dog which should
be able to work over any and every country and should possess strength.
The main importance, accordingly, is laid not so much on the size as being
in proper proportion to the body. Dogs with coarse bones are handicapped
in agility of movement and speed.
Weight and Height
Weight:
Dogs - 24.947 to 31.751kg. (55 to 70 lbs).
Females - 20.412 to 27.215kg. (45 to 60 lbs).
Height (at the shoulders):
Dogs - 58.42 to 63.50cm (23 to 25 in.).
Females - 53.34 to 58.42cm (21 to 23 in.)
Colour
Solid liver, liver and white spotted, liver and white spotted and
ticked, liver and white ticked, liver roan. Any colours other than liver
and white (gray white) are not permitted. "Symmetry and field quality
are most essential." "A dog well balanced in all points is preferable
to one with outstanding good qualities and defects. A smooth, lithe gait
is most desirable."
Faults
Bone structure too clumsy or too light; head too large; too many wrinkles
in forehead; dish-faced; snipey muzzle; ears too long, pointy, or fleshy;
flesh-coloured nose; eyes too light, too round, or too closely set together;
excessive throatiness; cowhocks; feet or elbows turned inward or outward;
down on pasterns; loose shoulders; sway back; black coat or tri-coloured;
any colours except liver or some combination of liver and white.
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3 Breed Standard per the American Kennel Club
General Appearance
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a versatile hunter, an all-purpose gun
dog capable of high performance in field and water. The judgment 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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