It was the German breeders who started the development of the skillful and quick gundog German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP). From the crossings of the old Spanish Pointer, Hounds of St. Hubert, Foxhound, the English Pointer and some other unidentified hounds, the GSP came in to the canine world for the hunters to enjoy today. Because of this ancestry, the GSP became faster, more skillful and more excellent in the hunting category.
The GSP can practically perform all the roles of an excellent gundog. It can perform tasks of a pointer, a retriever, upland bird dog and water dog. As a good hunting companion, the GSP should manifest keen intelligence, boldness, obedience and quickness and a lack of these characteristic implicates improper training from the owner.
Ranked as 17th in Stanley Cohen's The Intelligence of Dogs, the GSP is unarguably one of the best dogs to rely on. The GSP has such a high hunting instinct that it should be trained early on to avoid other animals that are not considered preys. If not, it will come home bearing a dead cat, bird or rat in its mouth as a trophy of its own hunting expedition.
Many hunters today still utilize the skills of the GSP because it is unarguably excellent in hunting. Hunters love it that the GSP is very dependable, hardy, full of energy and intelligent during these times. One should realize that a properly trained GSP never suggests a disposition of fear, shyness, over submissiveness, lack of docility or aggression.
The GSP may be everything you could ask for in a gundog but when it comes to being a family-oriented creature, this breed tops the list too. When not hunting, the GSP is a very loving, protective, loyal and amiable dog. It especially loves to play with children and loves to interact with humans and other canine contemporaries.
The body of the GSP manifests a powerful and agile capability because of its streamlined and lean physique. Its uniquely built hind legs are so powerful it allows him to turn quickly and rapidly. It has floppy and moderately long ears and a snout that is broad and powerful that allows him to carry heavy game.
Generally, the tails of the GSPs are docked at a length that is enough for the dogs to wag and move their tails although in some countries docking is prohibited. The coat of the GSP is very short, flat and double coated. The undercoat is dense and the outer coat is stiff making the GSP water and temperature resistant.
The common colors of this breed are dark brown, chocolate or chestnut (liver), black and white. Some GSPs may come in these colors solidly but generally, GSPs come in these colors but with speckles or patches of other colors such as white or liver all over their bodies. Interestingly, this color formation of the GSP allows it to camouflage against trees and bushes during winter season.