German Shorthaired Pointer
Learn about the temperament and personality of the German Shorthaired Pointer. Discover what he's like to live with, his traits and characteristics and how he generally behaves. And look at lots of German Shorthaired Pointer photos.

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Guard Dog | ![]() |
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German Shorthaired Pointer Temperament
The German Shorthaired Pointer is primarily a hunting dog, is bred for that purpose, and so will have a high level of energy that needs to be channeled in a healthy way. He can be happy and thrive in a non-hunting household, but he will need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. The breed is athletic and energetic (really, really energetic!) and does very well as a member of an active (very, very active) family. If he's not provided with an outlet for his energy, he will find a way to entertain himself, and that could get expensive. He needs consistent exercise, and he needs to run, not walk (though walking is a fine extra hobby). He is also intelligent and will want a job to do. In addition to hunting, German Shorthairs are also excellent at agility, obedience, flyball and tracking. They will enjoy anything that involves running, jumping, and/or swimming. And even an exhausted German Shorthair will still be prone to bursts of energy, and you will need to be okay with a fifty pound dog tearing around your house. The German Shorthair is a vigilant watchdog, and is protective without being aggressive. They love to play with children, but can be a bit exuberant for young ones. However, they are very tolerant of toddlers. They are good with other pets, but they sometimes chase cats. This breed is people-oriented, and will want and need to be by your side as much as possible. He will want to sleep near you, probably in your lap. He will not do well if he feels lonely or isolated. Because of their desire to please their owners and their innate intelligence, this breed is highly trainable. They are sensitive and responsive. In short, (excuse the pun), they are an exuberant, affectionate, loyal companion who will work to do whatever you need of him, and he will do it enthusiastically and tirelessly.
German Shorthaired Pointer Training
The German Shorthaired Pointer is very intelligent and easy to train. He learns new commands very fast.
German Shorthaired Pointer Shedding
The German Shorthaired Pointer sheds a fair amount of hair. You'll find hair stuck to your couch, carpets, clothes and everything else in your home.
German Shorthaired Pointer Grooming
The short coat of the German Shorthaired Pointer only requires an occasional brushing. But because he sheds you may find yourself brushing him once or twice a week to remove loose hair. (What you get out with a brush doesn't fall out in your home!)
Adopt a German Shorthaired Pointer
German Shorthaired Pointer adoption
German Shorthaired Pointer Photos
Rating: Ease of training
Tells you how easy or difficult a breed is to train.
A higher rating means the breed is easier to train, a lower rating means the breed is harder to train.
An easy to train breed require less time and patience to train.
Rating: Intelligence
Tells you how intelligent a breed is in terms of how quickly it can learn commands from humans. A higher rating means the breed will learn your commands faster (and is therefore generally considered to be more intelligent), while a lower rating means the breed will learn your commands more slowly (and is therefore generally considered to be less intelligent).
Keep in mind that this is only one way to measure a dog's intelligence and a low rating might still mean the breed is highly intelligent in other ways.
Rating: Shedding
Tells you how much hair the breed sheds. The higher the rating the more hair the breed sheds.
Rating: Watchdog
Tells you how good the breed is at being a watchdog and raising the alarm when a stranger approaches. A higher rating means the breed will bark vigorously to warn you of a stranger's presence on your property. A low rating means the breed probably won't bark much if a stranger enters your property.
Rating: Guard dog
Tells you how good the breed is at being a guard dog due to the appearance, size, and strength of the breed. A breed with a high guard dog rating will make an intruder think twice before stepping foot on your property.
Rating: Popularity
Tells you how popular the breed is in terms of ownership. A higher rating means that more people own the breed. The more popular a breed is the easier it is to find and purchase one because there are more breeders breeding it.
Rating: Size
Tells you how large or small the breed is. A lower rating means the breed is smaller and a higher rating means the breed is larger. It gives you a quick idea of how physically large or small the breed is compared with all the other breeds.
Rating: Agility
Tells you how agile the breed is. A higher rating means the breed is fast and nimble on its feet while a lower rating means the breed is heavier and slower on its feet.
Rating: Good with kids
Tells you how good the breed is with children. A higher rating means the breed is good with children. Note: all breeds are generally good with kids when they're raised with them.