German Shorthaired Pointers are even tempered and loyal dogs that make excellent family pets. This powerful and graceful breed is medium to large in size, averaging 23-28 inches in height and 45-75 pounds in weight. The life expectancy of Pointers is 12-17 years.
Pointers are affectionate with family members and get along well with other dogs. However, they may not be the ideal pets for families with young children. Standard colors are black, lemon, liver, orange, and combinations of these with white. Markings include ticked, liver points, black points, and self-colored points.
German Shorthaired Pointers were originally bred to point game birds and have high energy levels, which makes them excellent companions for runners. Their superior speed and agility make Pointers the aristocrats of the canine sporting world. This is a breed that exudes grace and power and carries itself with immense pride.
The short, dense coat on Pointers is naturally glossy and requires minimal maintenance. You’ll have to brush your Pointer once a week however to remove debris and loose hair and to keep his coat looking healthy and shiny. Your Pointer’s ears will need to be inspected and cleaned regularly and the nails trimmed down if they’re not naturally worn down.
Given that Pointers are an active sporting breed, they need lots of exercise to stay happy and healthy. Long walks or running free in a fenced yard are necessary to burn off energy in a positive way. Pointers do exceptionally well in canine competitive sports that require agility, obedience, rallying, and other types of high-level training.
In terms of temperament, Pointers have an even temper and are congenial companions. They are a versatile breed and eager learners of new skills, and as a result do well as family pets, therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, and more.
