Thanks to the efforts of German breeders to develop a faster and more reliable pointer, we have the marvelous German Shorthaired Pointer or GSP as a hunting companion today. The GSP was incorporated from other pointer breeds such as the old Spanish Pointer, Hounds of St. Hubert, Foxhound, the English Pointer and some other unidentified hounds. The result of this development is a much faster and more excellent hunting dog.

What makes the GSP an all-purpose gundog is its ability to perform not just pointing but some other hunting tasks as well. From being a pointer to being a retriever, upland bird dog and water dog, the GSP can do it all masterfully. The signs of a GSP as an outstanding hunter are intelligence, boldness, obedience and quickness and that lack of these characteristics are considered as faults.

As additional proof of the GSP’s excellence in the hunting scene, Stanley Cohen’s The Intelligence of Dog ranked the GSP as 17th on the list. The GSP has a strong sense of hunting that is why it is a must for the owner to train this dog in identifying the right prey from the small animals that should be left alone. It is not so surprising to find a GSP that is not well-trained to come home with a dead rat, bird or cat as a trophy of its personal hunting escapades.

A lot of people around the world today still opt to use the GSP for a hunting companion because of the breed’s unfading skills in gunning and hunting. During these activities, you can expect the GSP to be reliable, hardy, quick-witted, fearless and completely tireless. A well-trained GSP should never indicate dispositions of timidity, fear, over subservience, wariness, un-trainability and most importantly, 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.

Most GSPs’ tails are docked and the length is enough only to wag and move but in some countries docking is illegal. The GSP has a double layer of short and flat coat. The undercoat is lush while the top coat is stiff serving as a natural repellant against water and cold weathers.

This breed is often found in colors of dark brown, chocolate or chestnut (liver), black and white. Some may have solid-colored coats but some have sprinkles or patches of other colors all over their bodies. The patched or sprinkled pattern on the GSP’s coat allows it to camouflage amongst trees and bushes during winter season.

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