German Shorthaired Pointers are real people-pleasers and love to be at the heart of a family, but they’re no couch potatoes

German Shorthaired Pointer laying in grass.

German Shorthaired Pointer overview

(Image credit: Alamy)

Breed type: Gundog, sporting group
Lifespan: 10-12 years
Size: 23-25 inches (male), 21-23 inches (female)
Coat: Short
Temperament: Affectionate, energetic, playful, intelligent, friendly, outgoing, loyal, biddable
Exercise needs: At least two hours daily
Origin/native country: Germany

The German Shorthaired Pointer, or GSP, is a popular “hunt, point, retrieve” (HPR) breed. They were originally bred as the ultimate all-round gundogs, to sniff out game (hunt), freeze in place to mark the position of the game (point) and to pick up and return the game once it has been dispatched by the shooter (retrieve).