Official ICCF breed description
Brief historical background
The German Shorthaired Pointer was developed in Germany as a versatile pointing breed capable of working before and after the shot, retrieving game on land and in water. Its foundation included old German bird dogs, as well as Spanish and French pointers, from which the breed inherited its pointing ability, search style, and endurance. In the 19th century, targeted selection under the supervision of German clubs helped to establish the short coat, strong body, and manageable temperament. After standardization, the breed quickly spread across Europe due to its versatility. In the 20th century, the German Shorthaired Pointer gained popularity in the United States and other countries while retaining its working type and high hunting qualities. Today it is valued as a reliable working, service, and sporting dog.
General appearance
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a strong, harmoniously built medium-sized pointing dog with dry musculature and a pronounced working type. The format is slightly elongated, with a firm body free from coarseness or looseness. The topline is straight and stable; the chest is deep and well let-down. The head is dry and expressive, reflecting alertness and confidence. Limbs are straight and strong, providing free reach and endurance during prolonged work. The tail is of medium length and carried horizontally in motion. The coat is short, dense, and close-fitting. The overall impression is of an energetic, balanced, and functional dog combining strength, speed, and manageability without excessive massiveness.
Important proportions
The German Shorthaired Pointer is slightly longer than tall: the body length slightly exceeds the height at the withers while maintaining balance and mobility. Chest depth reaches the elbow, providing volume for respiratory function. Head length is approximately forty percent of the height, with skull and muzzle proportioned equally, ensuring a clean profile. The neck is of medium length, dry and muscular. Limbs have correct angulation: sloping shoulder blades and long, strong thighs. The tail is carried horizontally. All proportions support versatility — working in field, forest, and water without losing control, speed, or endurance.
Behavior and character
The German Shorthaired Pointer has a balanced, confident, and energetic temperament without aggression or nervousness. In work it demonstrates a wide search, a firm point, and reliable retrieve. It has high trainability, responsiveness, and willingness to cooperate with the handler. In the home it is attached to the family, friendly, but requires regular activity and mental engagement. With strangers it is reserved but not timid. Excessive excitability, lack of control, fearfulness, or aggression are serious faults. The breed must maintain composure, stable nerves, and working concentration while remaining a versatile hunting dog.
Head
The head is dry, elongated, and proportional to the body, without coarseness. The skull is of moderate width, slightly rounded; the stop is smooth and not abrupt. The muzzle is long, straight, well filled, and not pointed. Lips fit tightly without looseness; pigmentation is dark. The nose is large with wide nostrils, brown in dogs of the appropriate color. Jaws are strong; scissor bite with full dentition is required. The expression is intelligent, focused, and alert. A head that is too short, coarse, or narrow is considered a deviation from correct type.
Facial part
The muzzle is long and straight, tapering evenly toward the nose while remaining well filled. The nasal bridge is straight without a bump. Lips are thin and dry, with a moderate corner, without folds. The nose is large with dark or brown pigmentation and wide nostrils. The chin is moderate and not protruding. Cheeks are smooth and not coarse. The skin fits tightly without folds. Facial lines must remain clean and dry, emphasizing working type. Excessive looseness, hanging lips, or insufficient fill are considered faults.
Eyes
Eyes are medium-sized, oval, set moderately deep, without heavy brows or roundness. The expression is lively, attentive, but balanced, reflecting working focus, confidence, and manageability. The iris ranges from dark brown to rich brown; very light eyes are undesirable as they create a harsh expression and break breed type. Eyelids fit tightly without looseness, eversion, or slackness; pigmentation is complete and preferably dark. The whites should not be visible in normal position. Any signs of fear, panic, hysteria, or excessive suspicion are considered deviations from the required stable, confident temperament of a working hunting dog.
Ears
Ears are medium-sized, set high and slightly back, hanging freely and fitting closely to the sides of the head without sticking out or twisting. The base is wide, narrowing toward a slightly rounded tip; excessive length or narrowness is undesirable. The lower edge lies close to the cheek, emphasizing the dry head profile, without forming folds. Cartilage is elastic and firm enough to maintain correct position without creasing. Coat on the ears is short and smooth, without feathering or waviness, emphasizing the working type and clean outline. Low-set, heavy, excessively long, or very small ears are faults and disrupt expression.
Neck
The neck is of medium length, dry and muscular, widening smoothly toward the shoulders and blending harmoniously into the withers without abrupt angles. The topline of the neck is slightly arched, emphasizing noble head carriage, working readiness, and balance. The skin fits tightly without dewlap; slight elasticity is acceptable but must not give a loose appearance. Neck thickness matches body proportions and musculature, supporting endurance during prolonged work on land and in water. A neck that is too short, coarse, excessively long, or thin disrupts balance and reduces functionality and correct expression.
Body
The body is strong and slightly elongated, with a straight and stable topline that remains firm in motion. The withers are well developed, blending smoothly into the back. The back is straight, strong, of medium length, neither sagging nor arched. The loin is short, broad, and muscular, transmitting drive from the hindquarters. The chest is deep, well let down to the elbow, with moderately sprung ribs, neither barrel-shaped nor flat. The ribcage is sufficiently long to provide respiratory capacity for prolonged work. The abdomen is slightly tucked, emphasizing dry working type. The croup is broad and slightly sloping without abrupt cut-off. The body must convey strength, endurance, and functionality without coarseness or looseness, maintaining balance and mobility.
Tail
The tail is set moderately high as a natural continuation of the topline and remains straight or slightly sabre-shaped. It usually reaches the hock or slightly shorter, without excessive shortening or length. At rest the tail hangs with a slight curve. In motion it is carried nearly horizontal or slightly higher, but must not be raised vertically, thrown over the back, or curled. Coat on the tail is short and dense, without feathering or decoration, reinforcing dry working type. Docking is not encouraged and prohibited in many countries. A tail that is too high, hook-shaped, broken, or nervously twitching is a serious fault and disrupts balance.
Exterior description
Forequarters
Forequarters are straight, parallel, with strong but not coarse bone and dry, well-developed musculature. Shoulder blades are long, well sloping, fitting tightly and forming correct angle with the upper arm for wide, free reach. Shoulders are muscular but not overloaded. Elbows are directed straight back, neither turned in nor out, moving in one plane with the body. Forearms are straight and strong; pasterns slightly sloping and elastic, acting as shock absorbers on uneven ground. Feet are compact, round or slightly oval, with arched toes and dense elastic pads. Out-turning, cowed elbows, weak pasterns, narrow chest, or sloping front are serious faults and reduce working performance.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters are powerful and well muscled, with defined but not excessive angulation, providing strong, springy drive and stability. Thighs are long and broad with firm musculature. Stifles are well defined, not turned in or out. Lower thighs are long, dry, and strong. Hocks are low-set, firm, not over-extended or weak. Rear pasterns are straight and parallel when viewed from behind. Feet are compact, round or slightly oval, with arched toes and dense pads. Cow-hocked stance, sickle hocks, insufficient angulation, weak hindquarters, or any lameness are serious faults reducing endurance and suitability for field and water work.
Gait and movement
Movement is free and energetic with good reach in front and powerful drive behind, without tension or haste. From the side, gait should be wide, springy, with light but assured forward motion; the topline remains stable without rocking or sagging. From the front and rear, limbs move parallel, converging slightly at higher speed without crossing. Stiff, choppy, mincing gait, pronounced pacing, crossing, insufficient drive, or a low, sinking outline are unacceptable. Correct movement demonstrates endurance, balance, and versatility for prolonged active hunting in field, forest, and water without rapid fatigue or loss of stability.
Coat
The coat is short, dense, close-fitting, and even across the body, protecting the skin from mechanical damage, moisture, and cold during field and water work. The outer hair is firm and elastic but not bristly, forming a protective layer. On the head, ears, and underside of the neck the coat is shorter and smoother; on the body and limbs slightly longer but without feathering, flags, or waves. Undercoat is moderate and increases seasonally, providing insulation without adding weight. Long, soft, curly, sparse, or open coat is unacceptable, as is any decorative structure that reduces protection and working type.
Acceptable colors
Acceptable colors include solid brown, brown with white markings, white with brown patches, and evenly roaned patterns on white or brown backgrounds. Small tan markings of matching tone are possible without altering overall appearance. Pigmentation of nose, lips, and eyelids must be dark and even without pale areas or breaks. Undesirable are excessively large white areas, unbalanced patches, or dilute pigmentation disrupting uniformity. Completely white, black, black-and-tan, blue, merle, or any diluted and non-standard colors are not allowed. Color must support working type, remain practical for hunting, and not indicate weakened pigmentation or genetic coat/skin issues.
Size
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a medium-sized dog with a strong but not heavy body and well-developed, dry musculature. Height and weight must match working type: sufficiently strong and enduring for prolonged hunting while retaining agility, speed, and light movement. Overly large, heavy dogs tire quickly and lose maneuverability; overly light and long-legged dogs lose stability, drive, and balance. Absolute size is less important than harmony between height, body length, chest depth, and muscular development. Minor deviations are acceptable if overall type, functionality, and free, stable movement are preserved without signs of breathlessness under load.
Faults
Faults include deviations that do not critically affect health but reduce breed type and working ability: insufficient or overly heavy bone, loose musculature, inadequate chest depth, narrow front, out-turning or cowed stance, weak pasterns, excessive straightness or tucked-up loin, unstable topline. Undesirable are light eyes, incomplete pigmentation of nose and eyelids, overly soft or sparse coat, excessive shyness without fearlessness, overexcitability, insufficient cooperation with handler. Evaluation must consider overall type, working purpose, and preservation of correct movement.
Disqualification
Disqualifying faults include serious violations of the standard or any signs questioning health, temperament stability, or breed identity: unprovoked aggression or pronounced fearfulness, complete lack of pigmentation of nose, lips, and eyelids, pink nose, severe bite defects, major tooth loss, serious eye abnormalities reducing vision. Non-standard colors, including completely white, black, black-and-tan, blue, and merle, are not acceptable. Lameness, serious locomotor disorders, excessive piebald patterns with predominant white, absence of undercoat, and any artificial alteration of appearance are grounds for disqualification from the ring and exclusion from breeding.
Important notes
In evaluating the German Shorthaired Pointer, the judge must remember that the breed was developed as a universal working gun dog capable of effective work in field, forest, and water. Minor cosmetic deviations that do not affect health, temperament stability, or functionality should not outweigh quality of body structure, limb placement, and movement. Seasonal shedding and temporary thinning of coat are acceptable. Females after whelping may be judged with consideration for altered condition. Particular attention is given to stable temperament, trainability, cooperation with the handler, and preservation of typical pointing-dog working behavior. Priority always belongs to overall working ability, balance, and health rather than mere ring appearance.
Conclusion
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a versatile German pointing breed combining strength, endurance, high intelligence, and broad working capability. A correct representative has a strong, harmonious body, stable and free movement, and a short, dense coat adapted to work on land and in water. The temperament must be stable, without fearfulness or unwarranted aggression, with strong handler orientation and willingness to learn. Preservation of the breed requires responsible selection based on working qualities, health, and character, without shifting toward decorative type. With proper training and sufficient activity, the German Shorthaired Pointer becomes a reliable hunting partner and active family companion capable of working and living alongside humans for many years.
