German Shorthaired Pointers

The German Shorthaired Pointer can be either a medium-size or a large dog, and they are instantly recognizable due to their lanky body and coloring. German shorthairs have short, flat coats that are protected by a dense undercoat with oils that make the skin underneath water resistant. They are most often white or brown with speckles of the opposite color.

German Shorthairs were identified in the late 19^th century, but they may have been around long before that, and they are popular on the West Coast including in states like California, Oregon and Nevada. Robert B. Parker’s wisecracking detective in the Spenser novels owned German Shorthairs and since they are very distinctive dogs it is quite easy to recognize them. They have a very square shape and come in multiple colors which can include black and white among others. The first four dogs of this breed were imported from Germany in 1924 and the dog grew in popularity from there.

German Shorthaired Pointer Food and Health

When it comes to nutrition, the first thing that you should understand is that these dogs typically weight between 45 and 75 pounds depending upon gender. These dogs were originally bred for hunting, so they are very active and they use up a lot of energy during the day. That means that they might need more calories than some of the other dogs out there. You not only want to make sure that your GSP gets plenty of calories and a healthy diet that is packed with nutrients – you also want to make sure that they are getting plenty of exercise as well.

If you have puppies or young adult dogs, then your GSP is going to need even more calories than a standard adult dog. Experts recommend that adult German Shorthaired Pointers get an average of 1500 calories per day and puppies and young adult dogs get a little more than that. Of course, you may have to adjust that caloric count if your dog is more active or less active than average. For example, a dog that is intended for work and spends several hours a day hunting or expending energy may need twice as many calories as a dog that just gets normal exercise.

The main thing that you want to remember about your GSP is that you should be feeding them a diet that has real meat as the number one ingredient. They should be getting around 20% protein from their food as well as 5% fat. You also want to make sure that they are going to get all of the nutrients that they need from the dog food that you have chosen and that you are giving them the right life stage of food. Because GSPs are a little different than other breeds, ensuring that they get the nutrition and additives that are present in those other life stages is vital.

Your German Shorthaired Pointer may also suffer certain health problems that can be affected by diet. In general, these are really tough dogs that will live anywhere from 12 to 15 years. There are plenty of fragile dogs out there that have numerous health problems, and while GSPs are not one of them, you still should be aware of a few things. First, you should be giving your dog regular cardio exams as well as have their hips and elbows checked for dysplasia regularly. You should also get their eyes checked every year until about age 6. You should continue getting them tested for cone degeneration after that.

There are a few other less common health conditions that you should be aware of, but the main thing that you want to keep in mind is that having pet insurance can be one of the best ways to ensure that your pet is safe and can get treatment if they get sick from any of these conditions. Pet health insurance comes in a variety of forms including policies that cover accidents only, policies that protect against certain health conditions, and general pet insurance that covers everything. Having the right pet insurance can mean that your GSP gets treatment when they need it and that you do not have to pay out of pocket for it.

Leashes and Collars for your German Shorthaired Pointer

Choosing the right dog collar and leash for your German Shorthaired Pointer is important because the wrong one can make it really difficult to control your animal and can even cause injury to you. There are several things to keep in mind when it comes to deciding which collar and dog leash is going to be best for your GSP. The temperament of your dog is important, as is your patience and ability to teach. You also need to factor in personal preference.

There are lots of color choices out there including buckle types, head collars, choker chains, nylon chokers, and martingales like starmark training collar. There are also electric shock collars and prong collars like dog training shock collar, but they are not recommended unless your dog exhibits particularly bad behavior. Most experts recommend that you not ever use these types of collars at all. Of course, there are also harnesses like voyager dog harness, and for many dogs are harness can be much more effective than a collar as well as less dangerous.

As for which leash to choose, there are plenty of leashes you can pair with the right dog collar and the one that you select will depend upon your dog’s personality, whether you need additional features like a retractable leash and what your particular style is. Some of the common types include leather leashes as Leatherberg Leather Dog Training Leash, nylon leashes, retractable leashes and chain nylon leashes.

Best Crates, Beds, and Doghouses for German Shorthaired Pointers

You also need to decide on which dog crate and dog bed works best for your GSP. The dog crate is one of the most important tools you have is a dog owner, and as long as you have trained your dog properly from the beginning, they will love going in their crate and spending time there. You can put a dog bed inside of a crate and keep the door open so that they can go in and take a nap whenever they want. Ask for which crate you get for a GSP, you should get one that measures at least 42-48 in. GSP’s generally are considered large breeds, and this is the recommended size for them. However, make sure that you measure them beforehand or that you can return the crate if it is too small.

You shouldn’t need anything special as far as a dog bed is concerned. Your German Shorthaired Pointer will usually be pretty happy with any bed that you choose for them as long as they can fit in it. While some dogs tend to tuck themselves in and need a round bed with walls, GSP’s usually sleep with their legs splayed out. That means that you want to give them enough room to lay on the bed; so measure them from nose to tail and from paws to shoulder height.

German Shorthaired Pointer Toys

Although the German Shorthaired Pointer was trained to be a hunter, he also wants to play, particularly if he is not doing the hunting job anymore. In order to get rid of those high energy levels that GSP’s have, you’re going to need to play with your dog at least an hour a day. This will not only provide them with an opportunity to exercise, but it will also provide you with an opportunity to bond with your dog. One of the best ways that you can ensure that your dog is getting all of the exercise that he or she needs is by getting dog toys that are specifically for German Shorthaired Pointers and then using them to play with your dog.

So, what kind of toys are appropriate for GSP’s? Although German Shorthaired Pointers are fairly energetic, they are not usually destructive. That means that you are safe with just about any toys out there. With some dogs, you have to be concerned about them tearing up the toy or spreading stuffing all over the house in the case of a push chew doll. Toys that make noise are often best for German Shorthaired Pointers, because they concentrate more on these types of toys and get rewarded when they play with them. That means dog squeaky toys, balls that have bells inside of them, or other noisemaking toys can sometimes be the best option.

GSP’s are also pretty smart, so you may want to go with interactive puzzle toys like spot ethical pet toy puzzle that dispense a treat when the puzzle has been completed. There are a couple of different options when it comes to these types of toys. The first is the puzzle toy that dispenses a treat often by sheer force of will. For example, if you bat around one of these toys long enough, a dog treat is going to come out. Then there are the puzzle toys that actually require the dogs to think and solve problems in order to get the treat. The second type of puzzle toy is probably the best type of interactive puzzle toy to get for your German Shorthaired Pointer.

Grooming Insights for German Shorthaired Pointer owners

When it comes to grooming your German Shorthaired Pointer, there are several things that you want to keep in mind. GSP’s have short and flat coats that shed throughout the entire year. They even shed in the winter. You should be grooming them once every 4 to 8 weeks. You need to clean their ears, trim their nails and make sure that there coat and skin are both in healthy condition, shiny and free of irritation and red patches or hives. The presence of hives or skin irritation can meet them there is a food allergy that you need to be concerned with.

There are definitely certain grooming activities that you need to be aware of when it comes to your German Shorthaired Pointer. One thing to keep in mind is that when you do give them a bath, which should be done about every 8 weeks or so, you need to shampoo them twice. That’s because they have two coats and the oils on their skin protect the inner coat and keep the dog shampoo from cleaning the skin unless you dislodge the oils with the first shampoo. You also want to keep in mind that many German Shorthaired Pointers have sensitive skin, so you want to go with a hypoallergenic shampoo followed by a medicated shampoo as medicated shampoo for dog . The only other things you need to be worried about are monthly ear cleaning and trimming of the ear hair. if you do these things, you will have a pretty good handle on the grooming for your GSP.

German Shorthaired Pointer Accessories

Finally, you want to think about accessories for your German Shorthaired Pointer. German Shorthaired Pointers are a little too big for some of the accessories that are intended for smaller dogs such as dog strollers and dog playpens, but it can be useful to have accessories to allow them outside for exercise such as electronic dog doors or to build them a kennel out in the backyard where they can roam free if you do not have the benefit of a fence surrounding your yard. You can also look into security accessories such as cameras that keep an eye on your GSP during the day and allow you to see them while you are out of the house.

For dog owners, there are plenty of German Shorthaired Pointer accessories out there for you as well. Many people get coffee mugs that have German shorthaired pointers on them as well as coasters, While others prefer to go with apparel. You can either go with standard apparel that has German shorthaired pointers on them or you can get personalized t-shirts with your own dog’s picture screen printed on it. There are lots of products out there to choose from when it comes to German Shorthaired Pointer accessories, and you should be able to find plenty of things that will let people know just how much you love your dog.