Both breeds are great companion dogs as well. In 2000, she was awarded an editors choice award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry from the International Library of Poetry. They have a slightly lower life expectancy than do English Pointers. All rights reserved. Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the English Pointer are loving family companions and highly adaptable hunters. Her articles have appeared on a variety of popular and informative pet websites including munch.zone. So, what are the differences between these two breeds? This makes them eager learners in a wide variety of skills. The Catalburun AKA Split Nose Pointer: A Rare Breed Indeed. To keep these short, stiff hairs from ending up embedded in fabrics throughout your home, youll need to brush your dog regularly and vacuum consistently. German shorthaired pointers are calm, hardworking and seek affection and approval from their master. They were used along with coursing hounds for hunting hares. These are friendly, outgoing dogs who love meeting new people and making new friends. Both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the English Pointer are powerful, driven dogs used for hunting for many years. black, black and white, black roan, liver, liver and white, liver roan, white and liver, black, black and white, lemon, lemon and white, liver, liver and white, orange, orange and white, black points, liver point, self-colored points, ticked, Lots of shedding year round, especially during seasonal shedding, Moderate shedding year round. It is also thought that the lineage includes German scent hounds, who are known for their trailing and tracking abilities. German Shorthaired Pointers are extremely trainable. These Pointers are similar in size, but the English Pointer tends to stand a little bit taller and weigh a little bit more than the German Shorthaired Pointer. Weekly brushing with a soft brush is enough to keep hair from accumulating in your house throughout most of the year. Can German Shorthaired Pointers Be Left Alone. Why Is My German Shorthaired Pointer So Skinny? Generally, the GSP is a better hard-working dog while the English Pointer may be a better family pet. English Pointers can do well with a fenced yard to let them run off their energy and a good run every day. German shorthaired pointers often have a solid white coat accented with small markings in colors such as black and liver throughout the body; the coat can also be solid liver or black. The main ancestry of the German shorthaired pointer is the German bird dog, which is related to the old Spanish pointer breed. German shorthaired pointers and English pointers both possess courage, stamina, a keen sense of smell and are highly intelligent. German shorthaired pointers assist the hunter by staying close to his side, only leaving to retrieve the game and immediately return back to his master. Much of the reason they excel in hunting the way they do is not because of their innate hunting ability but their ability to tune in with and obey their handler. As guns became popular for hunting, the Pointer evolved into a gun dog. Regardless of personal preferences, field results seem to be clear: the German Shorthaired Pointer excels in competitive hunting events. In both cases, the English pointer works far from his master, hunting, retrieving and returning with the game. There are very few dogs who need moreexercise than the German Shorthaired Pointer. These intelligent dogs are also happy to engage in training, but many are happy to burn off energy by themselves without needing a lot of active training-based exercise. Many would argue that they were successful, as the GSP is still a top winner at competitive hunting. Most GSPs like everyone they meet and are very happy to welcome new people into the home. Their hunting skills include pointing, trailing and retrieving. English pointers can have a solid coat of black, lemon or orange, at times, white coloring or spotting is shown sporadically throughout the body and on the bridge of the nose and face. German shorthaired pointers specifically used for hunting often have a 6- to 8-inch tail, that has been docked to prevent field injuries. German Shorthaired Pointers are prone to several more genetic issues. English pointers are independent, focus on getting the job done, have a strong work ethic and show loyalty to their master. Whats the difference between a German Shorthaired Pointer and an English Pointer? Based in Miami, Shellie Alyssa has been writing articles since 2011. These dogs tend to be prone to challenging their owners, especially between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. The German Shorthaired Pointer has a very threatening bark, but thats about as far as their home-defense routine goes. However, there are fundamental differences between these breeds, whether you are looking for a hunting companion, a family pet, or both. We also participate in other affiliate programs and are compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies (at no cost to you). Both of these Pointers are generally quite healthy, but overall, the English Pointer tends to be healthier. They even have webbed feet to make them excellent duck retrievers. English pointers lack the need to seek approval from their master. You may notice some shedding increase seasonally, but it wont be nearly as dramatic as is expected with a German Shorthaired Pointer. These alert and highly responsive dogs make excellent guard dogs, provided they get to live with you in the house, and only alert when someone comes to the gate or door. Still, they arent as obsessed with activity or are as work driven as German Shorthaired Pointers. While both breeds exhibit the pointer technique, which alerts the hunter to the direction of the game, they differ in their tracking technique. At maturity the English pointer is larger than a German shorthaired pointer. Both breeds require physical and mental stimulation, even when they are not working in the field. Both come in a number of color variations, but the colors vary somewhat. It doesnt really matter what you want to do with a German Shorthaired Pointer; what matters is that you do a lot of it. Your English Pointer may be a little bit more prone to distraction or may tend toward laziness, rather than being very committed to obeying you. GSPs are more energetic, require more training, and shed more. The English pointer's lineage is thought to include the greyhound, bloodhound and foxhound, with distant ancestry possibilities coming from the English setter, Newfoundland and bulldog. Both of these Pointers are short-haired dogs, but they vary in how much they shed. It is very important that your English Pointer get some basic training to learn how to control themselves, but they dont need extensive training every day to be happy. As an Amazon Associate, TrendingBreeds.com earns from qualifying purchases. Unless you have a job for the GSP to do, it is best to pick the slightly less intense and more easy-going English Pointer. For the GSP, training is completely necessary. Their long, droopy, large ears are rounded slightly at the tips. This energetic breed is happiest when moving at a fast pace all day long. Both pointers have the ability to point out animals such as raccoons, deer, possum, quail and waterfowl. Both of these dogs were bred to point, but they came from different backgrounds and are very different dogs in many ways. The German Shorthaired Pointer sheds regularly year round, and sheds especially heavily at certain times a year. English Pointers need a lot of exercise every day to be happy. That said, the more training you give your English Pointer to develop self-control, the more behaved he will be in the home. Hunting enthusiasts will argue vehemently about the preference for the English Pointer or the German Shorthaired Pointer. German shorthaired pointers can grow as tall as 25 inches and weigh 55 to 70 pounds. The Pointers evolution can be said to be more organic, whereas the German Shorthaired Pointer was created more deliberately. English pointers can weigh up to 75 pounds and grow up to 28 inches in height. By contrast, English Pointers shed considerably less. German Shorthaired Pointers are usually ticked with black or liver markings, while English Pointers are more often found in solid markings. As an added bonus, the English Pointer sheds less. German Shorthaired Pointers are more intense than English Pointers in nearly every way. On the other hand, many English Pointers excel in training tasks, especially those that keep them connected to their people, like therapy work and search and rescue. Both of these dogs can be wonderful family pets, provided they get plenty of exercise, training, and engagement. They may take longer to warm up to your friends, and they are more likely to put on an impressive show when strangers arrive at the house. She holds a fashion merchandising diploma from Penn Foster College. Pointers found the hares, and hounds chased them down. English Pointers were bred for centuries, since well before rifles were invented. They have a very high prey drive, which can be challenging to control without plenty of self-control training. English Pointers tend to be a bit more reserved than the GSP when encountering new people. About Us | Privacy Policy| Terms and Conditions | Cookie Policy. Each aspect of this dog was bred for perfection, from the sensitive nose to the athletic and versatile body structure. If youre not sure whether your family is active enough for this kind of dog, the English Pointer is a better choice than the GSP. American Kennel Club: German Shorthaired Pointer, American Kennel Club: Get to Know the Pointer, Vet Street: Pointer Dog Breed Information. Copyright 2022 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. English Pointers are happy-go-lucky dogs who enjoy pleasing their owners, but they arent quite as committed to it as GSPs. They show subtle differences in their temperament, coloring and size and display unique tracking techniques that are specific to their breed. How Much Do German Shorthaired Pointers Cost? May have slight increase seasonally, but wont be dramatic, Extremely high exercise needs, requiring structured activity most days, Needs exercise everyday but can be entertained in a fenced yard or with a jog, Training is mandatory but not difficult with this eager-to-please breed, Needs some basic training but may resist extensive training that doesnt involve human interaction. At maturity, males are slightly larger than the females. English pointers, have the capability to hunt independently or hunt in packs of three or more. TheGerman Shorthaired Pointer is the product of generations of breeding by German hunters looking for the perfect versatile bird dog. 2022 TrendingBreeds. If youre trying to decide which of these breeds is right for your family, its crucial that you understand the key differences between them so you dont wind up with a dog for whom you are not prepared to handle. An untrained GSP is very difficult to live with. They excel in all kinds of dog sports and continue to place higher in competitive hunting than all other breeds.
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german shorthaired pointer size comparison