Origin and breed history

The German Shorthair belongs to the old dog breeds. Already in the middle of the 18th century began the breeding of these dogs. Its first studbook dates back to 1897, in which Prince Albrecht zu Solms-Braunfeld laid down the breed standards. The first breeding association was founded in 1880 with the Brauntigerklub. In 1891 it was merged into the Klub Kurzhaar Berlin.

Ancestors of the Deutsch Kurzhaar dogs are pointing dogs from the Mediterranean region. Particularly in Italy, Flanders, France and Spain the Pointer native there served early as reliable hunting assistants. They showed their excellent qualities as pointing and driving dogs during pickle and net hunts.

Nature & character of the German Shorthair

The German Shorthair is a distinct hunting dog. Therefore he is very active and temperamental. If he can live out this basic need, his many positive characteristics show. He is

• docile
• friendly to children
• attentive
• friendly
• affectionate
• reliable
• faithful
• playful
• obedient
• eager to work
• courageous
• family friendly

A representative of the breed gets along well with other dogs. Cats and small animals he might consider as hunting prey. He is very people-oriented and therefore follows his owner when properly trained. On strangers he reacts shyly and attentively. The performance-oriented hunting and working dog always needs recognition and self-affirmation for a contented life.

Appearance of the German Shorthair

The German Shorthair is a visually attractive dog. Its open look and bicolored coat give it a friendly appearance. The breed is characterized by a harmoniously proportioned and muscular physique. A broad chest and a tail reaching to the hocks are characteristic. The tail tapers towards the tip. If the dog is used for hunting, the tail may be shortened under certain conditions.

The head with pronounced broad and long muzzle merges into a muscular neck. The friendly face with dark brown eyes is framed by long floppy ears. The nose is colored black or brown depending on the coat color.

The coat of the German Shorthair corresponds to its name and is short, dense and firm. It feels hard and protects the dog from wetness and cold. Acceptable coat colors are:

• Brown
• Brown with white speckles
• Brown with speckled markings on legs and chest
• Brown with brown head
• Brown with brown spots or plates
• light brown mold
• White with brown head markings, brown plates and spots
• Black with white markings or spots
• Black-gray with spots and plates in white

Education & attitude of the German Shorthair - This is to be considered

Thetemperament and urge to move of the hard-working hunting dog require a home with enough space andexercise. The breed is not suitable for keeping in the big city or a bunkhouse. A house with a securely fenced garden where the dog can roam freely is ideal. The place of the German Shorthair is in the house with direct contact with the family. Keeping in a kennel is torture for the people-oriented dog.

This dog does not like to be alone, but wants to be with his family. If left alone, it may develop separation anxiety. Bored animals also take every opportunity to run away or find their own occupations. These in turn usually give little pleasure to their fellow humans.

The German Shorthair was and is bred specifically for hunting. Despite its family and child-friendly nature, it is not a family dog. As a hunting dog he is dependent on hunting activities. For hunters these pointing dogs are ideal partners. When pointing, the dog freezes in fluid motion as soon as it senses game. Often he lifts a front leg and fixes the prey. He remains in this posture until his hunting partner gives him another command. Pointing is in his blood, as is tracking down and retrieving the prey.

Many breeders therefore give puppies only to hunters where they can regularly pursue their inclination. Occasional hunting is not enough for the animal. Non-hunters rarely have the chance to buy a German Shorthair puppy. Occasionally this is possible, if the hunting abilities of the animal are not sufficiently developed. If you are a non-hunter and want to keep a German Shorthair, you need to be aware of the challenges involved. The dog needs a lot of exercise and almost constant activity. In addition, he wants to be challenged. If these requirements are missing, the dog will quickly become unbalanced, destructive and nervous.

Gentle education with absolute consistency

Raising a German Wirehaired requires an experienced dog owner. This breed is not the right choice for beginners in dog keeping. Animals bred for hunting tend to behave independently, which is often necessary during the hunt. However, this is only appropriate when they are given the command to do so. It is therefore important to teach obedience with gentle consistency even to the puppy. The correct method for this is positive reinforcers in the form of praise and reward.

A hard and brutal education the dog acknowledges with stubbornness and aversion. With sensitive training, he follows his partner all by himself and makes an effort to show the expected behavior. In this close bond, the German Shorthair is easy to train.

For good socialization, the puppy should be exposed to other animals at an early age. Visiting a puppy school should therefore be part of the employment program. Subsequently, a further visit to the dog school is useful. It strengthens the bond between the dog and its owner. In addition, he learns important rules of behavior.

Nutrition of the German Shorthair

The powerful and fast hunting dog needs a diet that is as natural as possible. This includes above all a lot of meat. This can be in a high-quality, energy-providing wet or dry food. Another method of providing the dog with large portions of meat is barfing. This food consists of raw meat from cattle, sheep, horses and other slaughtered animals except pigs. Raw pork poses health risks to dogs.

A varied diet combines dry food, raw and cooked meat, and occasionally canned food. Energy- and vitamin-giving flakes supplement the feed. Grain components are not needed by the hunting dog in his feed.

The daily food ration should be divided into two to three meals. After each meal, the dog needs sufficient rest to avoid the risk of gastric distention. Large dogs in particular are prone to this often life-threatening complication.

Puppies require three to four meals per day. Small treats or pieces of sausage are suitable as rewards during training. Rewards and snacks for in-between meals should be included in the total feeding amount. It is also important to have a steady supply of water for the dog. Practical drinking bottles with integrated bowls are available for on the go.

Dogs love bones because they do not know the danger

Still widespread among many dog owners is the opinion that bones are ideal snacks. Almost meditatively, the animals can occupy themselves for hours with a large bone and they love it. But bones are not healthy for dogs. They cause constipation with accompanying symptoms that are agonizing for the dog. In addition, chewing bones poses a risk of injury from bone splinters in the throat or digestive tract. Medullary bones can overlap the lower or upper jaw with their hole. They are then often difficult to remove and can damage teeth.

Healthier snacks to clean the teeth and keep the dog tastily occupied are chews made from beef hide. They are available in many sizes and shapes.

Care of the German Shorthair

The breed is characterized by its ease of care. In the short-haired coat, grasses or parts of bushes rarely get caught. It is enough to brush the dog once a week with a currycomb. This loosens dirt and hair. If you selectively brush out the loose hair, you will have to remove less hair from the home later. The German Shorthair sheds to the normal extent of a short-haired dog.

Periodically, the ears should be checked. Floppy ears are prone to infection. Therefore, it is important to keep them clean at all times. To do this, it is sufficient to wipe through the outer area of the ears with a soft, damp cloth. If the dog scratches its ears conspicuously often and if they are reddened from the inside, a visit to the vet is necessary.

After extended walks and especially after hunting, ticks and other parasites can settle in the fur. Therefore, it is important to check the coat and skin thoroughly. The paws also require regular inspection. This makes it easy to see if there are small stones, small branches or awns between the pads.

The German Shorthair does not need a shower or bath. A bath only makes sense for an extremely dirty dog. If mud and other dirt can no longer be brushed out, a bath is necessary. To protect the skin and coat, only a mild dog shampoo should be used.

German Shorthair - activities and training

The extremely agile hunting dogs need sufficient daily exercise and demand. Walks of two hours a day give him pleasure. In addition, to be fully utilized, he needs games of catch and fetch. Accompanying him on jogs or bike rides is also in keeping with his need for exercise.

This classic hunting dog should receive hunting training. It challenges him and brings out his qualities. If he does not go hunting every day, dog sports are a good option in between. Ideal sports for the breed are:

• Agility
• Dog Frisbee
• Utility dog sports
• Mantrailing
• Tracking

Disadvantages of the German Shorthair

Strictly speaking, the German Shorthair has no disadvantages. Some lovers of the breed without their own hunting passion may regret that the dogs cannot lead a life as companion dogs. However, this is not a disadvantage of the dog, but the wrong choice of the animal lover.

Does the German Shorthair suit me?

Only hunters can answer this question clearly in the affirmative. The dog lives for hunting. Its needs are optimally satisfied when used for hunting. Hunters who choose the breed should not live in a city apartment. Since man and dog cannot hunt continuously, the dog also needs enough exercise and freedom of movement at home.

Amateur hunters who pursue their profession during the day may not be able to spend enough time with the dog. A German Shorthair always needs a caregiver close by and takes up several hours of time a day. Passionate and athletic senior hunters, on the other hand, can be good partners for a German Shorthair. They are usually able to spend the necessary time with the animal.