If you dream of spending all day hunting and outdoors in the wilderness with a loyal companion, look no further than the German Longhaired Pointer.
Originally from Germany, this breed is a great family dog with excellent pointing, searching, tracking, and retrieving instincts. As long as they get plenty of opportunities to expend their physical and mental energy, German Longhaired Pointers make a fantastic family pet.
Discover everything you need to know about the German Longhaired Pointer to give this breed the perfect home.
Key
- Low
- Medium
- High
- Origin: Germany
- Size:
- Weight: 55-80 pounds
- Activity level:
- Barking/howling level:
- Good with dogs: yes
- Good with kids: yes
- Good with strangers: yes
- Good with cats:
- Shedding:
- Shedding: Seasonal
- Hair type: Long
- Grooming level:
- Training level:
German Longhaired Pointer Appearance
The German Longhaired Pointer is a large breed. Males stand 23.6-27.5 inches at the shoulder when fully mature, and females stand 22.8-25.9 inches. Both males and females weigh an average of 66 pounds. This breed tends to mature at around 11-15 months, although this can be affected by their diet, gender, lifestyle, genetics, and health.
In terms of body shape, size, and outline, the appearance of the German Longhaired Pointer is very similar to the German Shorthaired Pointer and German Wirehaired Pointer. One noticeable difference is the coat color and type. The German Longhaired Pointer is one of the only hunting breeds without a black coloration.
Generally, this breed comes in various colors, including brown, brown and white, roan, and mottled. Dogs may have speckles, patches, or a white marking on the head. Also, this breed has a long coat and a full, plumed tail. Lastly, the hair on their ears and the backs of their legs should be feathered and wavy.
German Longhaired Pointer History
The German Longhaired Pointer breed standard was written in 1878. They’re known as the Deutsch-Langhaar or Deutscher Langhaariger in Germany.
The breed is recognized as a Foundation Stock Service by the AKC and, although popular with professional gun dog handlers, is still a rare breed. They excel at hunting and retrieving and can be used as a bird, hawk, or water dog.
German Longhaired Pointer Personality & Lifestyle
“German Longhaired Pointers are typically bred to be intelligent, alert, athletic, and trainable dogs,” explains Russell Hartstein, a Certified Dog Behaviorist and Trainer in Los Angeles.
As long as they’re well socialized from a young age, German Longhaired Pointers can get along very well with other pets and children. But they also need a lot of outlets for their mental and physical energy, which means you’ll need to set aside plenty of time for training and exercise sessions.
Field trials are the perfect outlet for this breed, but they’ll enjoy other activities, including agility, hiking, and swimming.
German Longhaired Pointer Training
Hartstein says German Longhaired Pointers are friendly, pleasant, and trainable. Additionally, he says they make great pets for an outdoorsy, active family. They are high-energy puppies and will need a lot of attention until they reach maturity at around 11-15 months.
“Behavior and training issues will arise if they are not adequately exercised mentally and physically,” Hartstein says. “It is typically not enough to walk a working dog around the neighborhood a few times a day to keep them fulfilled.”
Lastly, he says if pet parents don’t take the time to give their German Longhaired Pointer a job, they’ll find something to do themselves. They might decide to chase wildlife, chew furniture, or dig the garden — all because they’re bored.
German Longhaired Pointer Grooming
The long coat of this breed means any pet parent will need to groom their dog’s coat regularly. This should be done a few times a week, but potentially more often if you spend a lot of time outdoors in heavy undergrowth.
A German Longhaired Pointer’s undercoat will shed seasonally, but you can use a shedding tool to remove as much fluff as possible during grooming sessions. The base of their ears can develop knots if not regularly trimmed or brushed out. Finally, if they swim regularly, German Longhaired Pointers can be prone to ear infections, so pet parents should check and clean their ears regularly.
German Longhaired Pointer Health
As an active gundog breed, German Longhaired Pointers are generally very healthy. Dr. Mathieu Glassman, founder & CEO of Dr. Cuddles, explains that they can suffer from some general conditions, including the following.
- Gastric torsion: Deep-chested breeds can be affected by this condition where the stomach twists, causing bloat. This is also called gastric dilatation volvulus, or GDV.
- Allergies: Any breed can develop allergies to certain foods, environmental factors like pollen, or substances like certain shampoos. Allergy symptoms might include itching, redness, and digestive issues.
- Joint problems: German Longhaired Pointers can develop hip dysplasia, a developmental condition affecting hip joints. They can also suffer from osteochondrosis, a group of developmental diseases resulting in the abnormal formulation of joint cartilage. This commonly involves the shoulder, stifle, hock, or elbow.
- Blood Disorders: German Longhaired Pointers can suffer from thrombocytopathy or Von Willebrand disease. The first is a functional abnormality of small blood cells. The other is a bleeding disorder caused by defective blood platelet function.
- Skin diseases: This breed may suffer from Acral mutilation, a progressive self-mutilation of the feet and legs. This is also known as peripheral sensory neuropathy in pointing breeds because they are born without pain sensation.
Treating some of these conditions can be expensive, so it’s always worth checking out pet insurance to help cover some or all of your veterinary expenses. Additionally, choose a puppy from a reputable breeder who carries out a range of health tests on parent dogs and their puppies.
German Longhaired Pointer Diet
Dr. Glassman says that, in general, German Longhaired Pointers don’t need a breed-specific diet. However, he recommends choosing balanced, high-quality dog food.
“Due to their potential for hip dysplasia, it’s essential to ensure they don’t become overweight,” he added. “It’s also crucial to choose a puppy food designed for large breeds, to ensure proper growth rates and development.”
Lastly, German Longhaired Pointers aren’t more prone to developing food allergies than any other breed. Still, if your dog does have an allergy, you’ll need to speak to your veterinarian about a specific, limited-ingredient diet.
4 Alternative Dog Breeds to Consider
Not sure if the German Longhaired Pointer is the right breed for you? Here are some other breeds that might be your perfect match:
- German Shorthaired Pointer: Love everything about the German Longhaired Pointer except the thought of all that grooming? Then this breed, a close cousin of the Longhaired Pointer, is for you!
- Small Münsterländer: This breed has similar energy and trainability levels as the German Longhaired Pointer but is smaller.
- Pudelpointer: The friendly and outgoing Pudelpointer descends from Poodle and Pointer breeds, with high energy levels and a love of water.
- Longhaired German Shepherd: The ever-popular German Shepherd is an intelligent, active, and loyal life partner who will love to be included in everything you do.
Where to Find a German Longhaired Pointer
The German Longhaired Pointer is still relatively rare, so you may not find any local breeders offering puppies. The German Longhaired Pointer Club of America is an excellent place to connect with breed enthusiasts and discover more about what these dogs need to thrive.
German Longhaired Pointers aren’t commonly found in rescue centers, but it may be worth registering your interest if one becomes available.