Enjoying Life with a GSP

Apr 1

Adding a new dog to your family, particularly a German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP or Shorthair), should not be a decision that is made without a great deal of thought, consideration and planning. After all, it is a long-term commitment, one that will last for the life of your dog.

What is living with a Shorthair like? Dogs who live in healthy environments, have been raised to develop confidence and an optimistic outlook on life are happy, goofy and bright members of the family. Shorthairs are highly intelligent, requiring on-going training to provide them with the mental stimulation they need to be happy. They love being with their people and thrive when given opportunities to excel in dog sports like agility, obedience, rally obedience, dock diving, hunt/field tests and more but they are just as happy to take a hike through the woods with you or play fetch in your yard. The key to enjoying your Shorthair is to get out and have fun together and enjoy your snuggle and snooze on the couch afterward!

Through our chats with people about our dogs and puppies, we get asked a number of questions repeatedly about what living with a Shorthair involves. Here are some of those frequently asked questions and our answers.

GSPs are generally a fairly healthy breed, thanks in part to the diligence of breeders who screen for diseases such as hip and elbow dysplasia as well as cardiac, eye and other disorders. Despite rigorous screening to carefully manage genetic factors, environmental factors (some can be managed) can also influence whether a dog is affected. Additionally, there are diseases that affect GSPs for which there are no screening options available. The following list of health issues that affect GSPs are based on OFA breed statistics, information from the GSP Club of America as well as anecdotal evidence based on the experience of the breeder community:
Gastric Torsion (aka Gastric Dilation Volvulus Syndrome & Bloat)
Hip & Elbow Dysplasia
Cardiac Disorders
Juvenile Cataracts
Cone Degeneration (Day Blindness)
von Willebrand’s Disease
Cancer
Shorthairs are wonderful family dogs and are great with kids if both children and dog are provided with appropriate guidance, supervision and support. Management is key! We’ve all seen the so-called “cute” photos on social media of kids sitting on the backs of their dogs, smushing their faces into their dogs’ faces and so on. Definitely not “cute”, these are all examples of child-dog interactions that could have potentially tragic outcomes. Whether a puppy is being introduced into a family with children, or a baby will soon be born into a family with an existing dog, supported preparation can make the difference toward a positive outcome. We recommend working with a dog trainer and/or your breeder on how to prepare for your specific situation. Here are a few tips that won’t change regardless of the scenario:
Never leave kids and dogs alone, always supervise them when in the same space.
Educate yourself on dog body language and watch for signs that your dog is uncomfortable. It’s the owner’s responsibility to provide the dog with a safe space, free from inappropriate actions on the child’s part.
When old enough, teach kids how to interact with your dog appropriately.
Work with your puppy from an early age to understand that there are great things that come from having four feet on the floor. This will prevent your children from being knocked over when your puppy decides to jump up for attention.
We insist on it! A crate, when used responsibly is a tool that will not only keep your dog safe, but also give you freedom in certain situations that might otherwise be frustrating or challenging. Here are our top reasons for insisting that our puppy buyers train their puppies to value and love their crates:
Preventing potentially dangerous scenarios such as foreign object ingestion, problem behaviour rehearsal (think counter surfing, furniture chewing etc.) and more. If you cannot supervise your puppy/dog, a crate is an appropriate containment tool to keep your dog safe.
Prevent separation anxiety, in part, by using a crate as a tool to help the dog develop the confidence to be on their own for periods of time.
Make travelling with your dog an even more amazing experience by having the option to crate your dog, giving both dog and human much needed rest breaks.
Lessen your dog’s stress resulting from stays at veterinary offices, pet sitters or similar by training your dog to be comfortable in a crate.
Yes! We believe training classes are important for both puppies and their humans. In fact, we have a clause in our contract that requires families attend training classes with their puppies. We practice what we preach and attend training classes with all of the puppies we raise. Why do we believe so strongly in this?
Along with all of the other efforts that go into raising a puppy responsibly, training classes provide another opportunity to strengthen the bond between dog and human.
Regardless of how experienced the owner is in training dogs, and we’ve trained quite a few dogs ourselves, embarking on a training journey with a new dog brings new skills to both dog and owner. There’s always something new to learn.
Teaching a dog to work in a distracted environment will pay off for the dog’s lifetime! Doing so in a training environment with a knowledgeable instructor who provides timely and targeted advice is incredibly valuable.
Building a relationship with a trusted and knowledgeable trainer who has a like-minded approach is another support outlet when things get challenging, which they always do!
The short answer is—when your dog is dirty. More broadly, however, the grooming requirements of owning a GSP are minimal, but a few things are important to stay on top of:
Claws should be kept trim to avoid toe pain and injuries (and protect your floors). We use both clippers and a grinder approximately once per week.
Ears should be kept clean. The frequency of cleaning depends on the individual dog, but likely every 1-2 weeks.
Teeth should be kept clear of tartar. We accomplish this by feeding a raw diet that includes raw meaty bone meals and using a dental scraper on the canines that aren’t cleaned up via chewing on, and eating bones. We don’t recommend using a dental scraper without training on how to use it safely, so brushing is a good alternative.
We bath our dogs when they need it. During the winter this tends to be less frequently than spring and fall (think snow vs. mud). Frequency during the summer depends on weather and the types of activities we enjoy.
GSPs are active dogs and they do require more exercise than many other breeds. Having said this, there isn’t a magic number that dictates what amount of exercise a GSP requires. The trick to raising a well-adjusted GSP is to provide a daily balance of physical and mental stimulation as well as “off time”. Also, keep in mind that the requirements for a GSP, and any dog for that matter, will change based on the life stage of the dog. Create an environment rich with activities that both dog and owner enjoy and are happy with—that’s the key to success.