The German Longhaired Pointer is a pointing dog with a full tail, a long coat, dense guard hair, and a modest undercoat. Its appearance is best described as Continental Europe’s Setter. The GLP’s affinity for swimming and waterfowl hunting is one notable distinction. German Shorthaired Pointer-like markings are reflected in the coat color. Gun dogs, such as German Longhaired Pointers, are expected to search, point, track, and recover game. They are skilled in various hunting circumstances, including collecting furred wildlife from the forests or plains, such as rabbits and squirrels in North America, or hunting for upland game birds. They possess a special talent in that they can transform from tranquil house pets to a ferocious, passionate hunter. They are an excellent, well-proven hunting companion because they have been bred for hunting for more than a century.
German Longhaired Pointer
versatile / calm / family-oriented
Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.
Height
22-28 inches
Weight
55-80 pounds
Life Expectancy
12-14 years
Breed Traits & Characteristics
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Affectionate With Family
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Openness To Strangers
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!
Playfulness Level
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.
Watchdog/Protective Nature
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.
Adaptability Level
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.
Trainability Level
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!
Energy Level
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.
Barking Level
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.
Mental Stimulation Needs
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.
About the Breed
What To Expect When Caring For a German Longhaired Pointer
Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.
Health
The sturdy German Longhaired Pointer breed has never been associated with any congenital issues. Those who want to buy a German Longhaired Pointer can learn all they need to know about the breed's particular health issues by working with a responsible breeder. To lessen the possibility of sickness in their puppies, good breeders genetically screen their breeding material.
Grooming
Regular maintenance is necessary for the German Longhair, particularly if he hunts in challenging terrain and dense cover. His lengthy coat makes him susceptible to burs, which may need to be trimmed away, and the base of his ears are prone to knotting. He might have abrasions on his whole tail when hunted in dense cover. Otherwise, he will always look his finest with the occasional brush and bath. If necessary, his nails can be clipped or ground to prevent overgrowth, splitting, and cracking. His ears should be checked frequently to prevent wax and debris buildup that could cause an infection. You should brush your teeth frequently.
Exercise
GLPs have a high level of energy, are well-bred, and have a strong passion and drive for hunting. They must live in the homes of serious bird hunters since they require a lot of activity and care. They are not appropriate for infrequent hunters. In addition to hunting, other possibilities for exercise include playing in the backyard, particularly one that is enclosed, or going on daily walks. Swimming and hiking are two more outdoor activities that might be an excellent way to burn off energy. Dog sports training, such as agility, obedience, and rally, can also be a terrific method to exercise your dog.
Training
German Longhaired Pointers are eager to please, intelligent, and very trainable when they come from good stock. Due to their high activity level, they require and merit a great deal of care and exercise.
Nutrition
GLPs have the same kind of nutritional needs as all other sporting breeds: a recommended twice-daily ration of high-quality food. Many dog food companies have breed-specific formulas for small, medium, large, and extra-large breeds. German Longhaired Pointers are a medium-large breed and may have a lifespan ranging from 12 to 14 years. What you feed your dog is an individual choice, but working with your veterinarian and/or breeder will be the best way to determine the frequency of meals as a puppy and the best adult diet to increase his longevity. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.
History
One of the first continental Pointers, the German Longhaired Pointer (Deutsch-Langhaar) mixes the lineages of a bird dog, hawk dog, water dog, and Bracken (Scenthounds). Therefore, he has a lot of room for versatility. Prior to the introduction of rifle hunting, many dogs of the Langhaar type may be seen being utilized by falconers in European oil paintings and copperplates depicting hunting. Breeders established the first kennel associations in the 1870s. Pure breeding has been practiced since 1879, and the essential traits of the breed have been established. Baron von Schorlemer established the first German Longhaired standard in 1897, laying the groundwork for modern pure breeding.
