Breed Characteristics:
Apartment Friendly
?How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?
Good For First-Time Owners
?Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?
Overall Sensitivity
?Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?
Tolerates Being Alone
?Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?
Affectionate With Family
?How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?
Kid-Friendly
?Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?
Friendly Toward Other Dogs
?Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?
Friendly Toward Strangers
?Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?
Drooling Level
?If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?
Easy To Groom
?Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?
Overall Health
?What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.
Prone To Obesity
?Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?
Trainability Level
?Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.
Intelligence Level
?Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?
Prey Drive
?Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?
Barking Level
?How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?
Energy Level
?Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?
Exercise Needs
?Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?
Playfulness Level
?Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?
German Longhaired Pointer is a breed that is often described as the European version of the popular Setter. The biggest difference between these two breeds is that the German Longhaired Pointer is a huge water lover.
It’s expected that a gun dog with a soft heart for water will be great for waterfowl hunting. German Longhaired Pointers are gun dogs, who are expected to search, track, point, and assist hunters with their duties.
On top of that, they are great swimmers, which is something that you should support as the owner of the breed. This breed was carefully bred for its athletic skills and versatility.
Today, they are bred for these reasons and much more. Today, they are mostly bred for being full-time companions.
They are also known as GLP, a breed developed in Germany, as a multipurpose dog. In Germany, they are also known as Deutsch-Langhaar or the German Longhair.
This breed isn’t recommended for first time dog owners, as they thrive the most with experienced dog owners. They need positive leadership and an owner with a firm but gentle hand.
Quick Facts
Real name: German Longhaired Pointer
Other names: Deutsch-Langhaar, German Longhair
Common Nickname: GLP
Origin: Germany
Breed type: Sporting Dogs
Weight: 60 to 71 pounds
Height: 23 to 28 inches
Lifespan: 11 to 14 years
Litter Size: 8 – 12 puppies
Color: Brown, liver roan, or brown and white. They are never black.
Coat: Medium length
German Longhaired Pointer History
The German Longhaired Pointer was bred to be a pointer.
As such, this breed is one of the oldest continental Pointers. This versatile breed is descended from a mix of bird and water dogs, as well as scenthounds. This is what makes them so agile and versatile.
Dog breeders started focusing on pure breeding in 1879. In 2006, the United Club recognized the breed. Originally bred to be pointers, this breed turned out to be slower than necessary.
These dogs were also highly stubborn. As expected, these traits were undesirable, and breeders decided to deal with them. They started crossing the German Longhaired Pointer with local hunting dogs to improve these traits.
Local hunting dogs were mostly Pointers and Setters from other European countries. By 1879, the breeders started working on the breed further and developing to create more fine-tuned traits.
In 1897, standards for the breed were created. This big milestone was the foundation for the modern German Longhaired Pointer, German Shorthaired Pointers, and German Wirehaired Pointers.
It took some time for major clubs to recognize this breed. The Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) recognized the breed in 2011. As the popularity of the breed goes up, more and more clubs are recognizing this breed.
German Longhaired Pointer Physical Appearance
The German Longhaired Pointer should always be elegant and muscular. This breed should never be bulky and should be able to have a light move and great speed.
Representatives of this breed will always be well-built, and should never look weak. They have webbed feet, which should be an obvious sign that this is a water dog. All German pointers have webbed feet.
The German Longhaired Pointer stands between 23 to 28 inches and usually weighs between 60 to 71 pounds. As expected, females are usually smaller than males.
Cheekbones in this breed are never too strong. Eyes are usually in brown color, going toward the dark color more. Ears are slightly turned forward, while the neck is strong and never too short.
The tail is never carried too high. It should be fixed horizontally, while slightly being curved upwards.
As for the skin, there are no wrinkles. The coat is fitting to the body, while the coat is of medium height.
The coat is never too long or too short. On the chest and belly, the coat may be longer. The hair on the head is usually shorter than the rest of the body.
Overall, this dog stands for elegance, power, and speed.
German Longhaired Pointer Personality
German Longhaired Pointer’s lovers and dog owners claim that this breed only offers love and affection.
Since they were created out of a mix of different dogs with unique traits, they are a true mix of hunting and scent dogs. As such, they are intelligent, curious, and love nothing more but exploring their surroundings.
After all, dogs do get familiar with the world by exploring every smell. In fact, they have to sniff everything to get to know you and the world around them.
It’s not so common for large size dogs to be clingy, but this bred proves that not even the size can stop the dog from being a lap dog. They tend to get close to their humans, and never to leave their sight.
If you want to know how does it feel to have a shadow of a dog then this breed is for you.
As such, they are prone to separation anxiety, which is something that you want to prevent and avoid seeing in your dog. In some cases, separation anxiety can lead to heavy destructive behavior.
If separation anxiety kicks in, you might talk to a professional dog trainer to see how to help your dog overcome his fears of being abandoned.
Also, you might be surprised to discover just how much toys can do in keeping dogs happy and entertained for hours. That being said, don’t be afraid to invest more money in interactive toys.
Well-designed toys will help your dog stay mentally challenged and focused. To have a well-behaved dog, you need to invest in training first.
German Longhaired Pointer Training
As a highly intelligent breed, training your German Longhaired Pointer should be an easy task.
With highly intelligent breeds, the training process is usually smooth and fun. Still, this doesn’t mean that you won’t have difficult moments.
If you feel like you need extra for training your GLP talk to a professional dog trainer. Having dog experience already with this breed should be a plus, but learning some new tricks and tips cannot harm you.
These dogs are athletic and come with many traits that make them great for any dog sport, from agility to water sports. They are especially successful when it comes to field traits and agility.
Early socialization and proper training will help you have a well-behaved GLP. Only through these processes, you can enhance certain behavior and also treat unwanted behaviors.
How your LGP treats children, adults, and behaves overall comes down to training, socialization, and a bit of luck. If you adopting, especially if you are adopting an adult dog, the training process may be a bit challenging.
Arm yourself with additional patience, because you are going to need it. Just don’t forget that even an old dog can be taught new tricks where there are enough structure, focus, and treats.
German Longhaired Pointer Exercise
When it comes to exercise needs, you should know that GLP is an active and athletic breed. Regular walks are mandatory, but extra exercising is what makes a dog really happy and fit.
Extra exercise moments are what keep dogs fit and healthy. This breed comes with high energy levels and a high need for exercise. If those needs aren’t met, you may discover how a bored dog behaves.
When bored, dogs tend to become destructive. Destructive behavior in dogs is something that you want to avoid and never experience It can be treated and managed, but it will require time and additional efforts.
How much exercise do GLP needs? This breed needs a minimum of 30 minutes of intense exercise per day.
Ideally, 60 minutes would be the best time to keep your GLP fit and healthy. This breed must have a fenced yard to run in.
They are seen in city areas, but city life means much more activities, longer walking sessions, and more frequent visits to the dog park. They are fine with living in more rural areas and spend the majority of the day outdoors.
German Longhaired Pointer With Children And Other Pets
German Longhaired Pointers are great family dogs.
As such, they will get along with children perfectly, even with younger ones. Still, it’s crucial to educate children on how to behave around dogs.
It’s important for children to understand that house rules for dogs are created with the purpose and that they will keep them safe. Children must know:
- Not to disturb dogs when eating
- Not to pull dog’s tail
- Not to have sudden moves toward dogs
- Not to disturb dogs while drinking, sleeping, or playing with their toys
- Not to disturb dogs while they are testing in their crate
It’s also important for children to know how to interact with dogs safely. They should know how to approach dogs adn when they should take a step back.
By following these rules, a safer environment is created. You may also train your GLP not to jump when excited because they can easily knock off smaller children.
It is not that they would do ion purpose, it’s just that it can happen by accident. No matter how well dogs and children may get along, it’s important not to leave them without supervision.
A number of accidents may occur when there is no one watching. This is something that you definitely want to avoid. What about other animals? As for the other dogs, the LGP will get along with canine buddies.
As for the other animals, especially small mammals, they may choose to chase them.
However, if introduced at a younger age and raised together, they may learn to tolerate them, and avoid chasing them. This is where proper training and early socialization step in.
German Longhaired Pointer Grooming
German Longhaired Pointers will take some of your time when it comes to grooming. As a practice, grooming is what keeps your dog neat and healthy.
It’s beyond brushing since it’s a lot about keeping his entire body in balance. Standard coat colors of their breed are brown and white, although they are often mixed.
Coats may be roan or speckled, which are again the breed’s standards. This breed will shed. They are considered to be a low-to-moderate sheeder, which makes them a great choice for those who have to deal with allergies.
Brush his coat once a week to remove the dead skin and debris. Expect more shedding during the shedding season, which is in spring and autumn.
By providing regular brushing you are actually preventing matting and tangles.
Make sure that you have the right grooming tools on hand. Know that this breed doesn’t do well in extreme temperatures.
Do not leave him in extremely cold or heat, and if you are heading to the beach apply sunscreen to protect him.
German Longhaired Pointer Health
As for health, German Longhaired Pointers are considered to be healthy dogs. They are quite robust and strong, without any major health issues.
When working with responsible breeders, health issues should be put to a minimum. When dealing with responsible dog breeders, you will always be informed on common health issues on the breed, and you will be presented with medical documentation on the puppy.
If you are adopting a dog you should also be informed of the dog’s health.
In some cases, proper medical documentation will be given. When adopting, you are most likely to get a dog with a microchip on, so you would want to put your name as the owner.
Always ask breeders about genetic testing and if they have noticed anything unusual in the dog’s behavior. Honest breeders will always be up from on dog’s health.
Once you get your LGP you are directly responsible for one of the most common illnesses find on – obesity.
Obesity in pets is a rising problem across the States and is something that you want to protect your dog from. Learn which human foods are safe to share with your Fido, and which should be off-limits.
Some table scraps are ok, while some human foods such as human chocolate, should never be a dog’s reach.
In general, dogs should stay away from food that could potentially make them sick, like onions.
Prevention is the best way to keep your dog healthy. This is why regular veterinarian check-ups are so important. Sometimes underlying health issues may pop up during a routine check-up.
Is German Longhaired Pointer For You?
German Shorthaired Pointers are highly adaptable dogs, primarily bred to hunt. This is why they come with high energy levels and aren’t recommended for first time dog owners.
Since their nature is quite athletic they need an owner of identical spirit. They will throve on intense athletic sessions, which may include running, hiking, or even biking.
For this energetic breed, a walk amounted block is just a warm-up. This is something that everyone should have in mind before they get this breed.
They will always happily bark to notify you when there is someone around. Keeping you safe is imperative for them. This breed is for you if you want a large dog, that is athletic, well-muscled, and thrives on intense exercise.
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