In his native Germany, he’s called the Kurzhaar (Shorthair), but in shooting circles, he’s often called the Wonder Dog. He’s one of a few breeds known as “HPR” dogs, or dogs that can hunt, point, and retrieve. He has a great range of quarry from birds to small game, and he can work on land and in water. We know this elegant and versatile breed as the German Shorthaired Pointer.

Gunmen like the loads of natural prey drive the breed has, and hunters find it a precocious breed that learns fast.  In AKC Hunt tests, or the testing programs of NAVHDA and UKC, the German Shorthair is mainly seen as an upland game bird and waterfowl dog that’s judged on its ability to search for, find, point, track, and retrieve a variety of fowl. To be registered by the DKV (the Deutsch Kurzhaar Verband, or the breed club), the GSP has to pass conformation evaluations and field tests.  A testament to the modern version of the breed is the sheer number of dogs that achieve dual championships.