German Shorthaired Pointer Pros and Cons of Owning This Versatile Pet

The German Shorthaired Pointer is going to be a great pet as well as a good hunting buddy. It is an especially good hunting dog as they will retrieve both on land and in the water. This well balanced dog is perfect for someone who is looking for an outdoor companion as well as a family pet. Consider the information below when choosing whether or not one of these versatile dogs will be the right pet for you and your family.

Pros:

If you have a very active, happy family, the German Shorthair may be just the family pet you are looking for. This breed of dog is one that likes to be active and is going to have a high amount of energy on a daily basis. You will need to have room for your pet to run free and burn some of its energy every day. If you do not have this type of space, another breed will probably be more to your lifestyle. Without lots of exercise this pet will get bored which leads to destructiveness or escapism. They can clear a 6 foot fence so make sure they have plenty of room to run or if you can frequently take them where they can.

The GSP is an intelligent dog with exceptionally good temperament. This makes it an ideal choice as a pet that will get along well with children and other pets. They love being around people and are eager to please. If you want a dog that will learn tricks this one will fill the bill.

If you are looking for a great family pet that doubles as a good watch dog look no further than the German Shorthair. They adapt to their living conditions easily and with minimal training, will adapt to the needs that you have. While these dogs have too much energy to be good house dogs they will be somewhat happy to be inside if they are able to get plenty of exercise by running with you or with your bicycle. They are happiest when they can run when they want so try to have a large yard to put them in.

The grooming of the GSP is minimal as it sheds occasionally which keeps you from being too occupied with brushing of a long haired dog. The best thing for your dogs coat is to wash it every few months as well so there is no need for constant bathing. They like water so a dip occasionally will take care of most of the need for bathing.

Cons:

The trouble with owning a German Shorthair is that you are in need of constant exercise for your dog. If you are someone who lives on their own and who is at work the majority of the time, you will find that you have an unhappy dog who is not satisfied with being locked up in a home by itself all day long. If you are looking for a dog that enjoys being inside and is not too energetic look at getting another breed of dog.

If you don't have a large yard you will doing this pet a great disservice as they like to be in almost constant motion. If you let them in the house be sure you have a fairly large one as these as fairly good sized. They like to play and often forget they are inside which can cause a lot of damage.

The GSP is not a pet that you can leave in the house by itself for any length of time as they get bored and can be quite destructive. If you do have to leave it indoors you should teach it to stay in a crate or better yet put it in the garage. If it likes to play with toys be sure they are put in with it along with plenty of water. Dog proof it as much as possible first though.

The German Shorthairs are ordinarily hardy dogs but some are prone to several problems such as epilepsy, and hip dysplasia along with a few other minor ones your vet can make you aware of and can be watched for.

If you are looking for an intelligent, active family pet that likes to hunt and roam the outdoors you won't go wrong with a German Shorthaired Pointer. They are very high energy so make sure you can provide them outlets for this or they won't be very happy.

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