German Longhaired Pointer

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 10-11 years
The German Longhaired Pointer is considered to be a relatively healthy pup that does not have too many medical conditions that are alarming. It is important that you work with a reputable breeder to ensure that your pup does not have any inherited or genetic conditions passed down to him or her.

The conditions that you need to know about include ectropion, entropion, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, OCD, and bloat.

Ectropion is a condition that causes your pup’s eyelids to droop or roll outward. This condition does not result in any pain and is more of a cosmetic issue.

Entropion is another eye disease that is inherited by your puppy. This condition occurs when the eyelid curls inward. The eyelashes can scrape the eye and cause a small cut. It is important to keep an eye out for this because the cuts can become infected if they are not taken care of.

Hip dysplasia is a painful condition that affects your pup’s hip joint and socket. The condition often occurs in senior dogs and will begin to appear later on in life. Hip dysplasia can lead to crippling arthritis and lead to lameness in your pup’s legs. You may also notice that your pup has trouble getting up and down from a standing or laying position.

Hypothyroidism affects your pup’s thyroid and can cause complications with your German Longhaired Pointer’s metabolism. When your pup has a thyroid problem, you will notice that he or she either gains too much weight or does not gain enough weight. Thyroid issues can be corrected with medication from your veterinarian.

OCD, or osteochondritis dissecans, is a disease that affects the cartilage in your German Longhaired Pointer. This condition can be painful, as it causes problems with the joints in the body. Movement can become painful for your pup and will lead to lethargy.

Lastly, your pup may suffer from bloat. It is important and vital to your German Longhaired Pointer’s life that you seek out immediate treatment because bloat can be fatal. This condition occurs when your pup has too much air trapped within his or her stomach. This then causes pressure to be placed on the nearby organs due to the expansion of the stomach. The pressure will cause trouble when your pup’s organs cannot function properly.

The German Longhaired Pointer has a life expectancy of 10 to 11 years.

Temperament & Train-ability

The German Longhaired Pointer is considered to be affectionate and a wonderful family dog. You will find that this breed does well with children and tolerates them well. Your pup is likely to do well with other animals as well and with proper socialization, you will be able to weed out any possible bad or mischievous behaviors.

You will find that your German Longhaired Pointer is a burst of energy and likes to be playful. Your children and your pup will keep each other entertained for hours on end. Since this pup is so active, it would be a good idea to take him or her on trips to the dog park, or even with you on a hike.

You will find that the German Longhaired Pointer is easy to train and listens to the commands that you give. This breed will not give you a run for your money when training and he or she will work hard to please you. The happier you are, the happier your pup is. It is important to note that this breed does enjoy positive reinforcement, so praise and a treat now and again is always a good thing.

As mentioned above, this breed is active, which also means that he or she needs exercise throughout the day and a walk or two as well. Mental and physical stimulation are necessary to prevent any destructive behaviors from developing in your pup.

Grooming

The German Longhaired Pointer has some moderate grooming needs, but nothing that cannot be managed. You will find that you need to brush your pup’s coat at least once per day. When you do brush his or her coat, you want to make sure that you remove any tangles or mats and any debris that may be stuck in his or her coat.

You need to pay attention to the tail, back legs, and ear as you brush the coat because these areas have the thickest fur.

This breed does shed regularly. If you do not want to vacuum up hair all of the time, you can brush your pup a couple of extra times per week to help remove any additional hairs that come loose.

Your pup only needs a bath he or she is really dirty or doesn’t smell good. When you do wash your pup, make sure to rinse him or her well because soap can get stuck in the long hair.

You need to clean your pup’s ear once per week to prevent any ear infections. The German Longhaired Pointer has floppy ears, so ear infections may develop rather quickly and easily when ears are not cleaned.

Lastly, you need to ensure that you trim your pup’s nails once per month, or as needed, to ensure they stay at a healthy length.

Diet

Your German Longhaired Pointer will consume about 2.5 cups to 3 cups of food per day. Ideally, you should split this amount up over two meals. You should feed your pup a healthy, wholesome kibble that is packed with protein and low in calories.

Since your pup is active, you need to make sure you choose a dry kibble that can sustain his or her daily activity needs.
 

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Cost

Your German Longhaired Pointer will consume about 2.5 cups to 3 cups of food per day. Ideally, you should split this amount up over two meals. You should feed your pup a healthy, wholesome kibble that is packed with protein and low in calories.

Since your pup is active, you need to make sure you choose a dry kibble that can sustain his or her daily activity needs.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. The German Longhaired Pointer is an excellent choice and addition to any family. This pup is known to be affectionate and gets along well with other pets and children. You will find that training comes easy and your pup listens to you. The German Longhaired Pointer is recommended for a family that is active simply because this pup loves to play and is full of energy to burn. This breed ranks a 1.

 

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