If you’re looking for a versatile hunting dog that can do nearly anything in the field and transition back into family life at home, you’ve come to the right place.
You don’t have to dig too deep to see why the German Shorthaired Pointer is easily the most popular pointing breed in the U.S. Commonly referred to as a “GSP”, the breed is blessed with an athletic build, intelligence, and work ethic to match.
So let’s cut through the noise and see what puts the GSP in a class of its own so you can determine if it’s the right dog for you. And we’ll start by going back in time a couple hundred years.
What Makes the German Shorthaired Pointer Great
Unlike today’s world where most hunters utilize the GSP to hunt upland and waterfowl, the GSP was initially bred in the 1800s to hunt both furred and feathered game. Hunters needed a versatile dog that pointed instinctively, retrieved, and put meat on the table.
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a great hunting dog due to a few key factors. Their ability to hunt a variety of species is a direct result of their high prey drive that has been bred into them over generations.
Essentially, they are more motivated to find, chase, and capture game than most breeds. And when you combine a fantastic prey drive with a stellar work ethic and high intelligence, you get a dog that even a novice can train to hunt with.
For Upland and Waterfowl Hunting
With all the talk about versatility, you’re probably wondering what they’re best at hunting. Today, the German Shorthaired Pointer is primarily known as an upland bird dog, but they are capable waterfowl hunters as well.
To say the GSP is well suited to hunting virtually every upland bird in North America is an understatement. With their short coat and athletic ability, they’re able to cover a lot of ground, even in warmer weather where the heat takes a toll on other dogs. It’s tough to beat a well-conditioned GSP for hunting open country in the early season with warm temperatures.
Since many upland hunters spend time chasing waterfowl, future dog owners frequently ask if GSPs are good for waterfowl hunting. With their webbed feet and athleticism, the German Shorthaired pointer loves to swim and retrieve. This makes for a phenomenal waterfowl dog when you combine their work ethic with the right training. So while you
won’t find nearly as many GSPs in duck blinds when compared to labs, they’re underrated for waterfowl hunting.
For the hunter who targets upland species with a dash of waterfowl hunting mixed in, the GSP is an ideal choice. With that being said, they’re not Labrador Retrievers…so when it comes to advanced-level retriever training, don’t expect them to compete with well-bred and expertly trained retrievers.
And remember how we mentioned the short coat of the GSP? While it certainly keeps them cool on hot days, they won’t hold up to extreme cold like many retrievers.
Fortunately, a properly fitted vest can solve most of the cold weather challenges. However, high winds and cold temperatures can often keep GSPs on the sideline. But, for the majority of hunters wanting a versatile bird dog, they can do nearly anything in most waterfowl hunting scenarios.
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How they Hunt and Point
With all their natural gifts, you might be wondering…how exactly does the GSP hunt?
Like most canines, the GSP has a sense of smell far greater than humans. With their muscular build and athletic body, they’re able to cover ground fast and locate game using their nose. When the dog feels it’s finally within close proximity of their targeted game, they point the animal.
This is where you get the iconic images of a pointer leaning ahead with his nose as his body slows to a standstill. In a perfect scenario, the dog will stay on point until the human hunter moves in and flushes the bird.
You don’t have to train a German Shorthaired Pointer to point – they will do it naturally. The ability to point comes from generations of breeding that trait into the dogs. However, don’t assume their instinctive pointing ability means you can hunt behind the dog without training.
Training
What you’ll need to do is train the dog to hold their point. This means they’ll go on point and stay there until the hunter comes and flushes the bird. Without training for this type of steadiness, the dog will creep closer and closer to the bird.
As mentioned before, this is their natural prey drive in action.
Like any hunting dog, basic obedience is the key to unlocking the natural ability of the GSP to transform them into reliable hunting partners. This includes all the basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and heel. In the pointing dog world, you’ll often hear the term “whoa” as well, which essentially means to “stay” in the current standing position and stop forward movement.
You’ll see this come into play as hunters approach a dog on point and they use the “whoa” command to ensure the dog does not move closer to the bird.
Basic obedience training can and should begin the day you bring your puppy home. This doesn’t mean buying cute stuffed toys that look like a pheasant. Instead, we’re talking about the foundations of dog training, such as teaching them to come when called.
Given the high energy and intelligence of the GSP, you should incorporate some form of training into each day – especially when they’re young. Fortunately, the most effective training sessions for young dogs take very little time and provide both mental and physical stimulation. A few minutes at a time is often all it takes…and sometimes the maximum their young attention span can handle.
When done right, the dog recognizes these training sessions as routine and they come to embrace them. Remember, this is a high-energy, working breed…they aren’t couch potatoes and they like to have a job to do.
Training should be fun and rewarding for the dog and owner, with no heavy-handed pressure. Ultimately, it’s far more effective to do a little bit of training each day instead of doing a lot within one weekend.
Developing a Training Plan
Regardless of the specific training methods you choose, you’ll want to follow a structured program to reach your goals. There are virtually unlimited training resources available – you’ll want to identify a plan that fits your needs and produces a dog with your desired skills.
Give this considerable thought and be honest with yourself. For example, let’s say you spend 20 days a season in the thick grouse woods close to home and you want a dog that works relatively close. You’ll want to gear your training toward the unique challenges associated with those settings.
Once you identify a training plan, it’s crucial to follow it step-by-step. Each step builds upon the previous and no dog goes through training in a straight line. You inevitably face challenges that take more time to work through than others.
When to Hire a Trainer
The biggest factor in training a GSP on your own is time. Training needs to be consistent. If you don’t have the time or simply feel like you’d rather have a professional train your GSP, there are a ton of options. Your best bet is to speak to several trainers and the people who’ve used them. Again, you want to be intimately familiar with your end goals.
Try to find a trainer who’s going to work the dog in an environment similar to where you’ll be hunting the most. Just like the dogs themselves, trainers have unique strengths and specialties.
Lastly, make sure that the training methods they use are easily transferred back to you. Don’t think you can simply send a dog away and you’ll get a perfect hunting companion for the rest of time. Training never really ends and the last thing you want is your dog to get home and forget everything they’ve learned (and that you’ve spent money on). It’s
up to you to maintain the same standards and expectations that the trainer put in place.
Where to Buy a GSP
As the most popular pointing breed in America, there’s no shortage of available GSPs. A simple Google search for your area will give you an overwhelming amount of options, but don’t make your choice based solely on location and budget.
Research is key – don’t rush this part of the process. Your best bet will be talking to several people with firsthand experience who have similar goals for their dogs. As with most topics, people aren’t afraid to share opinions and you’ll often hear the same reputable names come up frequently.
Don’t hesitate to talk to breeders and meet their dogs – this will give you an idea of their demeanor, strengths, and weaknesses. It also reveals details on exactly what the breeders are trying to get out of their dogs. For example, some breeders want a high-powered dog that excels in the pheasant fields and open country, while others like a close working dog that also retrieves waterfowl.
Tools of the Trade
The gear for training and owning a GSP is much like any other bird dog. Start with the essentials. You’ll need a leash, collar, and a crate or kennel. These are the foundational tools for training the dog and keeping it safe in many situations.
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One of the easiest ways to make both your life and your GSP’s life easier is to properly crate train the dog starting on day 1. This makes house training simple and you set the stage for them to become comfortable going into and staying in a kennel. You’ll always have a place to secure your dog and your GSP will travel easier as well.
This is often overlooked by new puppy owners, but get a canine first aid kit and familiarize yourself with how to use it. Keep this at home and bring it with you wherever you travel with your dog…especially in the field. Many hunters have some sort of dog bag that holds a first aid kit, extra leash, and bumpers for retrieving. This gives them the ability to train just about anywhere.
Everyone likes to get caught up in the latest gadgets but you don’t necessarily need all of it. If you hunt waterfowl in cold weather, you might need a vest at some point to keep them warm. The same goes for thick cover where a vest can keep sharp sticks from jabbing the dog. Likewise, if you hunt rocky, abrasive terrain, you’d be wise to acclimate your dog to wearing boots.
Though dogs were trained for hundreds of years before the invention of the e-collar, good luck finding a hunter that doesn’t use one today. Again, look closely at your needs before choosing one – maybe you just need to reinforce commands or you want one with GPS tracking to know where they’re at and when they’re on point.
Regardless of what you pick, realize it’s a tool requiring you to learn how to use it properly. Likewise, even the most intelligent GSP has to be taught how to respond to it. This is where you’ll hear the term “collar conditioning” and it’s not a topic to be taken lightly. In the right hands, they can take a dog from good to great. In the wrong hands, they can give you serious setbacks in the training process.
Above all, if you want your German Shorthaired Pointer to be a bird dog, the most important tool to have is birds. Wild birds are ideal, but pen-raised birds including chukar, quail, and trapped pigeons are the easy choice for most people. After all, it’s the birds that make a bird dog. If you’re able to select a GSP that suits your needs, mix in the right training program, and give it experience with live birds, you’ll be on your way to having a hunting buddy and family companion for years to come.
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