General Appearance
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a versatile hunter, an all-purpose gun dog capable of
high performance in field and water. The judgement of Shorthairs in the show ring reflects
this basic characteristic. The overall picture which is created in the observer's eye is
that of an aristocratic, well balanced, symmetrical animal with conformation indicating
power, endurance and agility and a look of intelligence and animation. The dog is neither
unduly small nor conspicuously large. It gives the impression of medium size, but is like
the proper hunter, "with a short back, but standing over plenty of ground."
Symmetry and field quality are most essential. A dog in hard and lean field condition is
not to be penalized; however, overly fat or poorly muscled dogs are to be penalized. A dog
well balanced in all points is preferable to one with outstanding good qualities and
defects. Grace of outline, clean-cut head, sloping shoulders, deep chest, powerful back,
strong quarters, good bone composition, adequate muscle, well carried tail and taut coat
produce a look of nobility and indicate a heritage of purposefully conducted breeding.
Further evidence of this heritage is movement which is balanced, alertly coordinated and
without wasted motion.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size
-height of dogs, measured at the withers, 23 to 25 inches. Height
of bitches, measured at the withers, 21 to 23 inches. Deviations of one inch above or
below the described heights are to be severely penalized. Weight of dogs 55 to 70 pounds.
Weight of bitches 45 to 60 pounds. Proportion-measuring from the
forechest to the rearmost projection of the rump and from the withers to the ground, the
Shorthair is permissibly either square or slightly longer than he is tall.
Substance-thin and fine bones are by no means desirable in a dog which must
possess strength and be able to work over any type of terrain. The main importance is not
laid so much on the size of bone, but rather on the bone being in proper proportion to the
body. Bone structure too heavy or too light is a fault. Tall and leggy dogs, dogs which
are ponderous because of excess substance, doggy bitches, and bitchy dogs are to be
faulted.
Head
The head is clean-cut, is neither too light nor too heavy, and is in
proper proportion to the body. The eyes are of medium size, full of
intelligence and expression, good-humored and yet radiating energy, neither protruding nor
sunken. The eye is almond shaped, not circular. The preferred color is dark brown. Light
yellow eyes are not desirable and are a fault. Closely set eyes are to be faulted. China
or wall eyes are to be disqualified. The ears are broad and set fairly
high, lie flat and never hang away from the head. Their placement is just above eye level.
The ears when laid in front without being pulled, should extend to the corner of the
mouth. In the case of heavier dogs, the ears are correspondingly longer. Ears too long or
fleshy are to be faulted. The skull is reasonably broad, arched on the
side and slightly round on top. Unlike the Pointer, the median line between the eyes at
the forehead is not too deep and the occipital bone is not very conspicuous. The foreface
rises gradually from nose to forehead. The rise is more strongly pronounced in the dog
than in the bitch. The jaw is powerful and the muscles well developed. The line to the
forehead rises gradually and never has a definite stop as that of the Pointer, but rather
a stop-effect when viewed from the side, due to the position of the eyebrows. The
muzzle is sufficiently long to enable the dog to seize game properly and be able
to carry it for a long time. A pointed muzzle is not desirable. The depth is in the right
proportion to the length, both in the muzzle and in the skull proper. The length of the
muzzle should equal the length of skull. A dish-shaped muzzle is a fault. A definite
Pointer stop is a serious fault. Too many wrinkles in the forehead is a fault. The
nose is brown, the larger the better, and with nostrils well opened and broad. A
spotted nose is not desirable. A flesh colored nose disqualifies. The chops fall away from
the somewhat projecting nose. Lips are full and deep yet are never flewy. The teeth
are strong and healthy. The molars intermesh properly. The bite is a true
scissors bite. A perfect level bite is not desirable and must be penalized. Extreme
overshot or undershot disqualifies.
Neck, Topline, Body
The neck is of proper length to permit the jaws reaching game to be
retrieved, sloping downwards on beautifully curving lines. The nape is rather muscular,
becoming gradually larger toward the shoulders. Moderate throatiness is permitted. The skin
is close and tight. The chest- in general gives the impression of depth
rather than breadth; for all that, it is in correct proportion to the other parts of the
body. The chest reaches down to the elbows, the ribs forming the thorax show a rib spring
and are not flat or slabsided; they are not perfectly round or barrel-shaped. The back
ribs reach well down. The circumference of the thorax immediately behind the elbows is
smaller than that of the thorax about a hand's breadth behind elbows, so that the upper
arm has room for movement. Tuck-up is apparent. The back is short,
strong, and straight with a slight rise from the root of the tail to the withers. The loin
is strong, is of moderate length, and is slightly arched. An excessively long, roached or
swayed back must be penalized. The hips are broad with hip sockets wide apart and fall
slightly toward the tail in a graceful curve. A steep croup is a fault. The tail
is set high and firm, and must be docked, leaving approximately 40% of its length. The
tail hangs down when the dog is quiet and is held horizontally when he is walking. The
tail must never be curved over the back toward the head when the dog is moving. A tail
curved or bent toward the head is to be severely penalized.
Forequarters
The shoulders are sloping, movable, and well covered with muscle. The
shoulder blades lie flat and are well laid back nearing a 45 degree angle. The upper arm
(the bones between the shoulder and elbow joint) is as long as possible, standing away
somewhat from the trunk so that the straight and closely muscled legs, when viewed from
the front, appear to be parallel. Elbows which stand away from the body or are too close
result in toes turning inwards or outwards and must be faulted. Pasterns are
strong, short and nearly vertical with a slight spring. Loose, short-bladed or straight
shoulders must be faulted. Knuckling over is to be faulted. Dewclaws on the forelegs may
be removed. The feet are compact, close-knit and round to spoon-shaped.
The toes are sufficiently arched and heavily nailed. The pads are strong, hard and thick.
Hindquarters
Thighs are strong and well muscled. Stifles are well bent. Hock joints are well
angulated and strong with straight bone structure from hock to pad. Angulation of both
stifle and hock joint is such as to achieve the optimal balance of drive and traction.
Hocks turn neither in nor out. Cowhocked legs are a serious fault.
Coat
The hair is short and thick and feels tough to the hand; it is somewhat longer on the
underside of the tail and the back edges of the haunches. The hair is softer, thinner and
shorter on the ears and the head. Any dog with long hair in the body coat is to be
severely penalized.
Color
The coat may be of solid liver or a combination of liver and white such as liver and
white ticked, liver patched and white ticked, or liver roan. A dog with any area of black,
red, orange, lemon or tan, or a dog solid white will be disqualified.
Gait
A smooth lithe gait is essential. It is to be noted that as gait increases from the
walk to a faster speed, the legs converge beneath the body. The tendency to single track
is desirable. The forelegs reach well ahead as if to pull in the ground without giving the
appearance of a hackney gait. The hindquarters drive the back legs smoothly and with great
power.
Temperament
The Shorthair is friendly, intelligent, and willing to please. The first impression is
that of a keen enthusiasm for work without indication of nervous or flightly character.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
China or wall eyes.
Flesh colored nose.
Extreme overshot or undershot.
A dog with any area of black, red, orange, lemon, or tan, or a dog solid white.
Approved August 11, 1992
Effective September 30, 1992
NOTICIAS CALIENTES
