German Shorthaired Pointers are intelligent, energetic, easily trained, and usually friendly. The speed and endurance the German Shorthaired Pointer retains from its hunting background means its family should provide physical and mental challenges, which can be achieved by reward-based training and participation in dog sports such as field trials, tracking, agility, and obedience, or retrieving items such as tennis balls or Frisbees. Their reputation as a good family dog allows them to be around children; however, as with all dogs, extremely close supervision is needed to prevent accidental injury to the dog or its subsequently developing fear-based defensive aggression.
The German Shorthaired Pointer was developed in Germany in the late 19th century due to a need for an all-round hunting dog. This breed was created to be an excellent pointer with a good nose and is able to retrieve birds as well as animals. Initially it was thought that a cross between a Spanish Pointer and a Hannover Hound would showcase these abilities well, however the breed tended to bay when trailing. Because of this, crosses were tried with the Bloodhound, the Foxhound and various French hounds until breeding with the English Pointer resulted in a dog that appeared perfect yet, at times, tended to have an aversion to water and disliked tracking. Through continuous breeding these unwanted traits were eliminated and the German Shorthaired Pointer became a lean, athletic and responsive breed. In 1872 the breed was first registered with the German Kennel Club. The first of its kind appeared in the United States in the 1920's and the German Shorthaired Pointer was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1930.