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German
Shorthaired Pointer
Sporting Group
Breed Standard (from AKC web site)
General Appearance
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a versatile hunter, an all-purpose gun dog
capable of high performance in field and water. The judgment 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
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