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PLACE OF ORIGIN:
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Germany
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ORIGINAL FUNCTION:
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All round gundog that can find, point and retrieve all types of game
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AVERAGE LIFE SPAN:
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12 – 15 years
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AGE OF MATURITY:
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2 – 3 years
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HEIGHT:
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Dogs 62-66cm; bitches 58-63cm
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WEIGHT:
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Dogs 30-35kg; bitches 28-30kg
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COLOUR:
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Solid liver, liver & white ticked, spotted or patched. Solid black or black & white ticked, spotted or patched
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HEREDITARY ABNORMALITIES:
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Hip dysplasia, entropian, umbilical hernia’s, OCD, epilepsy, gastric torsion (bloat), weak temperament
(NB – all of the above are uncommon in the breed, but do occur occasionally)
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CHARACTER & TEMPERAMENT:
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A particularly intelligent and willing dog. The GSP is a keen and willing worker for the owner who likes hunting or participating in field trials. GSP’s will take readily to a kennel but are happier in the company of another dog. They are territorial and loyal to the family and as such make a good watchdog and will tend to keep intruders at bay.
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TRAINING:
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GSP’s are highly intelligent but do get bored easily, therefore obedience training and other activities such as agility, flyball, retrieving and fieldwork are highly recommended. The GSP is a very keen and eager worker and has a very retentive memory and will perform feats of training for a long time after taught.
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CARE & GROOMING:
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The coat of the GSP is short, flat and coarse to the touch and is particularly easy to care for. Weekly brushing with a rubber glove to remove dead hair will keep the coat in good condition
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EXERCISE REQUIREMENTS:
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The GSP is primarily an active dog that was born and bred to work and as such, needs a fair amount of exercise.
A minimum of half an hour to one hour, of off lead exercise, or on lead equivalent, is required daily. Many will require more than this.
They love to swim and just run, and most also love to retrieve.
Mental stimulation is also a requirement and they should have some form of training on a daily basis.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
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DO THEY BARK MUCH?
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No, but can become nuisance barkers if not provided with adequate physical and mental stimulation. They make excellent watchdogs and will bark at strange and unknown noises.
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ARE THEY A GOOD FAMILY DOG?
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This is a breed that loves to be a constant part of the family activities. They are ideal companions for older active children. They are not a breed that will tolerate being ignored and left in the backyard constantly, they will get up to mischief and create their own fun if they become bored. They make excellent jogging partners.
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ARE THEY GOOD WITH OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN?
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Yes, but like all dogs, they should be supervised when around children and should be socialised with children when they are puppies.
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GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS?
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Generally, yes. Not all males will get on with other males.
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GOOD WITH CAT’S?
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Supervision around small dogs and cats is needed because they can resemble game. Proper socialisation from a young age, with small dogs and cats, will help to overcome this.
GSP’s can and do easily co-exist with cats if introduced appropriately. However, this will not necessarily cure their desire to want to chase the local neighbourhood cats and hunt them down. A secure backyard is an absolute must.
They do have a tendency to chase things that move, which can include kangaroos, wombats, ducks and even fish! A reliable recall is a must if exercising this breed off lead.
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