German Longhaired Pointer
The German Longhair is a calm dog. It has an even temperament and is very good-natured. Hunters in particular appreciate this breed - not least because of these positive character traits, which make it a reliable companion.
58-70 cm
30 kg
12-14 years
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
Characteristics
The German Longhair belongs to the large breeds and is classified by the FCI as a pointing dog. The dogs are excellent trackers and rummagers, so they find their prey. German Longhairs are very versatile and popular hunting dogs. They are excellent tracking dogs. They are also very good retrievers after the shot.
The pedigree dog is a muscular, strong and elegant dog with a harmonious body shape. Its coat is of medium to long length. The official standard describes it as: "Strong, deep set, muscular with flowing lines. A lot of substance is required in the smaller dogs. Very bulky and cumbersome dogs are not desired".
The intelligent German Longhair is usually a solid brown color. But other colors are also permitted. These are brown and brown-white. There are shades of brown from dark gray to light gray. Rarely, trout gray also occurs.
The coat should be of medium length and not too luxuriant. The eyes are brown. They have long, fringed coats and a beautiful tail plume. Males reach a shoulder height of up to 66 centimeters. Females, on the other hand, only reach up to 63 centimetres. Their weight is around 30 kilograms.
The German Longhair is a true hunting dog. In the hands of an experienced handler, this pedigree dog is a useful hunting helper. It is a suitable family dog as a side job. The breed is particularly family and child-friendly.
However, this should not be misunderstood. Family-friendly does not mean family dog. The German Longhair is more of a working dog. The dog has a strong will and urge to work. It wants to go hunting. But it also loves dog sports. It is therefore not a beginner's dog and is also not suitable for people who are not able to spend a lot of time with it.
German Longhaired Pointer Nutrition
Hunting dogs are exposed to particularly high levels of physical stress. The performance of these dogs is enormous. This makes the nutrition of these four-legged friends all the more important.
They have a higher need for important nutrients and energy than domestic dogs. They should be given high-fat food, especially before hunting. But only in smaller portions.
In general, the same applies as for humans: Do not eat too much before strenuous exercise. This is because the hunting dog stores its energy when it eats a ration in the evening before the hunt. For long hunts, a smaller ration should be fed before the start. Ideally three hours before the hunt.
Whether you feed your own mixtures or ready-made food is a matter of opinion. There is no right or wrong here. Ready-made food has the advantage that important ingredients are already included. Minerals, vitamins, trace elements, carbohydrates, fats and proteins are already present.
When choosing a ready-made food, however, you should make sure that it contains high-quality ingredients.
Of course, you can also put together your own food mixes that are perfectly tailored to your dog. However, this is very time-consuming. The ratio of vitamins and minerals is important. Therefore, as a "dog food chef" you should have a good knowledge of dog nutrition.
Care must be taken not to overfeed older hunting dogs that are no longer working. They should be given an adapted diet, as otherwise they tend to gain weight.
Health & Care
To keep your dog's coat shiny, the German Longhair needs regular grooming. This means that you should brush your dog regularly. This removes annoying tangles, dirt and loose hair. This works particularly well with a special metal comb for dogs. If your dog gets wet, you should dry it thoroughly.
Regular checks of ears, eyes and paws are also very important.
You should check your dog regularly for parasites and injuries. Ticks can attach themselves to your dog, especially after hunting. The best way to remove ticks is with suitable tick tweezers.
After the hunt, you can shower your dog if he is too dirty. Most dogs are happy to put up with this. It's best to practise this as a puppy. That way, he will get used to it and can be washed easily later on.
As a true hunting dog, the German Longhair needs plenty of exercise. It also needs enough activity to stay balanced. It is therefore advisable to spend as much time with your dog as possible.
Your dog needs exercise, so you should exercise him accordingly. If you're not a hunter, that's fine. However, you should offer your dog different types of sport. Your breeder will be happy to advise you.
You should start training your dog as a puppy. Please note that a German Longhair is not a dog for beginners. If you decide to get one anyway, intensive training in a dog school is almost essential for both of you.
Suitable accessories
As a rule, the German Longhair does not require any special aids. However, it is necessary to train the pedigree dog for hunting or sport. In any case, the dog should be kept busy.
Special hunting lures are suitable for training. These are available from specialist retailers.
Apart from that, a German Longhair needs basic equipment just like any other dog.
Origin & History
The behavior of hunting dogs has been used successfully since ancient times. Once the dogs have tracked down a hare or bird, they lie down very calmly and point in the direction of the prey.
When pointing, these dogs stand rooted to the spot and point their head and one front paw in the direction of the prey. Because of this special behavior, these special hunting dogs were called "pointing dogs".
It can therefore be said that this pedigree dog has a very long history. The German Longhair is considered a descendant of the oldest known hunting dogs, the Bracken. These dogs were already kept by the Celts.
Other ancestors are the "quail and hawk dogs". These were crossed with the French "Epagneul" in the Middle Ages. The "Epagneul" dog breed came to Germany as early as the 16th century. There they spread mainly in the northern parts of the country.
Pure breeding of today's German Longhair began at the end of the 19th century. English hunting dogs such as the Irish Setter and the Gordon Setter had their genetic share in this breed.
Finally, the breed standards were established. The German Longhair dogs of that time were much more robust and strong than those of today. There is also a close relationship to the "Großer Münsterländer".
In Germany, German Longhair dogs are bred for performance. A breeder only receives a breeding license if his dogs have passed the test of the Hunting and Utility Dog Association.
The breed was first recognized by the FCI in 1954.
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