--- title: German Shorthaired Pointer Gun Dog | Royal Gun Dogs url: https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/german-shorthaired-pointer/ business: Royal Gun Dogs trainer: Richard Gebhart (professional gun dog trainer since 2002) phone: (530) 341-4496 email: royalgundogs@yahoo.com trains_at: Hastings Island Hunting Preserve, 7758 Hastings Island Rd, Rio Vista, CA 94571 (Solano County) booking: call or text Richard directly --- - [Home](https://royalgundogs.com/) - [Breeds](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/) - German Shorthaired Pointer # The German Shorthaired Pointer as a gun dog The German Shorthaired Pointer, or GSP, is an all-purpose German hunting dog that points upland birds and retrieves from land and water. Training a GSP usually combines pointing and quartering with retriever skills, so a hunter can use one dog for pheasant, quail and ducks. ## German Shorthaired Pointer at a glance - **Origin:** Germany, 19th century AKC breed standard - **AKC group:** Sporting AKC - **Typical weight:** 45-70 lbs AKC breed standard - **Hunting style:** Pointer and retriever (versatile) AKC The GSP is the bird dog people picture when they ask for one dog that does everything. Here is what the breed was developed for and how a GSP is commonly taught. ## One dog, many jobs The AKC describes the GSP as a versatile hunter bred to find, point and retrieve game on land and in water. The coat is short, thick and water-resistant, and the breed's athleticism suits long days in open country. In California that means a dog that can quarter a field for pheasant or chukar and still make a swimming retrieve on a duck. ## Energy that needs a job GSPs have high stamina and a strong prey drive. A young dog without a job tends to invent one. Early training is mostly about three things: a firm recall, a solid whoa, and the habit of working for the handler instead of for itself. Richard began training pointers and other upland breeds in 2013 under Steve Klassen at Blue Ridge Kennels. Combined with his retriever background, that fits the GSP's two-sided work. ## The usual sequence The order can change. Some hunters ask for retrieving first because the dog's role in the blind comes first. Others focus on pointing. Both are valid, so be clear about how you hunt. - Obedience foundation: come, sit, heel, whoa - Bird introduction and pointing - Quartering at a useful range with a handler - Steadiness on point and to flush and shot - Retrieve training for land and water ## Hunt tests and the home dog AKC offers hunting tests for pointing breeds that measure how a dog finds, points and retrieves birds in a hunting situation. Many GSP owners also keep the dog as a family companion, and the same obedience that makes a good bird dog helps in the house. If you want to see how a trainer would approach your dog, the [free consult](https://royalgundogs.com/free-consult/) is the next step. Mention what you hunt, how often, and whether you want the dog to retrieve in water. ## Matching programs A shorthair pup starts with [Puppy Camp](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/puppy-camp/) at 5 to 7 months. Richard then likes owners to hunt the dog until it is over a year old and bring it back for [Formal Gun Dog Training](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/), 8 to 12 weeks of whoa work founded on obedience. Handlers who want to learn the dog's body language can take [handler lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/), and dogs from across California can come for [board-and-train](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/board-and-train/) at Hastings Island. Pointing dogs can also run AKC hunting tests for pointing breeds. ### Sources (4) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/dog-breeds/german-shorthaired-pointer/](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/german-shorthaired-pointer/) (checked October 27, 2026) - German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America : [gspca.org/](https://www.gspca.org/) (checked October 27, 2026) - Hastings Island Hunting Preserve : [hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/](https://hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/) (checked October 27, 2026) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/sports/pointing-breeds/hunt-tests/](https://www.akc.org/sports/pointing-breeds/hunt-tests/) (checked October 27, 2026) ### Matching program - [Formal Gun Dog Training](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/) ### Your trainer Richard Gebhart has trained dogs professionally since 2002, learned the Rex Carr method for Retriever Basics under Billy Sargenti, and has run and qualified at an AKC Master National. [Meet Richard](https://royalgundogs.com/richard-gebhart/) ### Related - [German Wirehaired Pointer](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/german-wirehaired-pointer/) - [Vizsla](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/vizsla/) - [Basic Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/basic-waterfowl/) - [Retriever, pointer or spaniel: choosing a hunting breed](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/retriever-pointer-or-spaniel/) ## German Shorthaired Pointer questions [All questions](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/) ### Can a GSP really do ducks and pheasants? Yes, that is the idea behind the breed. How well depends on the individual dog and its training. ### How much exercise does a GSP need? The breed has a lot of energy. The AKC lists it as an active, athletic dog. ### Is a GSP a good family dog? Many are, with enough exercise and structure. ### Is force fetch used with a GSP? The method depends on the dog, and Richard sets it after seeing the dog. Read [force fetch explained](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/force-fetch-explained/).