|
 The
picture to the right is Jazz's dam, BIS/BISS CH Cock 'O
the Walk River Delta, and is used as an illustrated standard
on AKC's website to represent the breed. (GSP's are
in the Sporting Group)
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 |
