Kurzhaar

The German Shorthaired Pointer, or Kurzhaar, is a popular athletic and adaptable breed that is cherished for its loyalty and intelligence. This dog, which was initially bred for hunting, is a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts because it is skilled at a variety of tasks, including tracking and retrieving.

The Kurzhaar, despite its hunting heritage, makes an excellent family pet. This breed, which is well-known for its endless energy and loving disposition, gets along well with kids and thrives in a busy home.

The Kurzhaar stands out in any environment thanks to its striking appearance and short, sleek coat that is easy to maintain. This breed can flourish as a working dog and a devoted pet with the correct training and care.

Characteristics of the breed

A strong bond with family

Stance toward minors

Stance toward outsiders

Trainability

History of origin

Continental pointers, namely this group of dogs includes the German shorthaired pointer breed, appeared a long time ago. The history of Kurzhaars begins with Spanish pointers, with which they hunted feathered game in the Mediterranean countries. A distinctive feature of these pointers was the ability to stand. The characteristics of the breed have changed somewhat over time – this was due to the evolutionary development of hunting itself. From falconry and hunting with nets, people moved on to double-barreled guns. To develop ideal gundog qualities, breeders began to cross Spanish pointers with English pointers.

Albrecht zu Solms-Braunfeld, the prince of the Hanover royal court, was involved in the creation of the "Studbook of the German Kurzhaar," the first document outlining the traits of the breed, which was published in 1897. The prince spared no expense to support breeders in their endeavors. Their efforts led to the creation of a hunting dog that could be used in both land and water environments.

Description of the Kurzhaar breed

Two German words, "kurz" (short) and "das Haar" (hair, wool), are the source of the name. These are medium-sized, well-proportioned, short-haired dogs that are tough, quick, and powerful. It took many years of breeding efforts to achieve the ideal anatomical appearance for dogs. A well-rounded character is required to be a member of the breed. The Kurzhaar has a clever and sophisticated appearance.

Breed standard (appearance)

Three international standards—German, English, and American—describe this breed of dog. The general characteristics are the same, although there are a few minor differences in the descriptions. We used the German FCI standard as the foundation for our article.

1. What group of dogs does it belong to. Continental pointers, type "Bracke".
2. Physique. Harmonious, correct, with smooth lines of the kennel.
3. Back. Muscular, strong. The spinous processes of the vertebrae are hidden by muscles.
4. Limbs. Straight, parallel, located strictly under the body. Clearly defined angles of the knee and hock joints.
5. Paws. Parallel, not turned out. Shape – from round to spoon-shaped. Curved fingers fit tightly. Rough pads. Powerful claws.
6. Gait. Sweeping. With straight parallel movements of the front and back legs.
7. Neck. Muscular, harmoniously built. Gradually widens towards the body. Convex nape. Skin in the throat area fits tightly.
8. Head. With clear outlines. Size and massiveness correspond to the size and sex of the dog.
9. Muzzle. Elongated, strong, wide and deep to properly present game. On the line of the nose there is a characteristic hump, which is more pronounced in males. A straight bridge of the nose is acceptable.
10. Forehead. With clearly defined superciliary arches.
11. Nose. Slightly protruding with wide mobile nostrils. Color depends on the color of the dog. Usually brown. In black, black-roan dogs – black. White color allows a flesh-colored or spotted nose.
12. Lips. Well pigmented, tightly fitting. Almost vertical lip cut in front, further contour with a smooth curve. Angle of the mouth – moderately pronounced.
13. Bite. Ideal scissor-shaped. Upper and lower incisors close tightly. Vertical arrangement of teeth. 42 strong healthy teeth.
14. Ears. Length – medium. Flat, set high and wide. Hanging without twisting, lying close to the head. Tips – rounded, blunt. When pulled forward – reaching the corner of the lips.
15. Eyes. Size – medium. Not very deep set, not protruding. Ideally – dark brown. With tightly fitting eyelids.
16. Tail. Medium length, set high, thickened at the base. Half docked. Hanging when the dog is at rest. When the dog is moving – held horizontally, not strongly curved. Should not rise above the level of the back.
17. Skin. No folds, close-fitting.
18. Coat. The coat is dense, short, covers the entire body. Hard and rough to the touch. On the ears and head – noticeably shorter and thinner. The longest is on the underside of the tail.
19. Color. The FCI standard provides for 6 types of color:
20. Clean liver (brown).
21. Liver with small white or speckled marks on the paws and chest.
22. Dark roan liver, like horses. Head – liver color, body coat liver with gray hair. Possible speckles or small white spots. The main color of the dog is a combination of white and liver.
23. Light roan liver color, like horses. Head liver. Body coat with gray hair. With this color, white hair predominates.
24. Speckles on the body and head of white and liver colors.
25. Black color, in the same combinations and shades as brown (liver).

• Height at the withers. According to the German standard: males – 62-66 cm., females – 58-63 cm. USA – 55-70 and 45-60 cm., Great Britain – 58-64 and 53-59 cm.
• Weight. Males – 25-31.8 kg, females – 20.4-27.20 kg.
• Skeleton. Not too thin bones are allowed. The proportionality of the skeleton to the dog"s body is assessed.

A German Kurzhaar can expect to live for 12 to 15 years on average. Hunting and physical activity are good for life expectancy and general health.

Characteristics of the Kurzhaar breed

Since the German standard omits a section on "Character," let’s focus on the English standard’s list of the breed’s key characteristics. The Kurzhaar dog is known for being kind, submissive, calm, and devoted in Great Britain. The word "gentleness" in English refers to a gentlemanly manner of acting, meaning the dog will treat its friends with consideration and grace. But gentleness does not mean total submission.

Dogs that exhibit excessive shyness or timidity are not allowed to compete. Neurotic dogs that are hyperactive will suffer from the same fate. Aggressive behavior toward people is not tolerated by true Kurzhaars. Despite their ability to display a modicum of hostility toward their fellow tribe members.

Because the breed was developed exclusively for hunting, it lacks a strong emotional bond with a single person; instead, the dog is expected to obey and serve its hunters, as well as to adjust to a variety of human situations. The Kurzhaar and the Drahthaar, another German pointer, differ in that the former exhibits extraordinary loyalty to its master. However, this doesn’t stop the Kurts from getting along with kids and other animals. Alienation and a contemptuous attitude toward people are not about them.

Care and maintenance

The breed is known for not needing particular attention. With one modification: consider the astounding size! The dog requires a suitable amount of personal space so that it can rest and sleep soundly.

A short-haired German pointer’s coat essentially does not retain heat, so keep drafts out of the room and cover the dog with a blanket or jumpsuit when going for walks or training in inclement weather. While moving, the dog won’t freeze, but as soon as it starts to walk, it will rapidly become hypothermic.

The coat needs to be groomed once a week by brushing and washing as needed. Taking frequent baths with gentle detergents is not essential. Natural oils that shield the coat from brittleness are washed out by frequent washings with lots of soap. These dogs exhibit severe seasonal shedding. They are brushed daily while they are shedding.

Dogs that lead active lives naturally wear down their claws. The claws are clipped if this doesn’t occur. Teeth are cleaned once a week to avoid tartar, plaque, and bad breath. Make sure to look for infectious diseases and inflammation in the ears. Doing this at least once a week is recommended. Use the veterinarian’s recommended special solutions to clean the ears.

German Shorthaired Pointers, or Kurzhaars, are intelligent, devoted, and athletic hunting dogs. They are also known to be adaptable and energetic. Kurzhaars are an excellent breed for people who love being outside and have active families because they need a lot of mental and physical stimulation. Their short coat requires little maintenance, and their amiable and versatile disposition makes them great companions for both work and play. Potential owners must, however, be willing to devote time to training and make sure they have adequate room for this energetic breed to flourish.

Health

The resilience and excellent health of the breed set it apart. These dogs can readily adjust to any climate, they don’t mind the wind or the cold, and they go into the water to hunt before the first frost. Genetic defects resulting from the introduction of defective dogs into the breeding population are linked to nearly every disease. People in good genetic health remain active into old age. Twelve years later, in Kurzhaars, it happens.

The following list of inherited illnesses applies to all large dog breeds:

• hip dysplasia;
• hypothyroidism
• von Willebrand-Dian disease;
• genetic eye diseases: retinal atrophy;
• cleft palate;
• hemophilia;
• epilepsy.

How can the health of a puppy be ascertained? To lower the chance of purchasing a sick animal, choose a nursery carefully and ask to see the results of genetic testing before making your purchase.

1. Provide your pet with a fully balanced diet, proper care and the necessary physical activity.
2. Vaccinate on time.
3. Regularly treat your pet for parasites, use products to prevent flea and tick bites.
4. Make sure that your puppy"s parents have undergone genetic tests.

Errors committed during the large dog’s upbringing may result in long-term health issues.

Training Kurzhaars

Divergent views exist regarding Kurzhaar training. It is said by some dog handlers that this breed is enjoyable to train. Some people firmly believe that training dogs is challenging. The breed was intentionally bred for hunting, and that is the main argument. Because it is ingrained in their DNA, Kurzhaars are able to quickly recall all hunting commands and techniques. Basic general skills, however, are difficult for them.

Kurzhaars are extremely intelligent and prefer working under human supervision, but they find it hard to focus on learning because there are so many fascinating things in the world! The dog is distracted from training by the sounds of passing cars, people, dogs, cats, and birds. You must begin training a Kurzhaar at a very young age in order to raise it properly. It is best to hold classes in a remote location where the dog won’t be distracted by anything or anyone. The actual training should be brief, regular, and methodical.

Training advice:

1. Establish close contact with the dog – it should trust you.
2. Avoid boring drills and strict punishments.
3. Do not use physical force. Punishment should be verbal, intonation.
4. Let the puppy run for its own pleasure before training.
5. Gradually increase the load.
6. Only a professional who knows how to work with continental pointers should prepare a dog for hunting.

The main piece of advice is that Kurzhaars can sense their owners’ emotions, so you should train your dog with genuine love and pleasure.

Feeding

For hunting dogs, proper nutrition is essential to their overall health and development. It ought to be adequate without being overbearing—overfeeding hunters is unacceptable—and balanced in every way.

It is acceptable to feed adult dogs either natural food or ready-made dry food. The owner always has the final say. If you have decided to use industrial feed, go with "super-premium" or "holistic" class feeds. Their formulas are enhanced with all the essential microelements, vitamins, and minerals, and have the most naturally balanced composition.

The largest, most active dog breeds make the best food for Kurzhaars:

• Wolfsblut Range Lamb Adult;
• Brit Care Adult Large Breed;
• Now Natural Holistic New;
• Probalance.

Daily average (500–600 grams) split into two portions.

If you decided to go with a natural diet, keep in mind that a large hunting dog’s daily diet should consist of 50% meat and meat products. Select from the following meat sources: offal, beef, chicken, turkey, and rabbit. No smoked meats, sausages, or sausage products on your table! Make sure your menu has raw and fresh vegetables.

Fish from rivers and seas may be given, but only once every seven days. Fermented milk products such as kefir, natural yogurt, and low-fat cottage cheese, as well as eggs (ideally quail), are also required. Give porridge to ensure normal gastrointestinal tract function.

It’s crucial to give the dog access to enough fresh water. particularly if industrial dry food makes up its diet. Provide vitamin and mineral complexes with natural feeding. Every feeding requires 1.5–2 liters of food.

Video

Photo

The most typical is a consistent shade of liver-colored dark brown. devoid of specks and patches.

The color of the liver is dark brown with specks and small patches of pure white on the paws and chest.

Dark gray-brown, or liver-colored. Head liver, hair coat gray. Spots and flecks covering the entire body.

Pale gray-brown. Brown head. Have a gray hair coat.

Spots of brown and white on the head and body.

Black with specks in it.

Owner reviews

Denis: "I bought this handsome man for hunting two years ago." trained him in a dedicated dog facility. How do I put it? My daily routine now consists of three vigorous walks with the dog for three hours each day. plus two to three hunting trips per week. I don’t mind because I don’t live in a city. I have no idea how city people manage. Kurzhaars are dependent on such a heavy workload to survive.

Stas: "This breed has a commendable exterior, but behind that lies an active hunter." When we go for a walk, my dog never fails to notice every bird or cat. No one is discussing taking him for a walk without a leash. Only in the forest when hunting or in your own yard with a sturdy, high fence can you go leash-free with him.

How much does a German shorthaired pointer puppy cost

A Kurzhaar puppy will cost you between fifteen and forty thousand rubles in Russia. The price in Ukraine is between 7,000 and 14,000 UAH. A dog’s price is determined by its pedigree and the seller’s standing. Puppies purchased from reputable nurseries are more costly.

Feature	Description
Coat Type	Short, sleek, and easy to maintain
Personality	Active, playful, and friendly
Care	Minimal grooming needed, regular brushing is enough
Exercise Needs	Enjoys playing and needs regular activity
Good with Children	Yes, usually very tolerant and loving
Temperament	Affectionate and sociable

A remarkable breed that combines energy, intelligence, and elegance is the Kurzhaar. Well-known for their adaptability, they make excellent companions at home and in the field of hunting. They require little upkeep due to their short coat, and active families would benefit greatly from their amiable disposition.

For these dogs to remain happy and healthy, they require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. It’s important to keep them interested, whether it’s through training sessions, lengthy walks, or playtime. They do best in settings where they can participate actively in day-to-day activities.

If given the right love, care, and attention, the Kurzhaar can make a wonderful addition to your home. They are devoted family members as well as skilled working dogs because of their loving, lively, and intelligent nature.

Video on the topic

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Kurzhaar tears apart the Fox (Dog vs. Fox)

Kurzhaar – Interesting facts about the breed | Kurzhaar dog breed

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