Overview
The German Longhaired Pointer is the gentlest of the German pointing breeds in manner, though not in workload. It is a brown or brown and white dog with a silky, moderately long coat and feathered legs and tail, built to hunt, point, retrieve and swim across a full day in the field. In Britain it remains rare, and most owners are shooting people or have come from that world.
On a walk you get a dog that is steady, affectionate and biddable with people it trusts, and that quietly scans every hedgerow for birds. The drive is there, just carried with less bounce than a Shorthaired.
Exercise and walking needs
This is a two hour a day dog, ideally with a long off-lead stretch where it can range and cover ground. Many will swim at every opportunity, and a retrieve from water is the best workout you can offer.
Steady, repeated exercise suits it better than one heroic weekend run. Watch young dogs, because the breed grows slowly and should not be pounding hard surfaces for an hour at a time.
On the walk
- Recall: Typically better than most hounds and most spaniels, but a flushed pheasant will test it. Use a whistle if the owner has one established.
- Pulling: A fit 30 kilo dog with a purpose. A harness and a firm, consistent heel in the first ten minutes sets the tone.
- Water: Assume it will go in. Check for strong currents, steep banks and blue-green algae warnings before letting it off near water.
- Other dogs: Most are tolerant and sociable, happy to run with a group and uninterested in squabbles.
Tips for professional walkers
- Carry a whistle and a dummy; a retrieve gives the dog a job and brings it back to you.
- Keep a towel and a brush handy, as feathering picks up burrs and mud.
- Plan routes where the dog can range in sight, not dense cover where you lose it.
- Pay attention to grass seeds in ears and between toes in summer.
What to ask the owner
- Is the dog whistle trained, and what are the commands and signals it already knows?
- Can it swim anywhere, or are there waters the owner would rather it avoided?
- Has it been worked on live game, and how strong is its reaction to birds and rabbits?