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Club History

GSP Background

The German Shorthaired Pointer is an all-purpose gundog, the roughshooter's companion.  He finds and points game in the open and in cover, holds it whilst the guns come up, and retrieves on land and from water.  He is of energetic disposition, and is biddable and affectionate.

The breed originated from Germany where it was evolved at the end of the 19th Century as a utility dog for hunting, pointing, tracking and retrieving.  Various out-crosses of the old German Pointer with the English Pointer and local tracking hounds and selective breeding produced a dog with a more pleasing conformation and great power of endurance for hunting on land or in water.  This dog became known as the German Shorthaired Pointer [Deutsch Kurzhaar] from1870 onwards.  Very strict details of conformation and performance were laid down by the founding German Club.

The English Pointer is a cross between the old Spanish Pointer and the English Foxhound, and the old German Pointer was a cross between the old Spanish Pointer and a Bloodhound.  Since the German Shorthaired Pointer is a cross between the English Pointer and the old German Pointer, there are two crosses in the breed - or 50% old Spanish Pointer, 25% English Foxhound and 25% Bloodhound, which accounts for the exceptionally keen nose of the German Shorthaired Pointer.

Introduction to Britain

It was not until after 1946 that German Shorthaired Pointers began to become generally known in the British Isles.  The German Shorthaired Pointer Club was founded in1951 by enthusiasts who had brought their German Shorthaired Pointers back to Britain after serving in Occupied Germany.  Since its formation the club has endeavoured to further the interests of the breed in its full role as a gundog which hunts, points and retrieves.  In 1954 German Shorthaired Pointers were registered as a separate breed by the Kennel Club.  In 1955 the breed was granted Championship status, and from then on separate classes were provided at the annual established Championship show each year since 1963 and an Open Show since 1970.  The Club Championship Show, Open Shows and Crufts each year include a Field Trial class.

The club organised the very first trial in the British Isles for German Shorthaired Pointers in1954, followed by a full-scale field trial in1955.  The Club's continuous efforts led to the title of Field Trial Champion being granted to German Shorthaired Pointers by the Kennel Club in 1962.  This represented the fulfilment of the policy and aims of the club for the recognition of the breed as a gundog in its own right.  The granting of the title of Field Trial Champion gave rise to the necessity of the official Kennel Club A and B Panels of Field Trial judges.  After the setting up of an initial Kennel Club list, the Club undertook the task of enrolling and supervising the training of Field Trial judges.  The Club also pioneered the Field Trial regulations and Guide for Judges for breeds which hunt, point and retrieve which were accepted by the Kennel Club in 1973 for inclusion in the official Kennel Club Field Trial Rules.

Over the years an increasing number of field trials have been run by the club for the German Shorthaired Pointers and other breeds which hunt, point and retrieve.  Training classes are provided through the various Club Branches and Groups whose activities include working tests, possibly a local field trial - primarily for novices - and local social events.