Are German Shorthaired Pointers Good Dogs? What Science Says

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

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Introduction to the Temperament of the German Shorthaired Pointer

The are many descriptions of the temperament of the German Shorthaired Pointer out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.

In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the German Shorthaired Pointer based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the German Shorthaired Pointer breed.

We obtained our description of the temperament of German Shorthaired Pointer by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.

The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.

Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the German Shorthaired Pointer.

The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.

The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.

The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:

  1. Aggression towards stranger
  2. Aggression towards its owner
  3. Aggression towards other dogs
  4. How well they get along with other dogs
  5. Fear of strangers
  6. Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
  7. Fear of other dogs
  8. Separation anxiety
  9. Clinginess
  10. Trainability/ Stubbornness
  11. Prey drive
  12. Excitability
  13. Touch sensitivity
  14. Energy level

In this article, we will discuss the score of the German Shorthaired Pointer for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the German Shorthaired Pointer.

The summary table below shows the score of the German Shorthaired Pointer for the different behavioral characteristics.

High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.

Behavior Score
Energy Level 86.4 percent
Prey Drive 76.3 percent
Owner Directed Aggression 7.7 percent
Excitability 53.5 percent
Separation Related Behavior 51.7 percent
Attachment Attention Seeking 38.6 percent
Nonsocial Fear 37.2 percent
Dog Directed Aggression 37.1 percent
Stubbornness 28.8 percent
Touch Sensitivity 28.2 percent
Dog Directed Fear 26.6 percent
Stranger Directed Aggression 26.0 percent
Dog Rivalry 25.4 percent
Stranger Directed Fear 16.6 percent

Note that with proper training, you can better your German Shorthaired Pointer`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your German Shorthaired Pointer, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your German Shorthaired Pointer.

See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.

Are German Shorthaired Pointers Aggressive Towards Strangers?

Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.

Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.

Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.

German Shorthaired Pointers are a little bit aggressive towards strangers.

This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks low for aggression towards strangers.

The German Shorthaired Pointer ranks number 85 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.

This information is based on what 52 German Shorthaired Pointer owners reported on the temperament of their German Shorthaired Pointer in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the German Shorthaired Pointer has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 26.0 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit aggressive towards strangers just like the German Shorthaired Pointer are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score
82 English Bulldog 26.4 %
83 Shetland Sheepdog 26.3 %
84 Papillon 26.2 %
85 German Shorthaired Pointer 26.0 %
86 Ibizan Hound 25.9 %
87 Irish Water Spaniel 25.6 %
88 Boston Terrier 25.5 %

The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Dachshund
  3. Miniature Pinscher
  4. Dachshund (Miniature)
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. Siberian Husky
  2. Greyhound
  3. Irish Wolfhound
  4. Samoyed
  5. Black and Tan Coonhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most stranger-aggressive breed to the least stranger-aggressive breed.

Temperament of the German Shorthaired Pointer

Are German Shorthaired Pointers Aggressive Towards their Owners?

Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.

Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.

A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.

German Shorthaired Pointers are not aggressive towards their owners.

This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks very low for aggression towards its owner.

The German Shorthaired Pointer ranks number 100 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.

This information is based on what 52 German Shorthaired Pointer owners reported on the temperament of their German Shorthaired Pointer in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the German Shorthaired Pointer has an owner-directed-aggression score of 7.7 %.

Other dog breeds that are not owner-aggressive just like the German Shorthaired Pointer are listed in the table below

Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Owner-Directed-Aggression Score
97 Belgian Sheepdog 8.3 %
98 Lagotto Romagnolo 8.0 %
99 Belgian Tervuren 7.7 %
100 German Shorthaired Pointer 7.7 %
101 Boston Terrier 7.6 %
102 Bernese Mountain Dog 7.3 %
103 Irish Wolfhound 7.2 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:

  1. Pekingese
  2. Basenji
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Lhasa Apso
  5. Alaskan Husky

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Pointer
  3. Irish Water Spaniel
  4. Rhodesian Ridgeback
  5. Italian Greyhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to their owners to the ones that are least aggressive to their owners.

Are German Shorthaired Pointers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?

Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.

A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs

A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.

German Shorthaired Pointers are a little bit aggressive towards other dogs.

This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks low for aggression towards other dogs.

The German Shorthaired Pointer ranks number 78 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.

This information is based on what 52 German Shorthaired Pointer owners reported on the temperament of their German Shorthaired Pointer in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the German Shorthaired Pointer has a dog-directed aggression score of 37.1 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit dog-aggressive just like the German Shorthaired Pointer are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Aggression Score
75 Bulldog 39.4 %
76 Vizsla 38.3 %
77 American Bulldog 37.3 %
78 German Shorthaired Pointer 37.1 %
79 Rottweiler 36.9 %
80 Redbone Coonhound 36.8 %
81 German Wirehaired Pointer 36.7 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Pit Bull mix
  5. Dachshund

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:

  1. Pointer
  2. Black and Tan Coonhound
  3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  4. Irish Wolfhound
  5. Keeshond

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to other dogs to the ones that are least aggressive to other dogs.

Personality of the German Shorthaired Pointer

Are German Shorthaired Pointers Afraid of Strangers?

Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.

Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.

Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.

German Shorthaired Pointers are a little bit fearful of strangers.

This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks low for fear of strangers.

The German Shorthaired Pointer ranks number 88 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.

This information is based on what 52 German Shorthaired Pointer owners reported on the temperament of their German Shorthaired Pointer in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the German Shorthaired Pointer has a stranger-directed-fear score of 16.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit stranger-fearful just like the German Shorthaired Pointer are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Fear Score
85 Basset Hound 18.8 %
86 American Staffordshire Terrier 17.0 %
87 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 16.7 %
88 German Shorthaired Pointer 16.6 %
89 Rhodesian Ridgeback 16.6 %
90 Bouvier des Flandres 16.4 %
91 Akita 15.8 %

The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Chinese Crested
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:

  1. Old English Sheepdog
  2. Irish Wolfhound
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Siberian Husky
  5. Giant Schnauzer

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of strangers to the ones that are least fearful to strangers.

Are German Shorthaired Pointers Afraid of Other Dogs?

Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.

A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.

German Shorthaired Pointers are a little bit fearful of other dogs.

This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks low for fear of other dogs.

The German Shorthaired Pointer ranks number 85 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.

This information is based on what 52 German Shorthaired Pointer owners reported on the temperament of their German Shorthaired Pointer in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the German Shorthaired Pointer has a dog-directed-fear score of 26.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit other-dog-fearful just like the German Shorthaired Pointer are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Fear Score
82 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 27.5 %
83 Belgian Sheepdog 27.4 %
84 American Staffordshire Terrier 27.3 %
85 German Shorthaired Pointer 26.6 %
86 Boston Terrier 26.5 %
87 Rhodesian Ridgeback 26.4 %
88 Mastiff (English) 26.3 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Chihuahua
  5. Lhasa Apso

The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Ibizan Hound
  3. Eurasier
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of other dogs to the ones that are least fearful of other dogs.

Is the German Shorthaired Pointer a good pet

Do German Shorthaired Pointers Have Non-Social Fears?

Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.

German Shorthaired Pointers are quite a bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.

This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks high for non-social fear.

The German Shorthaired Pointer ranks number 46 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.

This information is based on what 52 German Shorthaired Pointer owners reported on the temperament of their German Shorthaired Pointer in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the German Shorthaired Pointer has a nonsocial-fear score of 37.2 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit nonsocial-fearful just like the German Shorthaired Pointer are listed in the table below

Nonsocial-Fear Rank Breed Nonsocial-Fear Score
43 Pit Bull 38.6 %
44 Jack Russell Terrier 37.5 %
45 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 37.3 %
46 German Shorthaired Pointer 37.2 %
47 Staffordshire Bull Terrier 36.6 %
48 West Highland White Terrier 36.5 %
49 Pekingese 35.8 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Dingo
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. English Bulldog
  5. Italian Greyhound

The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Siberian Husky
  3. Irish Setter
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations to the ones least fearful of unfamiliar situations.

Do German Shorthaired Pointers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?

Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.

These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.

German Shorthaired Pointers are not competitive when dealing with other dogs.

This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks very low on dog rivalry.

The German Shorthaired Pointer ranks number 98 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.

This information is based on what 52 German Shorthaired Pointer owners reported on the temperament of their German Shorthaired Pointer in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the German Shorthaired Pointer has a dog-rivalry score of 25.4 %.

Other dog breeds that are not competition-driven just like the German Shorthaired Pointer are listed in the table below

Dog-Rivalry Rank Breed Dog-Rivalry Score
95 German Wirehaired Pointer 27.3 %
96 Whippet 26.3 %
97 Collie 26.0 %
98 German Shorthaired Pointer 25.4 %
99 Rhodesian Ridgeback 25.0 %
100 Mastiff (English) 24.9 %
101 Bichon Frise 24.6 %

The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Miniature Pinscher
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. French Bulldog
  5. Treeing Walker Coonhound

The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Norwegian Elkhound
  3. Saint Bernard
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Scottish Terrier

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.

The German Shorthaired Pointer. Is it aggressive?

Are German Shorthaired Pointers Easy to Train?

Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.

Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.

German Shorthaired Pointers are somewhat easy to train.

This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks average for trainability.

The German Shorthaired Pointer ranks number 51 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.

This information is based on what 52 German Shorthaired Pointer owners reported on the trainability of their German Shorthaired Pointer in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the German Shorthaired Pointer has a trainability score of 71.2 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat easy to train just like the German Shorthaired Pointer are listed in the table below

Trainability Rank Breed Trainability Score
48 Poodle (Toy) 72.2 %
49 Dalmatian 71.9 %
50 Rhodesian Ridgeback 71.4 %
51 German Shorthaired Pointer 71.2 %
52 Brittany 71.2 %
53 Norwegian Elkhound 71.2 %
54 Great Dane 70.9 %

The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:

  1. Belgian Tervuren
  2. Belgian Malinois
  3. Border Collie
  4. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  5. Irish Water Spaniel

The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:

  1. Dingo
  2. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  3. Basenji
  4. Afghan Hound
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are easiest to train to the ones that are most difficult to train.

Learn more about how intelligent the German Shorthaired Pointer is and how the intelligence of the German Shorthaired Pointer affects its trainability in this article on how smart the German Shorthaired Pointer is.

Do German Shorthaired Pointers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?

Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.

German Shorthaired Pointers are very much into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.

This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks very high for small-pet-chasing.

The German Shorthaired Pointer ranks number 10 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.

This information is based on what 52 German Shorthaired Pointer owners reported on the temperament of their German Shorthaired Pointer in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the German Shorthaired Pointer has a chasing score of 76.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much into chasing after smaller pets just like the German Shorthaired Pointer are listed in the table below

Chasing Rank Breed Chasing Score
7 Jack Russell Terrier 82.1 %
8 West Highland White Terrier 82.0 %
9 Border Terrier 81.3 %
10 German Shorthaired Pointer 76.3 %
11 Cairn Terrier 76.2 %
12 Pit Bull mix 75.8 %
13 Afghan Hound 75.1 %

The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Basenji
  2. Dingo
  3. Ibizan Hound
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Borzoi

The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Pug
  2. Bulldog
  3. Shih Tzu
  4. Bernese Mountain Dog
  5. Great Pyrenees

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.

Things to know before getting the German Shorthaired Pointer

Do German Shorthaired Pointers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?

Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.

These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.

Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.

German Shorthaired Pointers are a little bit attachment/attention-seeking.

This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks low for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

The German Shorthaired Pointer ranks number 91 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

This information is based on what 52 German Shorthaired Pointer owners reported on the temperament of their German Shorthaired Pointer in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the German Shorthaired Pointer has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 38.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit attachment/attention-seeking just like the German Shorthaired Pointer are listed in the table below

Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank Breed Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score
88 Collie 41.1 %
89 Italian Greyhound 40.0 %
90 Keeshond 39.7 %
91 German Shorthaired Pointer 38.6 %
92 Alaskan Husky 37.8 %
93 Newfoundland 37.6 %
94 Standard Schnauzer 37.0 %

The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:

  1. Poodle (Toy)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Australian Cattle Dog
  5. American Eskimo Dog

The dog breeds that are aloof are the:

  1. Norwegian Elkhound
  2. Borzoi
  3. Kuvasz
  4. English Setter
  5. Chow Chow

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.

Do German Shorthaired Pointers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?

Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.

These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.

They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.

German Shorthaired Pointers are quite a bit prone to developing separation anxiety.

This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks high for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.

The German Shorthaired Pointer ranks number 30 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.

This information is based on what 52 German Shorthaired Pointer owners reported on the temperament of their German Shorthaired Pointer in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the German Shorthaired Pointer has a separation anxiety score of 51.7 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit prone to develop separation anxiety just like the German Shorthaired Pointer are listed in the table below

Separation-Related-Behavior Rank Breed Separation-Related-Behavior Score
27 Great Pyrenees 53.0 %
28 Cardigan Welsh Corgi 53.0 %
29 Pit Bull mix 52.3 %
30 German Shorthaired Pointer 51.7 %
31 Bull Terrier 51.5 %
32 American Pit Bull Terrier 51.4 %
33 Basset Hound 51.0 %

The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:

  1. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Miniature Pinscher
  5. Australian Silky Terrier

The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Giant Schnauzer
  4. Eurasier
  5. Bernese Mountain Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.

Temperament Profile of the German Shorthaired Pointer

Are German Shorthaired Pointers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?

Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.

These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.

German Shorthaired Pointers are somewhat touch-sensitive.

This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks average for touch sensitivity.

The German Shorthaired Pointer ranks number 61 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.

This information is based on what 52 German Shorthaired Pointer owners reported on the temperament of their German Shorthaired Pointer in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the German Shorthaired Pointer has a touch-sensitivity score of 28.2 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat touch-sensitive just like the German Shorthaired Pointer are listed in the table below

Touch-Sensitivity Rank Breed Touch-Sensitivity Score
58 Brittany 28.5 %
59 Miniature Schnauzer 28.5 %
60 Pembroke Welsh Corgi 28.4 %
61 German Shorthaired Pointer 28.2 %
62 Samoyed 27.4 %
63 Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) 27.3 %
64 Black and Tan Coonhound 27.2 %

The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  2. Miniature Pinscher
  3. Pekingese
  4. Australian Silky Terrier
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Pointer
  4. Gordon Setter
  5. Portuguese Water Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.

Are German Shorthaired Pointers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?

Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:

  • going for walks
  • car trips
  • sound of the doorbell
  • arrival of visitors, and
  • the owner arriving home

Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.

German Shorthaired Pointers are quite a bit hyper (excitable).

This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks high for excitability.

The German Shorthaired Pointer ranks number 34 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.

This information is based on what 52 German Shorthaired Pointer owners reported on the temperament of their German Shorthaired Pointer in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the German Shorthaired Pointer has an excitability score of 53.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit excitable just like the German Shorthaired Pointer are listed in the table below

Excitability Rank Breed Excitability Score
31 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 54.0 %
32 German Wirehaired Pointer 53.9 %
33 American Staffordshire Terrier 53.7 %
34 German Shorthaired Pointer 53.5 %
35 Chihuahua 53.2 %
36 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 53.0 %
37 Gordon Setter 52.8 %

The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Borzoi
  2. Samoyed
  3. Great Pyrenees
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Anatolian Shepherd

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.

The German Shorthaired Pointer

Are German Shorthaired Pointers Playful? What is the Energy Level of German Shorthaired Pointers

Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.

German Shorthaired Pointers are very much energetic.

This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks very high for energy level.

The German Shorthaired Pointer ranks number 4 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.

This information is based on what 52 German Shorthaired Pointer owners reported on the temperament of their German Shorthaired Pointer in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the German Shorthaired Pointer has an energy-level score of 86.4 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much energetic just like the German Shorthaired Pointer are listed in the table below

Energy-Level Rank Breed Energy-Level Score
1 Belgian Malinois 100.0 %
2 Belgian Tervuren 91.4 %
3 Fox Terrier (Toy) 88.3 %
4 German Shorthaired Pointer 86.4 %
5 Ibizan Hound 85.3 %
6 Australian Cattle Dog 82.9 %
7 Pit Bull mix 81.0 %

The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:

  1. Belgian Malinois
  2. Belgian Tervuren
  3. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  4. German Shorthaired Pointer
  5. Ibizan Hound

The dog breeds that are laziest are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Anatolian Shepherd
  3. Greyhound
  4. Great Pyrenees
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.

Conclusion on German Shorthaired Pointer Temperament

The temperament of your German Shorthaired Pointer comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your German Shorthaired Pointer is exposed to.

You cannot change your German Shorthaired Pointer`s gene but you can change the things you expose your German Shorthaired Pointer to.

Exposing your German Shorthaired Pointer to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your German Shorthaired Pointer to what you desire.

Again, with proper training, you can better your German Shorthaired Pointer`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your German Shorthaired Pointer.

If you think the German Shorthaired Pointer is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much German Shorthaired Pointers cost and German Shorthaired Pointer puppy buying guide.

Also, see our list of reputable German Shorthaired Pointer breeders in the United States and the prices of their German Shorthaired Pointer puppies.