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🦮 Large · Germany

German Rough-haired Pointer: Size, Weight & Temperament

A versatile German pointing dog with a harsh, weatherproof coat built for work in water and thick cover, requiring extensive hunting-based exercise throughout the day.

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German Rough-haired Pointer dog breed portrait
Photo: Alephalpha · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Resized and recompressed
Weight male27–35 kg
Weight female25–32 kg
Shoulder height58–68 cm
Size classLarge (25–45 kg)
Fully grownat approx. 18 months
Life expectancy12–14 years
Activity levelVery high
OriginGermany
ClassificationFCI Group 7 (Pointing Dogs), Section 1.2 (Continental Pointing Dogs, Griffon type)

German Rough-haired Pointer: temperament & character

Robust, alert and eager to work, with a strong bond to its handler that makes it poorly suited to a purely sedentary life on the sofa. It shows pronounced pointing and retrieving instincts.

How much exercise does a German Rough-haired Pointer need?

Needs several hours of exercise and mental stimulation daily, ideally through hunting, tracking, water retrieving or dummy training. Without a job to do, it becomes discontented and difficult to manage.

German Rough-haired Pointer: grooming & shedding

The harsh, dense coat protects against wet and thorny terrain but needs regular brushing and occasional trimming to remove excess undercoat. Check the ears for moisture after water work.

Is the German Rough-haired Pointer suitable for beginners?

Not suitable for first-time owners, since the breed was developed purely as a working gundog for practical hunting and becomes unbalanced without appropriate occupation.

German Rough-haired Pointer health problems

Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia occur as in most large pointing breeds, so breed clubs require x-ray screening of breeding stock.

Is a German Rough-haired Pointer right for you?

With childrenWith reservations
SheddingModerate
Grooming effortModerate
BarkingModerate
Home alonePoor
Other petsWith reservations
TrainabilityEasy

The German Rough-haired Pointer sheds moderately and is only conditionally suitable for allergy sufferers. What matters is a contact test of several hours before getting one — not the amount of coat. The trigger, Can f 1, sits in saliva and dander.

Good with: Hunters, very active owners with access to water and open fields

Is your German Rough-haired Pointer at a healthy weight? Calculate the ideal weight and the right portion size for free in the Souldog app.

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This information is for general guidance and does not replace veterinary or breeder advice. Temperament and health vary individually within every breed.