003001.1 · BEFORE YOU BUY · NOBLE KENNELS
The truth about this breed.
Gun Dogs are rewarding and challenging, loving and full of energy. This page exists to talk some people out of one, and it is the most useful thing on this website. If you read it and you are still keen, we should talk.
- Height
- 53–64cm
- Weight
- 20–32kg
- Lifespan
- 12–14 years
- Origin
- Germany
- Energy
- Very high
001 · ARE YOU READY
Two lists. Be honest with yourself about which one you are on.
A Gun Dog is for you if
- You are a very active family – not aspirationally active, actually active
- You have outdoor space, securely and highly fenced
- You have a strong personality. These breeds have a stubborn streak and will find the edges of any rule you set
- You want a dog that comes with you – on holidays, in the car, into the bush
- You are prepared to train, every day, for the first year and then keep going
- You are looking at ten to fourteen years of this, not a phase
Please look elsewhere if
- You want a low-maintenance dog. There is no such thing as a low-maintenance Gun Dog
- A daily walk is the most exercise you can commit to
- You are out of the house all day and there is no second dog. They thrive in two-dog homes, particularly if left alone during the day
- You keep chooks, rabbits or other small animals. See below, we do not think this is fair on either animal
- You do not want your face licked, or to wake up with a dog in your bed at the first opportunity
- You are not prepared for things to be destroyed while the dog learns
- You want a dog that respects personal space. They do not understand the concept
Nobody is judging you for being on the second list. Half the dogs surrendered in this country are on the wrong list. Working that out before you commit is responsible, not a failure.
002 · WHAT TO EXPECT
A GSP puppy will…
- Be loving, affectionate and loyal
- Look like it runs on nuclear power, and never stop
- Live a long time: ten years and more
- Want to go on holidays with you and sleep in your bed
- Love playing, and give as good as it gets
Like all puppies, they will also…
- Need to be trained
- Need exercise every day
- Need you to teach them not to bite and scratch
- Want to live in your pocket, and complain loudly if they can’t
- Destroy your favourite things, and the things you don’t care about
And become part of your family, and enjoy life with you.
003 · THE HONEST BIT
The tornado that is a GSP
When GSPs are bored, they will entertain themselves by destroying anything you leave in their field of view, regardless of which side of the fence it is on. Every GSP owner has a horror story, whether that is the garden hose or the couch cushion.
Stimulated with plenty of toys and properly exercised, they can be trained to be left on their own without destroying the neighbourhood. Untrained and under-exercised, they cannot. That is entirely on the owner, not the dog.
On separation anxiety. Some people believe GSPs suffer from it. The reality is they simply want to be with you, and they will tell everyone, potentially the whole neighbourhood — if you are not. They need to be entertained, engaged, and taught how to spend time alone. That last part is a training job, not a personality flaw.
004 · YOUR HOUSEHOLD
Children, other dogs, and small animals
Children
Good, with a caveat about size
GSPs and Brittanys are a favourite for kids who can keep up with their rambunctiousness. But they are a medium to large breed and they are strong.
Remember that for a small child, an adult GSP is as tall as they are and twice their weight. Properly trained, these dogs can be gentle and patient with very young children. Untrained, they are simply too big and too fast to be safe around them.
Other dogs and cats
Usually fine, with work
A puppy can make a great pair for an existing dog or cat. Supervised introductions and training are strongly recommended.
They also thrive in two-dog homes, especially if the house is empty during the day.
Chooks and small animals
Our honest answer is no
Gun Dogs were bred to have a high prey drive. Its in the name. Socialising one to get along with chooks, rabbits and other small animals can be dangerous for the other animal.
It is possible, and some people do it. We do not think it is fair on the either animal. No matter how friendly the unlikely pair become, there will always be a risk.
Aggression
Not a trait of the breed
GSPs and Brittanys are generally not aggressive. Like any dog, if they are not trained correctly or treated properly, they have the potential to be.
They are not aggressive towards children who rough and tumble with them, and when playing they will give as good as they get. As puppies they have very sharp teeth, and like any infant it takes time to teach them right from wrong.
005 · WHAT YOU NEED IN PLACE
Before the puppy arrives, not after
Accommodation
If you ask the dog, your bed and wherever you happen to be is the right accommodation. In practice this breed is best supported by a high-fenced, enclosed area incorporating a walk-in kennel, even if you never use it.
Crate training is also a must. It gives the dog a safe place to be, especially when travelling. Both of these will support your dog over its whole lifetime, even if the dog only ever actually sleeps on your bed.
Exercise, daily
Twenty to thirty minutes of flat-out running, every day. A walk is good, but they need to run themselves ragged. The best way to keep both of you active is to get involved in a dog sport — see the training guide.
Insurance and safety gear
This breed is agile and light on its feet, but accidents happen. Make sure you have a trusted pet insurance plan for mishaps and health concerns.
They should wear a chest harness when running in the bush. Snake avoidance training is popular and worth considering if you live in a high-risk area.
006 · ADVICE
Ask us before you wade through the internet.
The German Shorthaired Pointer Australia group has over ten thousand members and is a genuinely good source of support. It is also a source of misinformation, keyboard experts, and a lot of confident advice from people who do not understand the genetics of this breed.
We are here to help. Before you wade through internet advice, please ask us. We would love to hear from you, and that offer does not expire when the puppy is paid for. It lasts the life of the dog.
007 · IF YOU ARE STILL KEEN
Read the rest, then ring.
There is no enquiry form on this website. Ring us for information, and lodge a waiting list application through RightPaw when you are ready. One litter every other year means the list is long and moves slowly, joining it is the start of a conversation, not a commitment.
Feeding guide Training guide Apply via RightPaw
003001.1 — GSP Information Pack — Noble Kennels · Revised 09.09.2024