German Shorthaired Pointers: Male vs. Female – Size, Weight, and Care Insights

German shorthaired pointers (GSPs) were bred to be ideal hunting dogs, but they also make loyal and loving pets for people willing to give them lots of exercise. There are some differences between the males and females.

Height

Male GSPs are noticeably larger than the females, according to "Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds." Males grow to an average of 24 inches high at the top of the shoulder while females only grow to be an average of 22 inches high.

Weight

Male GSPs have an average weight range of 55 to 70 pounds while females tip the scales at only 45 to 60 pounds.

Conformation

Overall, an ideal male GSP looks like a masculine dog with more muscle, a thicker body and heavy jowls. The female looks sleeker, with a thinner neck and no jowls.

Health

Male GSPs have more problems with mouth injuries, infections or tumors while females are more prone to urinary and kidney problems, according to the 2005 German Shorthaired Pointer Health Survey.

Availability

Pet stores and GSP rescues usually have more males than females up for sale or adoption because puppy mills and breeders prefer to hold on to females. This is common with many popular purebreds like the GSP.

By Rena Sherwood

References
"Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds"; D. Caroline Cole, Ph.D.; 2005
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Puppy Mill FAQ: The Breeding Dogs
German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America: The 2005 German Shorthaired Pointer Health Survey; Margaret R. Slater, DVM, PhD, et al; 2007
National German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue
Dog Breed Info Center: German Shorthaired Pointer

About the Author
Rena Sherwood is a writer and Peter Gabriel fan who has lived in America and England. She has studied animals most of her life through direct observation and maintaining a personal library about pets. She has earned an associate degree in liberal arts from Delaware County Community College and a bachelor's degree in English from Millersville University.