German Shorthaired Pointer Growth Chart – GSP Weight Chart
German shorthaired pointer dogs are an enthusiastic breed full of speed, power, agility, and endurance.
Caring for these dogs is not very complicated, but it’s important to monitor their growth. To this end, we’ve created a German Shorthaired Pointer growth chart.
German Shorthaired Pointers have an aristocratic look, and they have an excellent loyal personality. These dogs are great hunters of all types of game, and they require ample exercise.
They have a friendly personality and can be trained with the proper guidance. They are wonderful family companions, and they can run, swim, and participate in a variety of dog sports.
When Do German Shorthaired Pointers Stop Growing?
At two years old, a German Shorthaired Pointer is said to be full-grown. Pointers usually stop physically growing at around 1.5 – 2 years old, but cognitive growth is normally done at about two years of age.
You can usually tell a lot about German Shorthaired pointer’s growth, physical limitations, hunting abilities, and cognitive development by their age.
As a dog owner, you should be aware of how many years it takes to get a fully grown dog and the developmental milestones that occur.
You should also know what it takes to help them be as healthy and happy as possible.
German Shorthaired Pointer Growth Chart
The German Shorthaired Pointer weight chart gives an average size of your puppy’s weight. In some cases, the weight may be higher or lower than what is stated in the chart. In most instances, this is no reason to worry.
However, please keep in mind that if you find your German Shorthaired Pointer weight is drastically less than any of the numbers that appear on the GSP weight chart, you should evaluate his health.
Your German Shorthaired Pointer may be too small and may have a greater chance of developing several health problems.
It’s important to know what age your pointer stops growing. Humans have BMI and growth charts for the same purpose. The pointers have healthy levels within which they should be staying.
You should also be aware of the size of the dog you are caring for so that there will be no surprises when they are developing.
Also understand that, if your puppy’s weight is higher than any of the numbers in the German Shorthaired Pointer weight chart, you should not worry.
Although your German Shorthaired Pointer may not fall within the perfect range, holding several extra pounds over average is fine.
It doesn’t happen every day, but some German Shorthaired Pointers can grow to 75 pounds and be in perfect health.
German Shorthaired Pointer Weight Chart
| Age | Average Kg Female | Average Kg Male |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 8.0 kg - 10.4 kg | 9.7 kg - 11.9 kg |
| 4 months | 10.2 kg - 13.8 kg | 12.8 kg - 15.8 kg |
| 5 months | 12.8 kg - 16.9 kg | 15.7 kg - 19.2 kg |
| 6 months | 14.7 kg - 19.4 kg | 18.0 kg - 22.3 kg |
| 7 months | 16.0 kg - 21.5 kg | 20.0 kg - 24.8 kg |
| 8 months | 17.2 kg - 23.0 kg | 21.2 kg - 26.9 kg |
| 9 months | 18.1 kg - 24.1 kg | 22.1 kg - 28.2 kg |
| 10 months | 18.8 kg - 25.0 kg | 23.0 kg - 29.2 kg |
| 11 months | 19.0 kg - 25.8 kg | 23.7 kg - 30.0 kg |
| 12 months | 19.4 kg - 26.2 kg | 24.2 kg - 30.8 kg |
| Full Grown Pointer | 20.0 kg - 27.0 kg | 25.0 kg - 32.0 kg |
GSP Growth Chart – What To Expect
Birth – 2 Weeks
German Shorthaired Pointers are born in a delicate state as they are can’t look after themselves. They depend on their mother for warmth comfort and nourishment.
Newborn puppies require an optimal temperature to survive, as they are prone to fever. They snuggle close to their mother, but they can’t walk yet because of their undeveloped muscles.
The puppies need this time with their mothers so that they may grow.
3 Weeks – 12 Weeks
Between 3-12 weeks, your German Shorthaired Pointer will go through many changes, as their muscles begin to get stronger.
They are fully weaned at 5 weeks to 5 ½ weeks old, and they have a full set of needle-sharp teeth. Most mothers would start weaning them soon enough on their own.
4 Months – 6 Months
During this period, the German Shorthaired Pointer pup will go through teething.
At 6 months, the German Shorthaired Pointer female weighs on average between 14 kg for the smallest dogs and 19 kg for the largest dogs.
At 6 months, the German Shorthaired Pointer male weighs on average between 18 kg for the smallest dogs and 23 kg for the largest dogs.
7 Months – 12 Months
At 1 year, a German Shorthaired Pointer Female is about 20 and 26 kg and males are between 24 and 31 kg.
Your German Shorthaired Pointer will be in heat around 6-12 months of age. Usually, it happens at 8 months of age, but it can be between 6 and 12 months.
The heat cycle will last for about 21 days, and the females are fertile at this time, but it is not advised that she gives birth before two years of age.
Young dogs are not emotionally and physically ready to give birth because they have not finished their development.
Adult
The German Shorthaired Pointer male and female will end its growth at 1.5 years. The common size of adult German Shorthaired Pointers is approximately 70 pounds.
German Shorthaired Pointers may range from 45 to 70 lbs. They have a tall height and a very large stature as well.
German Shorthaired Pointer Size Chart
According to the American Kennel Club, the German shorthaired pointer males should stand between 23 and 25 inches in height from the top of the shoulder when they are fully grown. This is an average approximately of 24 inches.
Female pointers usually stand between 21 and 23 inches or an average of 22 inches. When it comes to show purposes, pointer dogs that are even slightly taller or shorter than this standard are “harshly penalized.”
The German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America acknowledges that gender affects the appearance of the breed because the males appear more masculine and females more feminine.
Does GSP Still Grow After Being Neutered & Spayed?
German Shorthaired Pointer can still grow after being spayed or neutered. Spaying is the surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus in female dogs while neutering is the removal of testicles in male dogs.
These procedures can affect the growth hormones of your dog if they are done too early.
Generally, you should spay or neuter your GSP at around four and nine months. You should speak to your vet to know exactly the right time to spay or neuter your dog.
There are benefits for neutering your dog including minimizing aggressive behavior and reducing the risk of testicular cancer. Spaying is known to minimize ovarian cancer and prevent pregnancy.
How Big Will My German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy Get?
Are you wondering how big your GSP puppy will get when they are adults? Well, there are different ways that you can predict the adult size of your puppy.
The first one is to look at the parents because physical traits are transferred genetically from parents to puppies. Most female puppies will look like their mother while the male puppies will be slightly larger.
You can do a DNA test if you do not have the parent’s information to know the genetic details of your puppy and you can use the results to predict how big they will be.
Another way is to look at your puppy’s paws. If they are not proportional to the legs and the body, then your puppy is still growing.
Generally, a female GSP weighs between 44 and 60 pounds with a height of around 21 and 23 inches while their male counterpart weighs between 55 and 60 pounds with a height of about 23 and 25 inches.
Just ensure that you always check with your veterinarian. Please use our German Shorthaired Pointer growth chart as a guide but remember that it won’t be applicable to every case.
How Big Is a German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy When He Is Born?
As a newborn puppy, a German Shorthaired Pointer weighs between 7 and 10 ounces.
At this stage, your puppy spends most of their time sleeping and eating. Their eyes and ears are not yet opened, so they cannot hear or see anything.
The mother does all the work when the puppy is a newborn including cleaning, feeding, and helping them go to the toilet.
How Big Should A 6-Month-Old GSP Be?
At the age of six months, your GSP should weigh between 33 and 42 pounds with a height of around 19 inches if they are female and weigh between 40 to 49 pounds with a height of around 22 inches if they are male.
At this age, your puppy has plenty of energy, therefore, ensure that they get enough physical and mental stimulation.
Is German Shorthaired A Medium Or Large Dog Breed?
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a medium to a large-sized dog with a very strong and athletic body.
They have a strong jaw, well-muscled neck, thicker shoulders, deep chest, and lean straight front legs.
What Is A GSP’s Neck Size
Measuring your GSP’s neck will allow you to buy them the right collar that fits securely and comfortably. You can use a soft measuring tape to find out your dog’s neck size.
Hold the end that starts with zero on one hand and use the other hand to wrap the tape measure around the thickest part of your dog’s neck.
To ensure that the measurements are not too small, put two fingers between the neck and the tape measure.
This is your dog’s neck size. On average, the neck size of a German Shorthaired Pointer is between 15 and 17 inches.
German Shorthaired Pointer Body Condition Score (BCS)
Body Condition Score is used by vets to grade pets and find out their ideal weight. Vets use two scales: one ranging from one to five and the other ranging from one to nine.
The ideal score for your GSP should be 3/5 or 5/9, where the waistline and the abdominal tuck are visible. Also, you can feel their ribs as they are covered by a thin layer of fat.
However, if the score of your GSP is 1/9 or 1/5 then they are emaciated and if they score 5/5 or 9/9, they are obese.
If your dog is either emaciated or obese, take them to the vet so that they can help them achieve a healthy weight.
Factors That Affect German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy Growth
Genetics
Hereditary factors have a great influence when it comes to a German Shorthaired Pointer’s growth.
These genetic factors control the rate of growth along with other important factors that add to their development.
Nutrition
The type of nourishment given to your German Shorthaired Pointer puppy will affect his ability to grow.
If you continuously give your dog low-quality food without the proper vitamins and minerals he needs to grow then his development will be negatively affected.
There are poor quality foods that do not provide enough nutrients, and it is full of fillers which have little or no nutrients needed by a growing puppy. They actually cause the growth of your dog to be stunted.
Physical Activity & Health
German Shorthaired Pointers are natural hunters. If they don’t get enough exercise they will be bored and get up to mischief. Sufficient exercise is required to promote growth and allow bone density to be developed.
Stronger bones and a fitter body will add weight to your puppy while keeping him healthy. Your German Shorthaired Pointer will have healthy strong muscles when he is allowed to exercise regularly.
What If My German Shorthaired Pointer Is Not The Right Weight
The German shorthaired pointer is a medium-sized dog that is particularly agile and lean. The major part of your dog’s weight should be made up of lean muscle.
This means that pointers at a healthy weight may seem leaner when compared to other breeds.
The male pointers are usually a bit larger than the females. Male German shorthaired pointers should weigh between 55 and 70 pounds, while females should be between 45 and 60 pounds.
German shorthaired pointers have healthy appetites and will easily gain weight if their diet is not carefully managed.
Too much weight gain is common in companion German shorthaired pointers, because they are not engaged in the vigorous exercise.
As a way to tell if your dog is the right size, you should be able to feel his ribs if you run your hand along his sides. If you can’t easily feel his ribs, then he is most likely overweight.
Also, if you can see his ribs or spine through his coat, he is too thin. You need to switch him to a high-quality, high-protein food, and increase his daily portions by 1/2 cup.
How Long Are German Shorthaired Pointers Pregnant?
For German Shorthaired Pointers, the normal gestation period is about 63 days from conception, but this can vary by several days. It is good to check with a vet because conception is often hard to determine.
The sperm can live for numerous days within the female, and eggs can remain fertile for up to 48 hours.
This means the date that mating took place is not a precise measurement of gestation. This makes it difficult to determine the length of pregnancy without the assistance of a veterinarian.
Pregnancy in dogs is usually short when compared to humans. It comes up to about 9 weeks in total, and each day matters.
Knowledge of the length of the pregnancy is crucial for the health of the pregnant dog and the puppies.
How Many Puppies Do German Shorthaired Pointers Have?
The litter size of German Shorthaired Pointers usually vary among breeds and also from individual dogs.
German Shorthaired Pointer puppies are spritely at the time of birth but of course depends only on their mother.
It takes almost two years for a German Shorthaired puppy to become completely mature. The litter size may also be determined by the time when the dog is bred.
Breeding at the right time (after 2 years) will result in better litter of pups. German Shorthaired Pointers have medium to big litters.
The average litter size for German Shorthaired Pointers is about 8-12 puppies whereas larger and smaller litter are also expected.
What Is The Life Expectancy Of German Shorthaired Pointers?
German Shorthaired Pointers are wonderful companions have a life expectancy of 12 to 18 years. This is quite a long lifespan for a dog. This is great news for owners who tend to be attached.
Our dogs don’t get to live with us forever, so it is good to know the dangers of old age and the average lifespan of German Shorthaired Pointer.
There are numerous factors that affect the longevity of German Shorthaired Pointer Dog, such as breed, size and the general health of the animal.
How Much Does It Cost To Own A German Shorthaired Pointer?
To own a German Shorthaired Pointer, the average cost is about $500 to $1000 annually with the average at about $800.00.
This would cover all the expenses such as food, training, vet visits, toys, and vaccinations.
Because the German Shorthaired Pointers have shorter hair, the grooming costs are actually less than a much fluffier dog. But they are medium-sized dogs and require a lot of food, more exercise, and better training.
German Shorthaired Pointer Genetics And Common Health Problems
The German Shorthaired Pointer is predisposed to having numerous hereditary conditions such as epilepsy, hip dysplasia, skin problems, and eye disorders.
Epilepsy in dogs is a brain disorder that is often genetic, but can sometimes be caused by brain lesions. Dogs with epilepsy can have seizures any time, and they can last for about a minute.
Medium-breed dogs like the German Shorthaired Pointer are especially predisposed to cluster seizures which happen at frequent intervals of one to four weeks.
