How long does a German Shorthaired Pointer live?

The listed lifespan for a German Shorthaired Pointer is 10–12 years.

How tall is a German Shorthaired Pointer?

The listed height for a German Shorthaired Pointer is 23–25 in (male), 21–23 in (female).

Is a German Shorthaired Pointer good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a German Shorthaired Pointer is 5 out of 5.

When is a German Shorthaired Pointer full grown?

The growth size band for a German Shorthaired Pointer is up to 24 months.

Sporting Group

German Shorthaired Pointer

German Shorthaired Pointer is a large dog in the Sporting Group. Adult weight is 55–70 lb (male), 45–60 lb (female), height is 23–25 in (male), 21–23 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 10–12 years. AKC describes the temperament as Friendly, Smart, Willing to please.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Lifespan10–12 years

Weight55–70 lb (male), 45–60 lb (female)

SizeLarge GroupSporting Group

Height

23–25 in (male), 21–23 in (female)

Energy

5 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 119 single-size large breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 11 years is about 1.6 years shorter than the 12.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 57.5 lb is about 1.7 lb lighter than the 59.2 lb average for those large breeds.

The listed origin is Germany. The coat is described as smooth, short. The AKC energy score is 5 out of 5, 0.9 points above the group average of 4.1 for the Sporting Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 4 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 9 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Elbow Evaluation, Cardiac Exam, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, and Cone Degeneration (German Shorthaired Pointer) (CD) - DNA Test. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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