German Longhaired Pointer

The Langhaar is a dog breed traditionally used by German foresters as a hunting dog, guard dog, and for pest control. The ancestors of this breed were bird dogs, water dogs, running hounds, and pointers. Selective pure-breeding began as early as 1879. In 1897, Baron von Schorlemer first established the breed standard. A few specimens were imported to Holland where they were selected to become athletic and sporting dogs. The breed is well represented in the Netherlands where this dog is used for hunting and field trials, and Dutch Langhaars are regularly presented at the World Championship for pointing dogs. In France, the breed is poorly represented and French breeders essentially use Dutch and German breeding lines.

The Langhaar is described in the FCI standard as a balanced, calm dog of equal temperament, pleasant and easy to train. It needs to maintain a special relationship with its master, and basic training must be firm without being brutal, carried out with patience. The Langhaar adapts to life in the city but requires long daily walks.

The Langhaar is a powerful and muscular pointing dog, described as solid, muscular, and with elegant lines; breeding rejects specimens that are too massive or ungainly. The shoulder is slightly higher than the croup. Viewed from the front or rear, the bones of the front and rear limbs should form an approximately vertical line. The tail is carried horizontally, with the last third slightly raised. The head should be elongated, beautiful, and imbued with nobility. The eyes are dark brown in color, neither too deep-set in the sockets nor protruding. The ears are drooping and slightly turned forward. The quality of the coat is a major point of the standard: it should be neither exaggerated nor too short. It is long, dense, and well-laid, flat or slightly wavy. An undercoat is present. On the ears, the coat is wavy and falls in fringes. The tail is plumed. The coat forms fringes on the back of the front limbs and breeches on the back of the rear limbs. The coat color is solid brown, brown with white markings or ticked, dark roan, light roan, ticked.

Industrial dry food (kibble) is suitable for the Langhaar. Quality nutrition is essential to ensure good growth until 18 months. It is advisable to serve the daily dose in two meals to prevent gastric dilatation-volvulus.