German Longhaired Pointer

Also known as: Langhaar, Deutscher Langhaariger

The German Longhaired Pointer is one of the oldest German pointing types, with roots going back to falconry dogs used to track birds before firearms existed. The long, moderately dense, slightly wavy coat with feathering on the legs and tail gives it an elegant but still functional look. Males can weigh up to 30 kilograms, with a sturdy build made for long working days outdoors. It's less well known than its short-haired relative and rarely seen outside Germany. Temperament runs calm and driven, trains well, and bonds closely with its handler. The coat needs regular brushing, especially during shedding periods. Life expectancy runs 10 to 12 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

German Longhaired Pointer: how old in human years?

60–66 cmHeight
20–30 kgWeight
10–12 yrsLife expectancy

Irish Red and White Setter

FCI group: Pointing Dogs
FCI section: Section 1.1: Continental Pointing Dogs, Type Braque
FCI: 117
Country of origin: Germany

Energy level

4/5
Trainability

4/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

4/5

At a glance

Height

Males 63–66 cm

Females 60–63 cm

Weight

Males 25–30 kg

Females 20–27 kg

Life expectancy

10–12 yrs

Coat

long, moderately dense, slightly wavy (long)

Temperament & Family Life

German Longhaired Pointer's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 4/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 3/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 4/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

German Longhaired Pointer's energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 4/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 5/5
Hunting instinct 5/5

Guarding & Alertness

German Longhaired Pointer's guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

Guarding instinct 2/5
Watchfulness 3/5
Barking level 3/5

Grooming & Care

German Longhaired Pointer's grooming needs are moderate.

Shedding 3/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 4/5

Living with the German Longhaired Pointer

At six in the morning, while you are still hunting for your slippers, a German Longhaired Pointer is already at the door, looking as if the day might be wasted otherwise. This is a versatile German hunting dog, bred to search, point and retrieve, so the nose, the hunting instinct and the urge to work are all strong, and the need for exercise is very high: not a lap of the block, but hours in fields, forest or water.

He is clever and keen to learn, especially when the training feels like work: scent games, retrieving, tracking. With his family he is devoted and good with children, he usually gets on with other dogs, and he meets strangers with reserve rather than hostility. Small animals, however, look like something else entirely to him, so off-lead time belongs in safe places and only with a solid recall.

A flat is a squeeze for him, and a garden is no substitute for daily work. He suits active people who hunt, run or spend their weekends outdoors; give him that, and in the evening he becomes a calm, warm and thoroughly contented companion by the fire.

Grooming and coat

The long, fairly dense, slightly wavy coat shines beautifully in the sun, and after a woodland walk it brings half the woodland home: burrs, pine needles, dry grass seeds. Shedding is moderate, but the coat needs more care than its short-haired cousins', so reach for a brush and a wide-toothed comb a few times a week, and always after a day in the fields.

Work carefully through the feathering on the ears, legs and tail, where knots form, and between the toes, where seeds like to lodge. The long drop ears deserve a look and a towel after a wet day outdoors, and the coat a proper drying before anyone settles on the sofa.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (30 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 335 g of dry food a day, from €18,35 a month For a neutered, normally active 25,5 kg dog. Calculate for your dog