In a conformation event, the German Shorthaired Pointer must give the appearance of being an all-purpose gun dog, balancing aristocracy with power and agility, along with endurance and intelligence. It is a medium sized, medium boned dog that exhibits a great deal of symmetry both in its structure and in its movements. Poorly muscled dogs are unacceptable, while lean, hard dogs in field condition are not to be penalized. The GSP must demonstrate the ability to perform in the field, while maintaining an air of nobility.

The male GSP should measure about 23 to 25 inches at the withers, while the female should be only slightly smaller, at 21 to 23 inches. Female weight ranges are also somewhat smaller than the males, at 45 to 60 pounds, while males weigh in the range of 55 to 70 pounds. The dog can present as square, with his length roughly equal to his height, or he can be somewhat shorter than he is long. The bone structure must be in direct proportion to the body and must demonstrate to the judge that the dog is able to perform on any type of terrain. The head is also balanced and proportional to the body, not too light or too heavy, with expressive, intelligent medium-sized eyes that are full of energy; the eyes should be almond shaped and dark brown.

GSP ears are high set, broad, and lie flat, located slightly above the level of the eyes. The skull is moderately rounded and broad, with a gradual rise between the nose and the forehead. The GSP has a powerful jaw and a long muzzle that should not be pointed and whose length should be roughly the same as the skull's length. There is a large brown nose with wide nostrils, lips that are deep and full, and teeth that meet in a scissors bite. The neck is muscular and curved, with close, tight skin. The chest is deep but not too broad. There is a short, straight back which rises slightly between the tail and the withers and a moderately arched loin. The ideal GSP has broad hips with a firm, high set tail that must be docked to about 40% of its length; it should be horizontal when the dog is walking.

The shoulders of the GSP must be well-muscled, followed by long, parallel upper arms. The compact feet should be round or spoon-like in shape with arched toes and strong, thick pads. There are strong, muscular thighs with well-angulated legs. As for coat, it should be thick and short, giving a tough feeling, and can be either solid liver in color or may display a pattern involving any combination of liver and white. Any hint of the colors red, lemon, black, tan, or orange disqualifies the dog. When moving, the GSP should be smooth yet powerful and his temperament should display friendliness, intelligence and the will to please.