The German Short Haired Pointer is a gundog that was developed in Germany in the 1800s by crossing the Spanish pointer with other breeds and breed types. These breed types included tracking hounds, scent hounds, French Braques, and the English Pointer so that a lean, responsive, and athletic hunting dog, the German Short Haired Pointer, was evolved. There was, however, no Bloodhound used as the foundation material for the development of the German Short Haired Pointer.

The German Short Haired Pointer has a streamlined build with strong and powerful hindquarters that help it move rapidly and turn quickly. Its long flop ears are set high on the head while it has a long, broad, and strong muzzle that helps it retrieve any heavy furred game. It has brown eyes where the darker the brown, the more desirable the dog. German Short Haired Pointers with yellow or "bird of prey" eyes are generally at a fault. Though its tail is usually docked, it is prohibited in some countries.

The coat of the German Short Haired Pointer is generally short and flat. Its dense undercoat is protected by stiff guard hairs that make the coat water resistant and provides protection from the cold. It is usually dark brown in color and correctly referred to as the English liver, black, or a mixture of black and white or brown and white. Its head is solid or nearly solid colored while its body is speckled or ticked with liver and white with occasional saddles of solid color.
The German Short Haired Pointer is ideal for family life. At the same time, it is a versatile hunter because of its temperament of being bold and intelligent while also being affectionate, cooperative, and easily trainable. The German Short Haired Pointer is usually good with children. However, exercise care when it is near children as it tends to become boisterous, especially when young.

The German Short Haired Pointer loves interacting with humans and loves active families that provide it with an outlet for its energy. They make excellent watch dogs, which get along well with other dogs. Though it possesses strong hunting instincts, with the right training, it can learn to distinguish between prey and friends, ensuring it lives amicably with housecats and the like.

As the German Short Haired Pointer needs exercise, lots of vigorous activity, and has a natural instinct to hunt, training is very important. It is better for experienced owners who are confident and capable handlers of dogs to take care of the German Short Haired Pointer. It's important that the owner's nature matches the independent character and superior intelligence of the hound. There is no point in an inactive or inexperienced owner in a German Short Haired Pointer as inactivity and insufficient training for the hound produces a hyperactive dog that may have destructive tendencies. The German Short Haired Pointer is generally a healthy breed where there may be isolated cases of epileptic seizures, hip dysplasia, skin disorders, genetic eye diseases, and cancerous lesions in the mouth.