HISTORY notes that the first German shorthaired pointer was shown in England in 1887, but it wasn’t until after World War II that these elegant, all-purpose dogs appeared in the shooting field in the UK, brought back by British Army officers who had served in Germany.
I wonder what sort of reception they received on shoots. I’m sure it was a mixture of interest, suspicion and scepticism. The GSP was the first of the continental hunt, point and retrieve (HPR) types to be imported. Today, 17 breeds of HPR are recognised by the Kennel Club. Only six are German, but all have made a mark on the British shooting scene.
All have dedicated breed societies. The first was the German Shorthaired Pointer Club in 1952, the most recent the German Longhaired Pointer Club in 1996. All the clubs have strong working sections. A club is the recommended starting point for anyone planning to take on one of these breeds.
1 German shorthaired pointer (GSP)
For many the classic HPR, the GSP, has long been the most popular of the German gundogs in the UK. It was the introduction of English pointer blood into the breed in the 1860s that gave it its athleticism and speed, making it, at least in the eyes of enthusiasts, the perfect rough-shooter’s dog. Like all HPRs, it can be both noisy and hard-mouthed, but it’s difficult to find a more versatile gundog than this.
2 German wirehaired pointer (GWP)
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United we stand
Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors
Serious matters
An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning
They're not always as easy as they seem
While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort
Debutant gundogs
There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting
When the going gets rough
Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make
A step too far?
Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work
Two bucks before breakfast
A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem
Stalking Diary
Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill
Gamekeeper
Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside
