Based mainly on dogs of Spanish Pointer origin, crosses to various breeds were tried with mixed results. The most successful breeders are said to have followed the advice of Prince Albrecht zu Solms-Brauenfels, which was to forget how the dog looked. The breeders' first consideration should be how the dog worked. Once the desired working ability had been achieved, he claimed, good conformation would follow as a natural result.

By 1911 type had been standardized and the new breed did everything that was expected of it. News of the Kurzhaar spread and in 1925 the first imports began arriving in the United States. By 1928 there was sufficient interest in the breed to warrant its official recognition by the American Kennel Club.

Three years later the breed was also registered in Canada. Since its introduction the German Shorthaired Pointer has accounted for a growing number of Dual Champions-dogs that have qualified in Field Trials as well as in the show ring. The breed continues to give the lie to those who claim that brains and beauty can't be found in the same dog.

Photo courtesy of www.corbis.com

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