Dog
Pronunciation:
jur-muhn shawrt-haird lab
Breed Description:
The German Shorthaired Lab breed of dog is a designer 'hybrid' breed that was created by crossing the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Labrador Retriever. The result was a large breed dog that looks very similar to a Labrador Retriever with a short but dense coat. The head should be square in shape with pedulous ears and a clear stop between the eyes, which are oval in shape. The shoulders are slightly higher than the rump and the tail is long with a tapered point on the end. The breed should have the athletic build that is expected from both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Labrador Retriever.
The color of the coat can be black, yellow, white, chocolate, brown and white, black and white and a spotted coat that is either brown and white or black and white, although the spotted coats are not seen as commonly as the other coats. In addition, there can be a number of markings that are commonly seen in the German Shorthaired Pointer.
Temperament:
The German Shorthaired Lab breed of dog is very pleasant and, in general, happy to please and be with their owners. They are an active breed but as long as they are with their family, they are happy to curl up and relax with them. They are extremely loyal and usually get along well with everyone, including children and other pets. The German Shorthaired Lab can be easy to train because they are both intelligent and eager to please.
Height:
Again, with females being slightly smaller than males, the average height is between 21 to 25 inches.
Weight:
The average weight of a German Shorthaired Lab is between 45 to 75 pounds with females being slightly smaller than males.
Health Problems:
The German Shorthaired Lab breed of dog has no known health problems, however, both of the parent breeds suffer from Hip Dysplasia, eye problems such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and Epilepsy. In addition, because of the deep chest of both breeds, gastric torsion can occur and should be a concern for the German Shorthaired Pointer owner.
Living Conditions:
The German Shorthaired Lab breed of dog is a high energy breed that really needs a lot of space to work out their energy. A backyard is a must for this breed and they are not recommended for apartments.
Exercise:
The German Shorthaired Pointer breed of dog requires a large amount of exercise to meet their everyday needs and you should expect to give them about 60 minutes of exercise each day. In addition, off leash exercise is necessary to expel large stores of energy. This breed is an excellent jogging companion.
Life Expectancy:
10 to 15 years
Grooming:
The German Shorthaired Lab breed of dog has inherited the same easy to care for coat as the parent breeds have. The breed only requires a weekly brushing to remove dead hair and they only need to be bathed when it is absolutely necessary. The only special consideration you should make is with their ears, since they can be prone to ear infections. Clean the ears on a weekly basis when you groom the coat.
Origin:
The German Shorthaired Lab breed of dog is a designer `hybrid`breed that has become popular over the last decade or so. There is no actual origin for the breed and if you are interested in learning more about the German Shorthaired Lab, it is important to read up on both the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Lab. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
