You have the bathtub cleared out, the water warmed up, shampoo at the ready, and towels stacked for drying. As you start running water over your shorthair’s coat, you realize that he’s not getting wet. The water is running off the coat as though you had lacquered it with a repellant. What you are seeing is why German Shorthaired Pointer’s coats are so effective at not picking up cockleburs in the field—these are your shorthair’s natural oils at work. Some GSPs have less oil in their coat and do get “wet” eventually, but don’t be surprised if you have to apply shampoo and massage it in to break through this natu‑
ral barrier.
Once you’ve massaged your shampoo in (don’t forget the belly and inside the legs), you will see the coat get “wet” when you rinse the shampoo back out. Don’t worry. The oils will return on their own. It’s okay, too, if you have to bathe your GSP frequently to keep him clean and smelling nice, as he will get into
things in the field.
When you bathe your German Shorthaired Pointer, avoid getting shampoo in his eyes and ears. Use a rubber brush to help remove difficult and caked-on dirt. Make sure to rinse thoroughly and then rinse thoroughly again. Your dog will itch and scratch if you don’t wash out the shampoo thoroughly. The water should be clear, with no suds or bubbles. Make sure your dog’s paws are free of residual shampoo.
Drying is easily accomplished through a combination of letting your dog shake, using your hands to “squeegee” off extra water, and finally using towels to dry him off. If the ears are wet, make sure they are dried, too. If you have bathed him inside the house, make sure the door to the bathroom is shut completely when he gets out of the tub, or he will fly out of the bath area and make a beeline for beds and pieces of furniture that you don’t want a wet dog on, because of course, that is what he thinks he should dry himself on.
Though the coat will dry quickly, you can also use a blow dryer on a “warm” setting (not “hot”) and dry the dog’s coat, paying particular attention to drying under the flaps of the ears. Holding the dryer a couple of feet from the ear canals can help to rid them of any excess water.
If you have a self-service dog wash in your area, take advantage of the easy access to the washing tubs, warm water, unlimited shampoos and conditioners, clean towels, and warm blow dryers. It may be a bit of a “spa” for the German Shorthaired Pointer, but it makes cleaning up your bathroom much easier – because, there’s not a dog in your tub.
Brushing Your German Shorthaired Pointer
German Shorthaired Pointers naturally produce oil in their coats. Some coats are very soft and very short, and some are a tad longer and a bit coarser in texture. All GSP coats repel cockleburs, and anything that would “stick” to a typical dog’s coat tends to be repelled by the shorthair’s coat, in part because of this oil.
Very little is needed to maintain a GSP coat. Any basic, soft-bristle brush will do. You don’t need a “hounds glove” with little needles, rakes, combs, or anything else. Find a brush that your German Shorthaired likes and brush him every few days, or as needed. Regular brushing is not needed to control mats as there is no long hair involved; however, regular brushing is good for dogs of all ages because it helps to spread the natural coat oils and stimulates the skin. It’s also a bonding moment for many dogs and owners.
With this said, GSP’s do shed, most heavily in the spring and fall; however, in temperate climates you may find that your dog sheds moderately year-round. If you keep your German Shorthaired Pointer brushed, most coat shed will wind up in your brush and not on your furniture.
