How Much Do German Shorthaired Pointers Cost? (2024)

German Shorthaired Pointer puppy playing with a blue ring and a ball in the grass.

German Shorthaired Pointers are gorgeous dogs, devoted family companions, and excellent hunters, so it is not surprising that many people are drawn to this breed.

The price of German Shorthaired Pointers may vary, but it is important to think about not only the cost of the puppy but lifetime costs as well when considering purchasing this breed.

How much do German Shorthaired Pointers cost?  German Shorthaired Pointers cost between $800 and $1,000 on average for a field-lineage puppy. Dogs bred for show or who have already received training in hunting may cost as much as $3,000 or $4,000. Lifetime expenses of owning a GSP will add to the cost.

Make an informed decision about adding a GSP to your life by knowing beforehand all the costs involved with ownership, such as purchase price, housing, training, food, and vet bills.

Actual Breeder Costs

Breeder

Location

Cost

Mollie Maes Puppies North Carolina $900
Matthew Chapman Pennsylvania $850
James Miller Ohio $800
Remington Ranch Pointing Labs and German Shorthairs Kansas $750

What Affects the Cost of a German Shorthaired Pointer?

These gorgeous gun dogs aren’t cheap, but you may be surprised to realize that they seem to come more affordably than many other kinds of purebred dogs.

Pricing for dogs who are still actively used for hunting, like the German Shorthair, is often based on different criteria than that of other types of dogs.

Lineage

If you are considering a German Shorthaired Pointer who comes from great lines, you can expect to pay more.

Dogs coming from German lines may be even more expensive.

The more generations of prize-winning hunting dogs are behind a given puppy, the more a breeder may charge for that puppy.

Color

Some color variations of the German Shorthaired Pointer are often more preferable than others.

Many people, both pet owners and hunters, prefer ticked varieties.

Pet owners may prefer the ticked markings because the effect is so beautiful, and hunters often choose ticked dogs because it can help the dog to blend in when in the field.

Therefore, ticked puppies in the litter may sometimes cost more. 

Show or Field

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a breed that is still very true to function, so many show dogs also work in the field.

That said, some breeders have adhered more to show standards to win in the ring, while other breeders chose dogs who performed well in the field over those that matched breed standards flawlessly. 

Whether you’re buying a dog from show lines or field lines can have a significant effect on the cost. 

Gender

Most breeders don’t charge more depending on gender, but some breeders do.

Many hunters have a preference in the gender of their dog, whether male or female, so breeders may charge more if they believe that one gender will sell more readily than the other.

Training

Gun dogs are one of the few kinds of dogs who can cost more as an adult than they do as puppies.

Purebred, trained hunting dogs can cost considerably more than puppies of the same breed. That’s because training can be expensive and time consuming. 

Not every puppy is a good fit for fieldwork. Buying a trained dog lets a hunter know that they won’t be getting attached to a puppy who can’t perform in the fields.

Furthermore, it saves the time and effort needed to train the dog himself. Therefore, you are likely to pay more for a trained hunting dog.

How to Buy a Pet German Shorthaired Pointer

The vast majority of GSPs are marketed for either hunting or pets, but they often are being actively bred to be hunters, not pets.

Choosing a breeder who breeds more for show than field can help you to find a good pet. 

Another great way to find an ideal pet German Shorthaired Pointer is to look for a dog who is being rehomed by a hunter due to poor hunting skills.

Dogs who perform poorly in the field are often ideal house pets. Retired hunting dogs can also make charming pets.

Where to Buy a Hunting-Quality German Shorthaired Pointer

Your best chances of getting a quality hunting German Shorthaired Pointer is to buy a dog who has already been trained and used for hunting.

You can also buy a puppy who has already received some basic training and is showing well for fieldwork at about a year old. 

This gives you the best of both worlds in many ways since you can get a young puppy that you can raise to be your own but also a dog who shows very good potential for hunting. 

Adopting a Rescued German Shorthaired Pointer

When you consider the German Shorthaired Pointer’s energy and training needs, it should come as no surprise that a number of these dogs are rehomed every year.

Too many people choose this breed without realizing how difficult they can be to live with. Hunters may grow tired of the dogs they have or surrender a dog who does not hunt well. 

If you are considering a German Shorthaired Pointer, rescuing an adult dog in need is a wonderful way to get a great pet.

Adoption can even be more practical for the GSP than for some other breeds, since many dogs who are rejected by hunters make wonderful family pets. 

Expenses of Owning a German Shorthaired Pointer

All dogs cost money to own, but some dogs may be more expensive than others.

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a large, energetic, intelligent dog, which means that there may be more expenses associated with owning this dog than with other breeds.

Housing

German Shorthaired Pointers may be hunting dogs by nature, but they were also bred to be family dogs.

This is not a breed who will be happy when left alone in a kennel or in the backyard. Therefore, you need to have room for your dog to live with you. 

Unless you want your German Shorthaired Pointer to take out his occasional streaks of boredom on your furniture, investing in a crate is a good idea.

Most owners of GSPs have a fenced backyard where the dog can let out some energy.

If you need to leave your dog while you go on vacation, you may need to consider a boarding facility that can handle a powerful dog who is prone to separation anxiety.

For more information on what life is like with a GSP, be sure to read our other German Shorthaired Pointers articles.

Training

Whether you want to use your GSP for hunting or you’re just looking for a great family pet, be prepared to invest in a significant amount of training.

These intelligent dogs require a lot of interaction. Their busy minds need to be worn out as much as their energetic bodies. 

(We have a complete guide on mental stimulation if you’re new to this concept.)

If you want to train your dog to hunt, you’ll need to invest significant energy into finding good training locations and working on your dog’s self-control skills.

If you want to have your dog trained professionally, get ready to make an investment. 

Training a dog to hunt properly can take years, and good obedience trainers aren’t cheap.

Unless you’re ready to devote a lot of time and energy into training your dog, training will be a significant expense in GSP ownership.

Food, Treats, and Toys

This active, energetic breed will do best on a high-quality, premium diet such as Purina Pro Plan. You can learn more about making wise dog food choices here in our food guide.

Most German Shorthaired Pointers are more than happy to work for their person, so they may not need much in terms of food motivation.

Still, treats are certainly helpful when training a dog. When you may find treats most important is during downtimes.

The GSP has a tendency to get into everything, so it is very helpful to have plenty of treat-dispensing toys and treats available to keep them occupied. 

Health

Unfortunately, the GSP is not the healthiest of the Pointers. These are still fairly healthy dogs, but they are prone to several lifestyle and genetic health issues. 

These dogs are prone to both hip and elbow issues, and many have problems with their eyes like progressive retinal atrophy.

Heart conditions are not uncommon. This deep-chested breed can also be affected by bloat, which can be life threatening.

Related Questions:

Is It Better to Buy a GSP Puppy or Purchase a Trained Dog for Hunting?

The question of whether you want to train your own dog or not is entirely up to you.

Know that it can take up to two years to produce a stable, consistent gun dog, so if you want a companion that you can hit the field with tomorrow, buying a puppy may not be the best idea.

Trained hunting dogs can cost two times as much as a puppy, so be sure that it’s worth it to you to save a couple of years of training to buy a mature, more expensive dog.

Why Are Trained German Shorthaired Pointer So Expensive?

Training a German Shorthaired Pointer takes a long time, as long as two years. Not every dog is suitable for hunting, so some dogs will be rejected in the training process.

The cost of a trained German Shorthaired Pointer takes into account the time taken to train the dog, the lineage of the puppy, and the dogs who were not found suitable for hunting during the training process.