Deutsch Stichelhaar - German Rough-haired Pointer - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
There is not much documentation about the ancestry and origin of the Deutsch Stichelhaar. It is believed that it is very old dog breed from Germany. They were definitely present in Germany at least since the 1800s and in 1892 the club of this breed was formed. Later the breed almost went extinct and it has been re-developed from the very few specimens still found in the country.

2) German Pointers
You most likely already heard about the German Shorthaired and Wirehaired Pointer. Interestingly, it is believed that the German Shorthaired and Roughaired Pointer are not directly related together. In 1888 German cynologist Hans von Kadisch proved that the German Roughhaired is a separate breed and not only a variety of the GSP. On the other hand, it is true that they are related to the German Wirehaired Pointer, as the German Roughhaired Pointer is one of the ancestors of the German Wirehaired Pointers. It is also believed that the German Roughhaired Pointer is somehow related to other similarly looking hunting breeds from Central and Western Europe, such as Cesky Fousek or Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

3) Hunting
The Deutsch Stichelhaar is most valued for its hunting prowess and skills. This breed is everything a real hunter wishes for. It is reliable pointing breed and superb retriever, they are adaptable to all kinds of terrain, they are great on land and in water, they are absolutely hardworking and passionate about the hunt. Thanks to their excellent sense of smell, they can easily track the game as well and they can hunt all kinds of prey in all kinds of terrain without any problem. It is also very quick and endurant breed, capable of hunting all day long without tiring.

4) Companion
Of course, just like majority of pointers, even the German Roughhaired Pointer is very loyal, loving, relatively calm and gentle, affectionate and lively companion dog. They create very strong bond with its owner and family and are absolutely devoted to them. They crave for our attention. These well behaved dogs make good playful partners for kids and they can live with other dogs in the family. On the other hand, other household pets might be problematic due to the higher prey drive and chasing instinct of the German Roughhaired Pointer.

5) Exercise
Even though perfect affectionate and loyal companion, the Deutsch Stichelhaar is still not for everyone, especially because of their boundless energy, high spirit and enthusiasm. These dogs definitely need a lot of daily exercise, it can be long walks, hikes, jogs, vigorous playtime or fun training sessions. Just anything that will occupy their body and mind every day. This is definitely not a coach potatoe, quite the opposite. Without enough exercise, they might develop some unwanted behaviour, such as excessive barking or destruction.

6) Size
The German Roughhaired Pointer is a medium sized, athletically built and well muscled dog breed with average height between 58-70 cm, which is 23-28 in, and weight between 20-30 kg, which is 45-65 lbs. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males.

7) Coat
The coat is the most distinctive appearance feature of the German Roughhaired Pointer. It is a very practical weather and water resistant coat, which is important for the dog to be able to work in water and during bad weather. The coat should be harsh, bristly and stiff on the body and it is approximately 4 cm long. Typically, the hair on the muzzle are forming great looking beard and they also have standing hair on the eyebrows, giving the dog kind of angry look. According to the breed standard, this breed comes in brown with or without white patches or brown roan and light roan both with or without brown patches.

8) Grooming
Speaking of the coat, it is important to mention the grooming as well. And luckily, this is very easy to take care of dog breed. The coat is kind of dirt resistant. Of course, regular brushing once or twice a week is very beneficial for the coat, as it will remove all the loose hair and it will redistribute natural oils all over it. No other grooming is required. Of course, just like any other dog breed, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed.

9) Rarity
Even though not on verge of extinction anymore, this is still very very rare breed. Definitely much less common than for example the German Shorthaired and Wirehaired Pointers and you would be very lucky to find some of these dogs outside Germany.

10) Health
This breed has an average life expectancy between 12-14 years. There is not much official documentation about the breeds health, but it is reported, that this is rather healthy and hardy breed that is not prone to any serious health issues. But of course, they might ocassionally suffer from the typical doggy issues, such as some joint and bone problems, eye problems, allergies or infections.