This article originally appeared on Dr. Mahaney’s Pet-Lebrity News column on Pet360.com as German Shorthaired Pointer Wins Westminster Kennel Club 2016
Did you watch with baited breath while a new canine was crowned Best in Show winner at the 2016 Westminster Kennel Club (WKC) Annual Dog Show? Behind the Kentucky Derby, the event is the second longest continuously running sporting event in the United States.
I was bummed to not be in attendance this year, but I enjoyed USA Network and FOX Sports 1’s coverage and WKC’s on-line broadcastsof Agility, Best in Show, Best in Group, Breed Judging, Junior Showmanship and Obedience.
Over 2,700 dogs competed for the title of Best in Show and it all came down to the show quality-prowess of one genetically gifted pooch. Almost 200 dog breeds hailing from more than a dozen countries competed in the 2016 event.
This year’s big winner was CJ, a three-year old German Shorthaired Pointer from Temecula, California. According to The Huffington Post, Best in Show judge Dr. Richard Meen said CJ, "floated around the ring.”
CJ had a special quality his owner, Valerie Nunes-Atkinson, recognized from an early age. ”He’s an old soul," she said. About CJ’s win, Nunes-Atkinson said, "I couldn't believe it … this is what we go to bed dreaming about.” CJ now gets to return home to celebrate his victory with his Whippet companion Ramona.
CJ isn't the only German Shorthaired Pointer to win Best In Show, as the breed also prevailed in 2005 (Ch. Kan-Point's VJK Autumn Roses (AKA Carlee)) and 1974 (Ch. Gretchenhof Columbia River).
It's fairly common for a potential dog owner to see a particular dog breed compete in or win one of the categories (Sporting, Terrier, Working, etc.) or Best in Show and then want to purchase or adopt that breed, yet, as a veterinarian I always have to question if doing so is the best decision based on the owner’s lifestyle and ability to pay for the dog’s medical care, food, grooming, boarding and other day-to-day needs.
After all, if you don’t have the desire, time, or finances to dedicate to the best wellbeing of your pet, then is it really appropriate for you to bring one into your household? Let’s discuss the characteristics of the German Shorthaired Pointer to see if it is an appropriate breed for you.
Should the Average American Own a German Shorthaired Pointer?
As the German Shorthaired Pointer is a breed built for performance, including high-energy outdoor activities like hunting birds and other small creatures, it is a fairly structurally sound breed as compared to some of the other recent best in show winners like the Affenpinscher and Pekinese.
As part of the WKC’s Sporting Group, they are athletic, muscular and can move very quickly during bouts of running after a ball, pursuing the desired hunting target or playing with another dog.
The breed has a need for vigorous activity on a frequent basis, otherwise behavior problems can potentially ensue. If you live in a small space, lead an inactive lifestyle, or don’t have reasonable access to locations where your German Shorthaired Pointer can get out and run, then it’s not likely to be the breed best suited for you.
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a medium-to-large sized dog that can weigh between 45 and 70 pounds depending on their sex and overall genetics (generally, males tend to be larger). The coat is short and flat and hairs are shed, which makes for an increased need to clean one’s home, cars and other locations where the breed is contained.
According to the American Kennel Club Official Standard of the German Shorthaired Pointer, the coat color, “may be of solid liver or a combination of liver and white such as liver and white ticked, liver patched and white ticked, or liver roan. A dog with any area of black, red, orange, lemon or tan, or a dog solid white will be disqualified.”
What Are Some Health and Behavior Concerns of the Breed?
As medium-to-large sized dogs, the German Shorthaired Pointer can be prone to elements of the musculoskeletal tract such as osteoarthritis, elbow and hip dysplasia, and Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD). Due to their genetic predisposition for activity, they can also incur injuries such as cruciate ligament tears, meniscal damage and skin/soft trauma from jumping over or through objects that can tear tissue.
The breed has also been known to have gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV or “bloat”), endocrine diseases (like hypothyroidism), blood clotting disorders (like von Willebrand's Disease or vWD), cancer, heart ailments (like cardiomyopathy) and eye problems (like ectropion, Progressive Retinal Atrophy or PRA).
Before adopting a German Shorthaired Pointer from breed-specific rescue or purchasing one from a breeder, make sure to do your homework in investigating if your particular choice of pooch has a history of genetic or acquired ailments and always strive to get the healthiest possible dog.
Can the German Shorthaired Pointer Compete in Agility?
Yes, this a breed that has characteristics that make for an exceptional performance in the agility ring. According to the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America, “as of May 2015 there are 91 MACH titled German Shorthaired pointers”
Agility is a relatively new component of the Westminster competition, which I feel is more entertaining than watching different breeds simply strut around the show ring. Plus, dogs that can run and are intelligent enough to follow the commands of their trainer through a course are more likely to acclimate to the lifestyle of the average companion canine (one that is active and well-socialized).
FOX Sports 1 broadcast this year’s 3rd Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster, which featured expert commentary by my friend and professional associate Terry Simons. Terry is the mastermind behind the Canine Lymphoma Education Awareness and Research (CLEAR) Foundation, which created and produced My Friend: Changing the Journey, a documentary about canine cancer to which I contributed due to my role as care provider for and owner of my own dog, Cardiff, who has survived two episodes of T-Cell Lymphoma. I document Cardiff’s journey through illness and recovery for PetMD’s The Daily Vet.
Terry did a great job in this year’s commentating gig for FOX Sports 1 and I look forward to hearing and seeing his take on the competing agility dogs at the 2017 event.
Image: WilleeCole Photography via Shutterstock
Thank you for reading this article. Your questions and comments are completely welcome. Please feel free to communicate with me through Twitter (@PatrickMahaney) and follow my adventures in veterinary medicine by liking Patrick Mahaney: Veterinarian Acupuncture Pain Management for Your Pets on Facebook. Copyright of this article (2016) is owned by Dr Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Republishing any portion of this article must first be authorized by Dr Patrick Mahaney. Requests for republishing must be approved by Dr Patrick Mahaney and received in written format.