German Shorthaired Pointer Puppies: Adopt or Buy?

Should you adopt or buy a German Shorthaired Pointer?

It depends on whether it has to be a puppy. Purebred GSP puppies rarely reach general rescue, so if you want an eight-week-old GSP from health-checked parents, or a pup for field trials or hunting, a registered breeder is the realistic route. If what you want is the dog (the loyalty, the athleticism, the nose), an adult GSP or GSP cross from rescue comes with a known energy level and set of manners, which matters a great deal in a breed this energetic.

The RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase suggests the RSPCA or a reputable rescue first, and if you go to a breeder, making sure they are registered, visiting where the puppies were born and meeting the parents. Our guide to adopting a dog in Australia covers the rescue process step by step.

Reference only, not quotes. Figures read on 11 November 2026; breeders and rescues set their own prices and change them, so check with them.

How much is a GSP puppy from a registered breeder?

There is no published figure to quote. No Australian GSP club we found publishes a price; the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of SA lists breeders and strongly recommends contacting one registered with the Australian National Kennel Council (now Dogs Australia).

In November 2026 we read the websites of 11 Australian GSP breeders. None published a current pet puppy price we could use: most gave no price, one said to enquire, some prices were for litters from 2023 or 2024, and one page with a price did not make clear which breeds the parents were. Several breeders show prices only on listing sites, which we leave out. So the honest answer is: ask each breeder, and compare what the price includes.

Reference only, not quotes. Fees change, so check with the rescue. Rescue fees usually include desexing, microchipping, vaccinations and a vet check. The dog cost calculator covers the first year after the price tag.

Which health tests should a GSP breeder show you?

Hips and elbows first, then eyes, heart and DNA. Dogs Victoria says health conditions occur occasionally in the German Shorthaired Pointer and may include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, bloat and late onset progressive retinal atrophy (LOPRA rcd4). We found no Australian GSP club health-testing list, so the table below adds the tests the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America requires of its breeders.

Sources: Dogs Victoria and the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America health statement (United States, required tests effective 1 May 2014), read 11 November 2026. This is a buying checklist, not veterinary advice. Our GSP health guide covers what these conditions mean once you own one.

Bloat deserves a separate word because it is an emergency. Dogs Victoria lists it among the conditions that occur in the breed. The NSW Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission calls it a veterinary emergency and lists signs such as retching or gagging with nothing coming up, a swollen belly and heavy drooling. If you see them, call or go to your nearest vet now. Our dog bloat (GDV) guide covers the signs and what to ask your vet about prevention.

How much exercise does a GSP need?

More than most homes expect. The Royal Kennel Club in the UK rates the German Shorthaired Pointer at “more than 2 hours per day”, the same rating it gives the Border Collie and Labrador, and lists it as a large dog suited to the country and a large garden. Dogs Victoria says the breed suits an active lifestyle and needs a lot of exercise, whether a strenuous hike, a long walk or a good game of fetch.

Three things follow for a pet home. First, a GSP left alone all day struggles: Dogs Victoria says it does not do well alone for long periods and that secure, high fencing is a must, and Dogs NSW says the breed can escape from four- to six-foot enclosures with little difficulty. Second, it is a hunting dog, and Dogs Victoria says many have a high prey drive, so early socialisation with cats and small pets matters. Third, in an Australian summer, exercise moves to early morning and evening.

The dog exercise calculator shows the Kennel Club breed ratings side by side, with RSPCA advice for puppies and hot days, and our GSP exercise and drive guide covers recall and settling a gundog at home.

What do GSPs in rescue look like?

Mostly adolescents, adults and crosses. Across the rescues, shelters and council pounds we aggregate, a purebred GSP is listed only now and then, often a young dog whose energy outgrew its first home. Because so few come up, an alert on the German Shorthaired Pointer breed page matters more than checking once.

An adult from a rescue or foster home comes with honest notes on how it copes alone, with children, with cats and with other dogs, which is exactly what a puppy cannot tell you. For a first-time owner drawn to the breed, that knowledge is worth a lot.

How do GSP puppy scams work?

Scamwatch says scammers set up fake websites and fake social media and marketplace profiles to sell popular breeds and pets that do not exist. Its advice: view the pet in person, ask for a video call with the breeder if you cannot visit, check the breeder is legitimate and accredited, and compare prices, because a very cheap pet is likely a scam.

• No breeder number. The Queensland Government says puppy sale scams are on the rise and not to buy a puppy from a person who does not have a valid breeder identification number (BIN). NSW, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT also require an identifying number in puppy ads. Look it up on the official register, not through a link the seller sends.
• A membership number you cannot check. Ask for the breeder's Dogs Australia membership number and check it with the state body yourself.
• “Health tested” with no papers. A registered breeder can show hip and elbow scores and DNA reports. A seller who cannot is not offering the same puppy.
• The wrong colour sold as rare. The Dogs Australia standard lists the accepted colours, from solid brown to roans, white with brown markings and the black equivalents. Be wary of a “rare colour” premium.

Our guide to puppies for sale in Australia has the full state-by-state table of breeder numbers and what to do if you have already paid.

When is a registered breeder the better choice?

Rescue is not right for everyone. A registered breeder makes sense if you want a GSP for hunting, field trials or showing, if you want a puppy from health-checked parents with a known family history, or if you have watched the rescue listings for months and no adult has suited your home.

1. Registration. Check the membership number with Dogs Australia or your state body, and your state's breeder number on the official register.
2. A club check. State GSP clubs, such as the GSP Club of SA, can point you to member breeders.
3. Health results for both parents: hips, elbows, eyes, heart and DNA.
4. The mother, in person, and where the puppies are raised, before any deposit.
5. A written contract covering register type, desexing, health problems and whether the breeder will take the dog back.

Is a German Shorthaired Pointer the right dog for you?

The Dogs Australia breed standard describes a dog “of noble and balanced appearance” built for strength, endurance and speed, with a “firm, balanced, reliable, restrained temperament. Neither nervous, nor shy or aggressive.” Dogs stand 62 to 66 cm and bitches 58 to 63 cm. Be honest about four things.

• Exercise. More than 2 hours a day on the Royal Kennel Club rating.
• Time alone. Dogs NSW says the breed does not do well left alone all day.
• Experience. Dogs NSW says it is not a suitable pet for an inactive home or for inexperienced dog owners.
• Other pets. A high prey drive means cats and small pets need careful introductions.

Not sure it fits? The what dog breed is right for me quiz and the adoption readiness check each take a few minutes.

Find a German Shorthaired Pointer near you

GSPs and GSP crosses listed by rescues, by city:

• German Shorthaired Pointers for adoption in Sydney
• German Shorthaired Pointers for adoption in Melbourne
• German Shorthaired Pointers for adoption in Brisbane
• German Shorthaired Pointers for adoption in Perth
• German Shorthaired Pointers for adoption in Adelaide

Local guides to adopting a GSP, with the rescues that serve each city: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide.

Weighing up other active breeds? Our Vizsla, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Koolie and Bull Terrier guides cover the same questions, and the large dogs in Sydney and in Melbourne are worth a look.