Are German Longhaired Pointers high-shedding dogs?

They shed a moderate amount day to day and considerably more during two seasonal coat changes, typically spring and autumn, which is fairly typical for a medium double-coated working gundog breed.

How often should I groom a German Longhaired Pointer?

Weekly brushing suits most of the year, moving to daily brushing during the spring and autumn sheds. Extra attention to the ear and leg feathering helps prevent matting in those areas specifically.

Is this breed suitable for someone with allergies?

No dog breed is truly hypoallergenic, and this breed's dense, feathered coat sheds enough that anyone with a significant dog allergy should spend real time around the breed before deciding on one.

Does the feathering need extra care?

Yes. The longer hair on the ears, tail, chest and legs mats more easily than the shorter body coat and tends to hold onto burrs, seeds and mud after outdoor work, so it is worth checking and combing through separately from a general brush of the body.

Do German Longhaired Pointers shed?

Yes, German Longhaired Pointers shed, and like most breeds with a dense undercoat, they shed considerably more during two main seasonal changes, typically spring and autumn, than the rest of the year. Their medium-length coat lies close to the body with feathering on the ears, tail, chest and legs, and it needs regular brushing to stay free of tangles and to manage the amount of loose hair around the home.

The coat behind the shedding

The breed's coat is thick, either straight or slightly wavy, with a dense undercoat beneath a sleeker outer layer, generally around three to five centimetres long on the body with longer feathering elsewhere. That undercoat is what drives the seasonal shed, insulating the dog through colder months before being released as the weather warms, and again to some degree as a lighter summer coat gives way to winter growth.

Outside the two main shedding seasons, day-to-day hair loss is more moderate, closer to what most medium-coated gundog breeds shed, rather than the heavier seasonal clumps. The close-lying body coat sheds less visibly than the longer feathering on the ears, tail and legs, which tends to catch loose hair and hold onto it rather than dropping it straight away.

Keeping on top of it

Weekly brushing is a sensible baseline to prevent the longer feathered areas from matting, rising to daily brushing during the spring and autumn sheds when a de-shedding tool can help clear the loosened undercoat before it ends up on furniture and floors instead.

Particular attention to the feathering behind the ears helps prevent the knots that can build up there if left unbrushed for more than a week or two, since this area mats more readily than the shorter-coated body.

What to expect owning the breed

This is a working gundog with a coat built for outdoor conditions, not a low-maintenance or low-shedding breed. Anyone drawn to the breed for its temperament or working ability should factor in a genuine, ongoing grooming routine rather than expecting the coat to look after itself between the two big seasonal sheds.

A dog that is worked regularly outdoors, through mud, undergrowth and water, will also need more frequent coat checks for tangles, seeds and debris caught in the feathering than one kept mainly as a house pet, on top of the routine seasonal shedding itself.

Anyone weighing up the breed against a shorter-coated pointer type purely to avoid grooming and shedding should factor in the time commitment honestly before committing, since the coat is a genuine, ongoing part of owning this breed rather than a one-off consideration at puppy stage.

Kit for this breed

Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.

Microfibre Pet Drying Robe

A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe that soaks up the wet fast after baths, swims and walks.

From£10.99

Absorbent Microfibre Dog Drying Robe

A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe with a handy front pocket to dry your dog off fast.

From£13.99

Large Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Mats and Tangles

A self-cleaning slicker brush with fine, bead-tipped wire pins that gently lift loose undercoat, mats and tangles from short or long-haired pets. A one-click button releases the collected fur for fuss-free cleaning. Cat-ear shaped design.

£18.99

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Common questions

Are German Longhaired Pointers high-shedding dogs?: They shed a moderate amount day to day and considerably more during two seasonal coat changes, typically spring and autumn, which is fairly typical for a medium double-coated working gundog breed.
How often should I groom a German Longhaired Pointer?: Weekly brushing suits most of the year, moving to daily brushing during the spring and autumn sheds. Extra attention to the ear and leg feathering helps prevent matting in those areas specifically.
Is this breed suitable for someone with allergies?: No dog breed is truly hypoallergenic, and this breed's dense, feathered coat sheds enough that anyone with a significant dog allergy should spend real time around the breed before deciding on one.
Does the feathering need extra care?: Yes. The longer hair on the ears, tail, chest and legs mats more easily than the shorter body coat and tends to hold onto burrs, seeds and mud after outdoor work, so it is worth checking and combing through separately from a general brush of the body.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.