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    • Home
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Our Dogs
    • Breeding Program
      • Dog Selection Process
      • GSP Puppies
      • Started Dogs
      • Planned Litters
      • Puppy Adoption Process
      • Bringing Home a GSP Puppy
    • Dog Training Programs
      • Obedience Training
      • Bird Dog Introduction
      • Bird Dog Training
      • NAVHDA Test Prep
    • Dog boarding
    • Connect With Us
    • Recommendations
    • Blog
Westrock Kennels

Signed in as:

filler@godaddy.com

  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Our Dogs
  • Breeding Program
    • Dog Selection Process
    • GSP Puppies
    • Started Dogs
    • Planned Litters
    • Puppy Adoption Process
    • Bringing Home a GSP Puppy
  • Dog Training Programs
    • Obedience Training
    • Bird Dog Introduction
    • Bird Dog Training
    • NAVHDA Test Prep
  • Dog boarding
  • Connect With Us
  • Recommendations
  • Blog

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Ethical Breeding of German Shorthaired Pointers

Understanding the health status of a Westrock puppy means understanding the overall health of German Shorthaired Pointers (GSP) and the associated health risks of the breed. In order to minimize the risk of a Westrock puppy having an unforeseen health issue, we carefully select dogs that pass extensive health testing. Selecting dogs in an ethical way ensures we contribute to the improvement of the breed. Because we have strict selection practices, the risk of a puppy having an unforeseen medical condition is rare. Although we take all the necessary precautions it can never be 100% guaranteed that a puppy will not present with a health or genetic defect in its future.  


Our potential breeding dogs also participate in hunt testing to ensure they possess the natural ability required to be an exceptional hunting dog. Please read below for further information.

Genetics

GSP Health Risks

GSP Health Risks

Gator, a young GSP puppy pointing a bird during a training session

Genetics and bloodlines play a huge role in the health of a puppy. Each dog parent is equally important for breeding as a puppy is made up of 50% female and 50% male genes. The genes of grandparents are also passed on and must be considered. Every puppy receives a different randomization of these genes, which makes each litter mate different from one another. We breed dogs with reputable bloodlines while considering the parents and grandparents natural ability, versatility, drive, desire to work, confidence, intellect, companionship and temperament. Our method of dog selection includes breeding dogs with like characteristics. This ensures reliability, consistency, and overall good outcomes.

GSP Health Risks

GSP Health Risks

GSP Health Risks

Arrow, a westrock puppy, learning pressure and release on the line as he awaits training

Although GSPs are generally healthy, there are some conditions that they are prone to. The American Kennel Club states, “among these are hip dysplasia, eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy and certain heart diseases.” Because these conditions can present in some German Shorthaired Pointers, ethical breeding practices ensure these conditions are not passed to offspring.

Health Testing

The canine health information center

We follow the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommended test outline for GSPs. This includes screening for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cone degeneration, cardiac evaluation and eye testing. Passing these health tests ensure our dog selection process continues to be ethical and improvement-based. For more information regarding these tests, please visit the official OFA website linked below.

OFA website

Versatile Hunt Testing

Steve during a NAVHDA testing day where Stella received a perfect score on her utility test

GSPs were first bred to be powerful versatile hunting dogs. In order to ensure we contribute to the betterment of the breed, our potential breeding dogs go through the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) testing system to prove they have the natural instincts necessary to be an exceptional hunting dog. For more information on the NAVHDA testing system, please visit the NAVHDA official website linked below.

navhda testing system

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