SO YOU THINK YOU WANT A SHORTHAIR?

    So you watched the GSP win Best in Show at Westminster and now you think you want a Shorthair.  Let's cut to the chase...they don't come in a package like you saw on TV anymore than the thigh master hidden under your bed is going to give you thighs like Suzanne Somers.  “Carlee” is six years old and has been trained since a puppy to be the perfect “show dog”.  Her conditioning program includes running 4 miles per day. 

    They start out as cute little puppies that turn into something akin to a teenager on speed. If, and it's a big "if", you are lucky to get one well bred that comes from stock with health clearances and has been socialized you're only a little ahead of the game.  It doesn't mean they will be easy to train or live with, it just means you won't be adding a new wing to your vet's existing office building. 

    Shorthairs were bred to work tirelessly in the field on both fur and feather, and retrieve in water.  As such they are very energetic and in all probability, have a lot more stamina than you do.  They are bright creative clowns that are always one step ahead of you enticing you to catch them, "if you can".  They can dismantle a room, rearrange your furniture and do some creative gardening in less than five seconds.  Anything that moves or flits about is fair game and the quickest way to reach it is a straight line regardless if it is across the furniture or through your favorite flower bed.  Anything left on the floor becomes theirs to be appropriately investigated via a good chewing or tug of war. Things found higher up are not safe either; one swift counter surf can take care of anything not previously found on the floor. They will eat anything that doesn't bite them first and depending upon  circumstances and their system’s tolerance will barf, fart or worse whether you are entertaining guests or not.   

    If you have small children they will collude with them in ways that are beyond the imagination. Add another dog or cat to the equation and you have organized chaos. To add insult to injury they live longer than you have the energy to get the best of them, and in their golden years have you waiting on them hand and foot catering to their every whim.  Training them in any particular venue only adds to the excitement and increases the odds that a root canal without anesthesia is something you would to look forward to experiencing. 

    Don’t get us wrong, Shorthairs are wonderful animals - but they are not for everyone.  They are not content to decorate the front of your fireplace and be satisfied with an occasional word or ear scratch.  They crave human interaction and need a fair amount of physical activity.  If you fail to provide the requisite amount of either, there is a real risk you will have a schizophrenic nutcase on your hands.  This is not a short term commitment – Shorthairs tend to live 14 years or so.  So if you are considering a Shorthair you should carefully consider and honestly answer the following questions:  

1)      Do you have, or are you willing to acquire the knowledge it takes to train and interact with a dog both highly intelligent and energetic?

2)      Does the family lifestyle allow for regular daily “doggie time” to exercise and play and learn?

3)      Do you have access to an area where the dog can safely romp off lead to condition and blow off steam?

4)      Are all family members committed to surviving the boisterous puppy months (years?) and psyched about enjoying activities with the dog?

5)      Are you willing to commit for years, not days, weeks, or months? 

    If you can honestly answer yes to the above, then maybe a Shorthair is the breed for you.  If not, then we really believe you should consider a different breed.  There are a lot of wonderful dog breeds out there, take the time to find one that fits your lifestyle.  In the long run, it will be best for both your family and the dog.

Authors:  Checksix and White River Shorthairs