How to Get a Free German Shorthaired Pointer Safely in the United States
You can get a free German Shorthaired Pointer safely in the United States by meeting the dog and its owner where it lives, asking exactly why it is being given away, and having a vet check it within days. Never send money for shipping, crates or papers: the Federal Trade Commission warns that a trail of fees is a classic pet scam.
Free GSPs exist mostly because the breed's energy surprises people. The German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America says many rescued Shorthairs were given up by owners who were unprepared for the activity, so the real question is whether you can give the dog what its last home could not.
Key points
- Destructive behavior and too little time for exercise are among the reasons owners give for rehoming a GSP; ask which applies.
- A free 45 to 70 pound hunting dog still needs vaccines, a microchip, food, fencing and training.
- See the dog on a leash and, if you have them, with cats or children; GSPs have a high prey drive.
- Regional GSP rescues charge adoption fees, but their dogs are vetted, fostered and matched.
Why are German Shorthaired Pointers given away for free?
NorCal GSP Rescue, one of the regional groups the breed club lists, names the reasons owners give when they rehome a GSP: destructive behavior, no time to exercise the dog, being physically unable to exercise it, moving, housing limits or lack of space, money, a new baby, and aggression toward people or animals.
Most of these come back to energy. PetMD says the breed needs one to two hours of intense exercise every day and that a GSP without it becomes troublesome and often destructive. A dog that wrecked a small apartment may settle with a runner, a hunter or a family with a big fenced yard, so ask which reason applies and whether the dog has ever bitten anyone.
What does a free GSP really cost?
| Item | Typical cost | Ask the owner |
|---|---|---|
| Spay or neuter | $50 to $300 (AKC) | Is the dog already fixed? |
| Core vaccines | $75 to $100 for a puppy series (AKC) | Vaccine record with dates |
| Microchip | $25 to $50 (AKC) | Chip number and registry |
| Flea, tick and heartworm prevention | About $280 to $490 a year (AKC) | Is the dog on prevention now? |
| Food | $275 to $800 a year (AKC); an active 45 to 70 pound dog eats toward the top | Current food and amount |
| GPS tracking collar | From about $430 for a collar and handheld; phone trackers cost less plus a monthly fee (Ducks Unlimited) | Has the dog ever run off? |
Add fencing if your yard is open; the breed club's rescue notes call a fenced yard ideal because most GSPs need generous off-leash exercise. An obedience class is money well spent too, since the club calls training essential.
How do you spot a free German Shorthaired Pointer scam?
- The dog must be shipped, and you must pay for transport, a crate, insurance or vaccinations first.
- The owner cannot do a live video call showing the dog.
- The photos turn up elsewhere in a reverse image search.
- A 'finished bird dog' is offered free or cheaply with no history, papers or vet records. Hunting dogs are sometimes stolen and resold: in 2019, for example, sheriff's detectives in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, recovered two stolen hunting dogs after a tip that one had been sold nearby.
Never pay by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or cash-transfer app. If a listing looks wrong, use its Report Scam button.
What questions should you ask before taking a free GSP?
- Why are you giving the dog away, and how long have you had it?
- How much exercise does it get now, and what happens on days it gets less?
- Has it ever escaped, jumped a fence or run off after birds or scent? How did you get it back?
- How is it with cats, small pets, children and other dogs?
- Can it be left alone, and is it crate trained?
- Has it bitten anyone or guarded food or toys?
- Which vet has it seen, and what is the microchip number?
- Do you know the breeder?
That last question matters. The breed club's guidelines ask breeders to accept the return of any dog they bred, so the breeder may want the dog back, and may hold the parents' health results. The club's rescue notes also describe GSPs as devoted, often to the point of dependency, so a dog left alone for long days may struggle.
How do you meet the owner and check a free GSP safely?
- Meet at the owner's home so you see where and how the dog lives; bring a friend and tell someone where you are going.
- Watch the dog on a leash and, if possible, loose in a fenced area. Note how quickly it settles and whether it comes back when called.
- Look at its coat and skin. Scaly or flaking skin needs a vet's opinion, as GSPs can inherit a lupus-type skin disease called ECLE.
- Ask for written vet records, then have your own vet examine the dog within a few days.
- Sign a short note transferring ownership and update the microchip registration the same day.
Is a GSP rescue better than a free German Shorthaired Pointer?
Often, yes. The GSPCA lists regional rescue groups, from Southeast GSP Rescue and Mid-Atlantic GSP Rescue to All Points West GSP Rescue and NorCal GSP Rescue, whose volunteers foster the dogs and learn their habits before matching them. Fees are real money: NorCal GSP Rescue asks $425 for a dog aged one to five and $250 for a senior, and $600 for a puppy under six months, with training required. But the dog arrives vetted, and you get support afterwards.
You can also search free German Shorthaired Pointers by location and save the search to get alerts. If you want a puppy, read how to buy a German Shorthaired Pointer puppy; for adult dogs, see taking in a rehomed German Shorthaired Pointer. Owners should read how to give away a German Shorthaired Pointer without risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would anyone give away a German Shorthaired Pointer for free?
Usually because the dog's energy outgrew the owner's time, space or health. NorCal GSP Rescue lists destructive behavior, lack of time to exercise, moving, housing limits, money and a new baby among the common reasons. Ask the owner which one applies and whether there is any bite history.
Is a free German Shorthaired Pointer really free?
No. Vaccines, a microchip, spay or neuter and a year of food for an active 45 to 70 pound dog add up to hundreds of dollars or more. Many owners also need fencing, training and, for off-leash running, a GPS collar.
How do I know a free GSP is not stolen?
Ask for vet records in the owner's name and the microchip number, and have a vet or shelter scan the chip. The AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup shows which registry holds it. If the story changes or the chip belongs to someone else, walk away and tell the police.
Is a free adult GSP easier than a puppy?
Often, because you can see its energy, manners and prey drive before you commit. The breed club's rescue notes say older GSPs are less active and suit families who want more calm.
Is it safe to get a free German Shorthaired Pointer online?
It can be, if you meet the dog where it lives and never pay fees up front. A free GSP that must be shipped is almost always a scam. Use the listing's messages so you keep a written record.
Helpful guides
Pet for FreeHow to Give Away a German Shorthaired Pointer for Free Without Risk in the United StatesCall the dog's breeder and your regional GSP rescue first, then screen every applicant for exercise, fencing and other pets, sign a short agreement and hand over in person when you give away a German Shorthaired Pointer.
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy in the United StatesAsk for both parents' hip, elbow, heart and eye results and a cone degeneration DNA test, meet the mother, and plan for one to two hours of hard exercise a day before you buy a German Shorthaired Pointer puppy in the US.
Pet for SaleHow to Sell German Shorthaired Pointer Puppies in the United StatesTest both parents, follow your state's sale-age and licensing rules, price fairly for the work you have done, and screen every buyer for the exercise a German Shorthaired Pointer needs before you sell a puppy.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed German Shorthaired Pointer in the United StatesAsk why the German Shorthaired Pointer is being rehomed, how it handles exercise, fences, cats and time alone, meet it at home, get its records and microchip, and plan for months of settling in.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your German Shorthaired Pointer Responsibly in the United StatesContact the breeder and your regional GSP rescue, then write an honest listing, disclose escapes and any bite, charge a modest fee, screen adopters and hand over in person to rehome a German Shorthaired Pointer well.
Lost PetHow to Help Find a Lost German Shorthaired Pointer in the United StatesReport a lost German Shorthaired Pointer sighting quickly with place, time and direction, never chase it, check the collar for a nameplate or GPS unit, get it scanned for a microchip and tell animal control and GSP rescue.
Lost PetWhat to Do When Your German Shorthaired Pointer Is Lost in the United StatesCheck the GPS, leave a worn jacket at the last-seen spot, search wide and fast, report to shelters, the sheriff, the microchip registry and GSP rescue, and post a lost ad when your German Shorthaired Pointer is lost.