a German Shepard is not so good for hunting birds - not pheasants anyways. I'm sure they could be used if the individual dog was inclined, but really no t suited. I've had German Shorthair Pointers that were very good, bred one female too, and shot birds over some of her pups. bu t my best bird dog was a mixed lab. Sorry to say his name was killer, because he was only about 6 mos old when he killed 17 chickens in a coop. I saved that dog's life from the guy that was going to shoot him. I've shot and ate about 40 - 50 pheasants in MI soybean and corn fields from that dog. Those were golden days for me and my dog. I shot my dog in the head in 1982, in the woods, and buried him in the snow. He was too old to come to FL. He was age 17. I have his collar and tags still. If I shake them, it brings everything back to me, to this day.