First and foremost, learn as much as you can about this breed.  Learn and study this breed's conformation standard as well as the Shorthair temperament in order to know what to look for in a German Shorthaired Pointer.  Is this really a breed that would fit well with your lifestyle?
 
     There are many differences between breeders.  If it were me, I'd want the most of my time, effort and money.  That means a breeder that puts their dogs to the test and achieve the highest levels in achievements in this breed.  There are plenty of breeders that charge as much as breeders who invest much more time and effort in their breeding program.  It is your responsibility to do as much as you can in researching them and comparing them with each other.  Patience and perseverance is a virtue.  The other important reason is that any breeder affects the outcome of any breed and supporting breeders of low quality will lead to the downfall of any breed.  It is important to compare breeders against each other.  I've seen terrible examples produced by people who call themselves quality breeders.  Learn about breeding ethics, AKC titles and medical tests and most of all the German Shorthaired Pointer breed standard.  Go with breeders that put their dogs to the test and succeed.  Dogs should only be bred to keep the quality high and improve the breed.  It is as much the buyer's responsibility to limit the unnecessary and faulty examples of the breed that is produced.  Support breeders that are passionate about improving the breed and keeping this quality high, not just by their words but with seeing it in their actions.
 
     Competition achievements, titles, and certificates are ways to show the dogs achievements and capability.  Certain achievements result in AKC titles and will show with the dogs papered name.  This can be easily seen on akc.org website once you learn how to navigate the site and search for specific dogs by registered name.  Talk to many breeders, not just one or two.  Go to shows, go to hunt tests, talk to people.  Learn about the sire and dam of your new puppy.  Study the pedigree and learn about their history.  Whether you are searching for a show pup or a competition companion, get the best quality for your time, efforts and money.  Ask about medical background and any known medical issues, temperament.. etc.  There are no perfect dogs and not all medical issues can be traced genetically but at least get an idea of what to expect.  

     Know what you are getting by studying the breed.  The GSP should  have attained a high level of achievement before it should be considered for breeding.  AKC Show Champion, Master Hunter, Field Champion, these are some of the titles to look for in the sire and dam of your pup.  This is a breed of dog that should be fully capable of achieving the highest levels in many fields.  This is thanks to the quality in their breeding.  A true good example of the German Shorthaired Pointer should be capable of attaining some of the highest levels in Conformation, Field, Hunt, Obedience, Agility and Tracking.  These are the different categories that AKC keeps track of in titling and the categories the GSP should be able to do well.  Breeding of parents that have attained only the first and lowest levels in titles does not make for improving the breed.  Learn what the titles mean.  It would certainly NOT be my first suggestion in getting dogs from non show quality parents.  The conformation show ring is not a beauty pageant.  Both show and hunting side are equally important and the parents should show promise in both sides of competition.  One should never breed dogs or bitches that have disqualifying faults.  Learning the breed standard and knowing faults is a major part purchasing a quality pup.  For a potential breeder, learning the standard is just the beginning of scratching the surface to all the research and efforts made to have a quality breeding program.

     Conformation as well as field ability are two of the most important aspects in finding a true to the breed Shorthair, because without this you just have a dog that only says it is a  Shorthair on paper.  Breeding to the standard is breeding to the design of this breed which looks for the best qualities for achieving what is needed when working in the field and in keeping with the look of the Shorthair.  This includes proper temperament, bidability, pray drive and proper conformation.  Meeting the standard and having a dog that is capable of doing what a Shorthair is expected to be able to do is what makes the GSP a GSP.  Attaining the Master Hunter (MH) title is important as well as titles in water retrieval and many others, as the purpose of this breed is to be a versatile hunter that works well in changing environments and always works well with you.  The German Shorthaired Pointer is a versatile hunter that is required to be with-in the very clear and strict conformation standard to be a good example of the breed. 

     An AKC registry alone is definitely not enough to warrant breeding.  The AKC is a registry.  You can have a GSP that is built like a small Dane or short and wide as an AmStaff and still be an AKC registered German Shorthair pointer, but it is a bad example of the breed and should not be bred.  AKC keeps track of pedigrees and titles.  Anyone can easily breed any GSP with AKC papers and end up with pups WAY beyond what a Shorthair is expected to be.  You can easily end up breeding them to have bad temperaments, incorrect hips and elbows, wrong head type and incorrect bite - all causing problems later in the life of the dog, when not breeding for quality.   Learn and know all aspects of the  German Shorthair Pointer by studying them as well as learning their history.  AKC papers of registry along with the lowest levels in titles alone is most certainly not enough reason to breed a litter.  You should have the highest standards in all aspects of what makes a German Shorthair Pointer.  It takes everyone, buyer and breeder alike, to get the very best out of any breed.