Medium
14 Years
34 Kg
Gun Dogs
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Loyal
The Pointer is a large breed of gundog with a proportional built and graceful appearance. It has an aristocratic, alert, compact, and hard-working impression with a general appearance of strength, stamina and swiftness. The primary distinguishing features of the Pointer are the head (medium width head, dark nose and eye rims, wide nostrils, concave muzzle and slight depression under the eyes), and the medium length tail that tapers gradually to a point which is carried on level with the back and swished from side to side when sniffing for its prey. It has hazel or brown eyes (according to coat colour) with bright and kindly expression, highly set, slightly pointed ears that lie close to the head and a long, muscular neck slightly arched to carry the head attentively. The long, sloping shoulders, straight, well-boned forelegs and very muscular hind legs, coupled with a wide chest that provides plenty of heart room enables the Pointer to go after prey with exceptional speed and endurance. The fine, short and hard coat is perfectly smooth and straight which comes primarily in white with lemon, orange, liver, and black, solid, patched or speckled. Self-colours and tricolours are also acceptable
All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
Like other dog breeds, the Pointer’s origin (also known as the English Pointer) is a debatable topic. Records of Pointers appear in the United Kingdom as early as the middle of the 1600s. There are those that claim that the Pointer was developed around the 16th and 17th centuries during the time that other pointing breeds where brought from mainland Europe to England, including the Spanish pointer. Besides the Spanish pointer, the breed most probably came from a mix of other field dogs including the Italian pointer, the Foxhound, the Bloodhound, the Greyhound and Bull Terriers. In the 19th century, Setters were added to the mix to create a friendlier and easy-to-train breed. The Pointer was originally bred to hunt rabbits but became exceptionally good at spotting bird. It points to its prey and stands motionless until the hunter is able to shoot the game. However, it was not used to retrieve game; rather, the Greyhound was tasked to fetch the game and works side by side with the pointer. Around the early 1900s, the Pointer was so effective that it started to dominate pointing field trials which was previously ruled by the setters and has continued on to do so since that time.
The Pointer is a mild-mannered dog; a very calm breed that possesses a very low aggression level. It is very adaptable, clever and gentle, excellent with other dogs and non-canine animals, including cats. It adapts well to new situations. It is not a territorial breed but its size and loud bark can be intimidating. Although it may typically bark at strangers, it is not a suitable watchdog because of its timidity and a tendency to be easily distracted. The A Pointer that is left alone will do best indoors, happily lying around the couch. Similar to other hunting dogs, the Pointer is both a field dog and a show dog. Field dogs are work-oriented and tend to be more active while show dogs make better household pets.
Consistency and firmness is needed since this breed is a bit hard-headed when it comes to training.
Failure to give the right amount of physical and mental stimulation to the Pointer may often lead to unsocial and destructive behaviour. It is therefore vital for him to live in a house with plenty of room to move around, preferably with a well-secured, fenced-in yard is an ideal home to run or play off-leash. It would be best if it is given the opportunity to hunt, run and track once in a while if the Pointer is going to be a house pet. It also best to check their feet and ears. Always making sure to keep it dry to keep from chilling.
Grooming a Pointer is not time-consuming and is quite straightforward. The short coat only needs a quick rub with a damp cloth or a rubber brush to remove loose or dead hairs.
A healthy and well-maintained Pointer can live between 13 to 14 years. They are considered genetically healthy as a breed although some may have the tendency to develop hip dysplasia, epilepsy, cherry eye and allergies.
Some of the foods that are not foreign to the Pointer’s digestive system and which the breed could assimilate properly include brown rice, poultry and fish. On the other hand, experts suggest that this breed should not be fed with anything that may contain soy, beef, horse meat or any of their by-products to avoid health problems.
The Pointer was developed to be a superb hunting dog, hence, regular exercise is utmost important for this highly energetic breed. An active family with plenty of time to provide vigorous exercise is an ideal owner for the Pointer. It is not recommended for an apartment living or an urban environment as this breed needs an acreage to be able to have an outlet for channeling its unlimited energy.
Pointer is also very affectionate and playful; excellent with children, but it may be too active for very young children.
They are known to be intelligent, affectionate, patient and friendly. They learn to socialize early.
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