Pointer

The Pointer hails from England sometime around the 17th century. The breed was developed to work with hunters and was thus required to be self-reliant, strong and fearless.

This breed is famous for its pointing stance, which is used to alert hunters when they find a bird.

The Pointer is also referred to as the English Pointer.

Personality

• Determined, courageous, high-energy, graceful and intelligent sporting dog

Size

• 45-75 pounds
• 23-28 inches at the withers (shoulder)

Lifestyle

• Love to belong to a dog or human pack; happiest when surrounded by other bodies
• While this is a high-energy dog, with the right amount of daily exercise, Pointers are calm indoors and enjoy lounging about
• Slightly aloof but can easily coexist with older children and other animals
• Best suited to the country or suburbs where they can have plenty of outdoors time

Training

• While Pointers certainly have a stubborn streak, they will respond to firm-but-gentle, consistent, tolerant training

Exercise

• Renown for their boundless energy, they need lots and lots (and lots) of daily exercise to be calm indoors
• Multiple daily walks and plenty of play in a secured area
• Excellent for agility and other types of dog sports

Coat

• Short coat that is usually white with liver spots, but it can have black, lemon or orange markings as well
• A weekly brushing will remove dull hairs and keep the coat shiny

Health

• An enduring breed that can be genetically prone to cataracts, deafness, cherry eye, epilepsy, entropion, progressive retinal atrophy and umbilical hernia

Lifespan

• 12-14 years

Rescue

• Contact PointerRescue.org, a group of volunteers across the U.S. dedicated to the rescue of this breed.

PHOTO: Pleple2000