Information, Facts & Origins of the
Pointer Dog
The Pointer
originates in
England and is a dog of considerable size. It was
bred
used to
'point' out small game to hunters,
such as rabbit and hare and it was also used as a
bird locator. It's origins
can be dated back to the 1600's and it is classified as one of the
Sporting Dog Group which we go on to describe in detail below.
Information, Facts &
History of the Pointer Dog
The Pointer is also referred to as the English Pointer. Most of
the development of the English Pointer was undertaken by the
breeder William Arkwright at the end if the 18th century. An
excellent locator the Pointer
was crossed with the old Spanish Pointer and a lighter-boned
variety of Foxhound, Greyhounds, Bloodhounds and Spaniels
providing a combination of speed and setting skills. Crosses with
setters gave a more receptive response to training and made them
less inclined to try to catch the game. The Pointer originally
worked with Greyhounds in hare coursing. The Pointers would point
out the hares for the Greyhounds to seize. In the early 1700's,
wing shooting, the act or practice of shooting at game birds in
flight, came into fashion. The Pointer proved to be an exceptional
dog for wing shooting and Pointers became popular for recreational
hunting on large, wealthy estates. Two pointers, referred to as a
brace, were generally used so that the hunter could locate the
bird precisely by cross-referencing the dogs ' points '. The Pointer
was first Registered
by the AKC (American Kennel Club) in 1879.
Description
of the Pointer Dog and Puppies - Coat and Colours info
The Pointer's coat comes in a range of the following colours:Lemon and white,
orange and white, liver and white, black and white; self (pure)
colors and tricolors. The coat is dense,
smooth and short
Description
of the Pointer Dog and Puppies - Comparative Sizing
Pictures & info
The pictures above allow for a
useful sizing perspective between an average man (Five feet ten
inches) or an average sized woman (Five feet six inches) in
comparison to the average sized Pointer dog which we have
detailed above. These pictures are extremely important as they
provide an immediate and accurate visual representation of the
height
of an average Pointer compared to the height of a male or
female - essential information but unique to this
site. Use the pictures to help to estimate the size of this
breed of
dog to each the various growing stages of
children. Use the pictures to provide a guideline to the adult
size of Pointer Puppies. The pictures will also prove to
be invaluable when comparing the sizes and heights of other dog
breeds. The
dimensions will vary according to the sex of the dog or puppy.
Girl dogs, or bitches, are on average, 2 inches smaller than boy
dogs. Another useful piece of information when considering
puppies.
Information
on Grooming and Care of the Pointer Dog Breed
The Pointer requires a
minimum amount of grooming. Regardless of the
breeds, a certain amount of grooming
and care is necessary to keep dogs and puppies looking at their best.
Grooming consists of not only brushing out the coat and bathing
but also giving attention to the eyes, teeth, ears, feet and
nails. A regular routine also ensures that any potential health
problems are identified as quickly as possible, especially
important in puppies and older dogs.
Dog & Puppies Health information - potential problems of the Pointer Dog Breed
All owners of dogs and puppies
are concerned about the health care of their pets and just as with
humans dog health issues arise from time to time. Resolving dog
health problems, including those of the Pointer, can prove to be
costly and it would be wise to consider the benefits of obtaining
dog health insurance. Diseases in dogs may occur because of
trauma, infection, immune system abnormalities, genetic factors,
or degenerative conditions. Common health problems and questions
occur in relation to the Bones, Joints, Muscles, Nerves, Ears,
Eyes, Teeth and the Mouth. Other, more serious, issues can relate
to the Digestive System, Heart & Respiratory Systems, Immune &
Blood Systems, Reproduction and Urinary Systems. Potential health
problems of the Pointer can include:
Hip Dysplasia
(abnormal development of hip joints)
Epilepsy
Elbow Dysplasia
(abnormal development of hip joints)
Online
Encyclopaedia of Common Dog Health Problems Please click the following link for additional
information which we have provided via our:
This describes the most common canine health problems concisely but simply without using medical jargon. A section on Dog and Puppy Vaccinations is also included offering information on each of the diseases, symptoms and effects for which immunization vaccines are available. Not sure of the name of the dog or puppy illness? A Dog Symptom Sorter is also featured. The Online Encyclopaedia of Common Dog Health Problems should only be used as an informational guide and when and if any dog or puppies health problems occur it is essential to raise any questions you may have with a Dog Health care professional.
Living
conditions and Exercise Requirements of the Pointer Dog
Breed
The Pointer dogs and puppies are not well suited to living in the
town because it
requires a
substantial amount of exercise -
he has tremendous
energy which must be directed into some task. It is well suited to living in the
country and kennel life.
Pointer
Puppies info
The
following considerations should be taken into account when
choosing Pointer puppies:
Budget
- Purchasing, training, equipment, medication and feeding
costs of the breed
Convenience
and Grooming time e.g. long or short hair
Personal
situation - time available and medical conditions such as allergies,
asthma or back pain
Exercising requirements for the Pointerbreed
Living
Conditions for the breed - suitability for puppies
Family
- child suitability
Children and Puppies!
The pictures above allow for a useful comparison of sizes
providing an accurate portrait of the size of an average
Pointer- essential
information and unique to this site. It should also be noted that
the pictures feature adults. The size of puppies are naturally
considerably smaller and the full grown size of the animal can
easily be forgotten when confronted with cute puppies! The slogan
" A dog isn't just for Christmas - it's for life!" was necessitated
by well meaning people buying puppies at the Christmas, unaware of
the puppies growth rate. The pictures provided make it extremely
clear exactly how small puppies will develop and whether it will
suit the life and living conditions of the family.
Age
comparison between the Pointer Dog Breed and a Human
Age
comparisons between dogs and humans are always a matter of
debate - we hope that the following information clarifies the
situation. After the first year of life, a dog is equivalent to
sixteen human years. After two years, they are equivalent to a 24 year old, at
three years a 30 year old, and each year after, add 5 human years to determine
a dog's age.
Life
Expectancy of the Pointer Dog Breed
The life
expectancy for this particular breed is between
12 – 15 years.
Sporting
Dog (Gundog) Breed Information
Dogs in the
Sporting group, which are referred to in England as Gundogs, which
include the Pointer, can be divided into three main categories -
Retrievers, Pointers and Setters. These dogs were bred primarily to
work with people to hunt game birds. Some of these dogs work in
water whilst other dogs are more suited to work on land and
many of the dogs in the Sporting dog category are comfortable and
capable of working in either land or water environments. Sporting
dogs, including the Pointer, are particularly suited to
wood and field activities. The Retriever, Pointer and Setter dogs
and their main functionalities are as follows:
The
Retriever dog - Retriever dogs find and return killed game to
the hunter. Some Retrievers are especially equipped, for
instance with a water-repellent coat and webbed feet, for
retrieving downed waterfowl.
The
Pointer dog - Pointer dogs stand in front of their quarry,
with their nose and body rigidly still , thus directing (or
pointing) the hunter to its location.
The
Setter dog - Setter dogs were originally trained to set, or
crouch, in front of game preventing the escape of the quarry.
The hunter would make the capture with a net.
Sporting
Dogs hunt by air scent, as opposed to ground scent used by the
dogs categorised as being in the Hound category. Characteristics and features
of Sporting Dogs have been introduced and strengthened
by
breeding with animals who already demonstrated the desired traits.
Breeding for appearance was only introduced in the 19th Century.
Before this time dogs and puppies were bred to increase useful abilities and traits
helpful for the duties they were intended for. Thus, the
various Sporting breeds, or Gundogs, including the Pointer, were initially introduced to help man
according to his specific requirements such as:
Hunting game
birds
Hunting
waterfowl
Retrieving game that had been shot and
wounded
Pointing
to game to allow the hunter to catch or shoot the quarry
Startling,
or flushing, birds from their cover
In
this day and age only a few Pointers might undertake these tasks, but
nevertheless, they still harbour the skills and characteristics that made
the original Pointer breeding program successful.
It
is said that they are perhaps the most intelligent of the
breeds, resulting in their wide variety of uses and their ease
of training. These dogs like to be around people and are active
and alert and require regular, invigorating exercise and lots of
attention.
Examples
of other Breeds within the Sporting Dog Group
The Sporting group includes the Pointer
and all of
the following breeds:
Pointers, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointers, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Curly-Coated Retrievers, Flat-Coated Retriever, Labrador Retrievers, English Setters, Gordon Setter, Irish Setter, American Water Spaniels, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniels, English Cocker Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels, Field Spaniels, Irish Water Spaniels, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, Spinone Italiano, Sussex Spaniels, Welsh Springer Spaniels, Vizslas, Weimaraners and Wirehaired Pointing Griffons.
Pictures and information about all of the above Sporting breeds,
together with all other dog groups, may be found
on this website via the following links:
