SCRAPS Breed Profile POINTER

Stats

Country of Origin: England Group: Sporting Use today: Family companion and gun . Life Span: 13 to 14 years Color: Coat colors are white, liver, lemon, black, and orange. Coat: Short, sleek, shiny coat. Grooming: The smooth coat of the Pointer is very easy to groom. Just brush regularly with a firm bristle brush and bathe only when necessary. A rub with a piece of toweling or chamois will leave the coat gleaming. Check the feet also, especially after the dog has been exercising or working. Dry the dog thoroughly after hunting to prevent chilling. Examine the ears regularly. This breed is an average shedder. Height: Male 22 – 24 inches; Female 21 - 24 inches Weight: 44 – 66 pounds

Profile

In Brief: The Pointer's even temperament and Temperament: The English Pointer is full of alert good sense make him a congenial energy and go-power. Loyal and devoted he is a companion both in the field and in the home, but true friend. Kind and patient with children, he is he requires both physical and mental exercise. a dashing gentleman. The Pointer is The breed's short coat is easy to care with affectionate, intelligent and clean. An energetic minimal effort. These fairly independent and enthusiastic hunter, yet calm at home. Wise are generally good with other pets and are not and adaptable to every situation. Socialize well usually dog-aggressive. Socialize well at an at an early age to combat a tendency for timidity. early age to combat a tendency for timidity. Some can be high-strung. They tend to be a bit willful, distractible and reserved with strangers. It Description: The Pointer, also known as the will bark at suspicious noises, but it is not a English Pointer, is powerful, graceful and watchdog. Show lines tend to produce better aristocratic. It carries its head proudly. The pets. Field lines are often too active and hunt- pointer has an alert expression and a well- oriented to make good pets. Hunting instincts muscled, athletic body. The nose is set higher develop early. Puppies, even at eight weeks old, than the rest of the muzzle. The stop is well- often display pointing behavior. These fairly defined. Its upper lip is full but not slack. The independent dogs are generally good with other eyes are hazel or chestnut depending on the pets and are not usually dog-aggressive. color of the coat. The medium-sized ears are pendant and somewhat pointed. The teeth Health: Prone to , thyroid and should form a level or scissors bite. The neck is dwarfism. Also skin conditions. long. The tail is straight and tapered and is never docked. The feet are oval. Dewclaw Living Conditions: These dogs are not removal on the front legs is optional. The short, recommended for apartment life. They are sleek, shiny coat comes in primarily white, but moderately active indoors and do best with may be liver, lemon, black or orange, either acreage. solid, patched or speckled. Tri-colored is also permitted. The nose should be the same color Exercise: Exercise is of paramount importance as the marking on the coat. for these tireless energetic animals. They are more than a match for even the most active family and they should not be taken on as family date from around 1650, when the Pointer was pets unless they can be guaranteed plenty of used to find hare for the to hunt. By vigorous exercise. If under- exercised, this breed the early 1700's the Pointer became the dog of can become restless and destructive. choice. The Pointer is renowned for his scenting . prowess. He works very quickly, covering a lot of Origins: According to the most credible ground. The Pointer is particularly good on hypothesis, the Pointer was developed two upland birds, but adapts well to other game. The centuries ago by crossing among the Italian breed has excellent endurance in warm weather, Pointer, the , the , the but is not suited to very cold conditions. Working Greyhound, the Newfoundland, the , and best on land he is not very comfortable in water. the . This is an almost unbelievable mix, He has a legendary tracking and pointing skills, but it certainly has produced an outstanding but is not usually expected to retrieve game. A result. The modern Pointer has existed for about competitive dog, the Pointer still dominates eighty years. The Pointer is named for the Pointing Field Trials over all other pointing motionless stance the dog assumes once he breeds. Today, the Pointer is a family hunting has found game. The direction of the point tells dog and companion. the hunter where the game is hiding. The first recorded mentions of the Pointer in England

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