Pointer (dog breed)
Pointer
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| Other names | English Pointer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Origin | England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification / standards | |||
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| FCI | Group 7, Section 2.1 Pointer #1 | standard | |
| AKC | Sporting | standard | |
| ANKC | Group 3 (Gundogs) | standard | |
| CKC | Group 1 – Sporting Dogs | standard | |
| KC (UK) | gundog | standard | |
| NZKC | Gundog | standard | |
| UKC | Gun Dogs | standard | |
The Pointer, often called the English Pointer, is a medium to large-sized breed of dog developed in England as a gun dog. It is one of several pointing breeds.
The coat of a Pointer is short, dense, smooth with a sheen. They are generally white with either liver, lemon, orange or black markings. Although pointers may have solid coloring in any of these hues, most Pointers are primarily white with some body markings.
Lemon and white dogs have flesh-colored noses, while Pointers with orange, liver or black markings have dark (black or very dark brown) nose pigmentation.
Most countries' breed standards prefer symmetry and balance to perfect size, and most will allow an amount of variation if a dog's size does not encumber it in the field. The approximate measurements in the United States, from the Pointer standard, are as follows:
However, The Kennel Club sizes are female 24–26 inches and males 25–27 inches.
Pointers are even-tempered, congenial dogs, and despite their large size, make good house pets so long as they get sufficient exercise due to their extremely high energy levels. Pointers are intelligent, affectionate, clean and intensely loyal. Their aggression level is very low to non-existent and they normally happily coexist with other dogs and cats. They are not typically territorial and can be reserved with strangers. They are very good with children and fit in well with family life generally. Pups can be somewhat boisterous and their long legs as they grow, make them appear somewhat clumsy in a charming way. They will bark at suspicious noises, but are not a great watchdog breed. While Pointers were bred to be hunting dogs, they are perfectly content to be given adequate exercise by other means. Since they are a galloping breed, regular exercise is important for them, as it is for all sporting breeds. A good-sized, securely fenced yard is a must to keep a Pointer safe, since they are bred to hunt a good distance from their person. Pointers are habitual "couch potatoes" who enjoy relaxing on the family's chairs or sofas. This is a natural part of their desire to feel part of the pack.
The Pointer has a median lifespan of 12.4 years in a UK Kennel Club survey. Pointers are fairly genetically sound as a breed. Some problems that can occur in the breed include hip dysplasia, cherry eye, epilepsy, and allergies. The Acral mutilation syndrome is a hereditary sensory neuropathy with progressive mutilation of the distal extremities.
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Wikipedia