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A hard-driving hunting dog possessing stamina, courage, and the
desire to go, the Pointer is bred primarily for sport afield and
definitely looks the part. He gives the impression of power and
grace, with a noble carriage, an intelligent expression and a
muscular body. Pointers first appeared in England around 1650 and
were the first breed used to stand game. Before wing-shooting with
guns became popular, Pointers were often used to locate and point
hares in conjunction with Greyhound coursing. The Pointer's lineage
is foggy, but there is no question that it includes Foxhound,
Greyhound, and Bloodhound crossed with some sort of "setting
spaniel," which played an important part in the creation of all
modern bird dogs. Often known as the English Pointer, he excels in
his field. He was registered with the AKC in 1879.
General Appearance
The Pointer, also known as the English Pointer, is powerful,
graceful and aristocratic. It carries its head proudly. The pointer
has an alert expression and a well-muscled, athletic body. The nose
is set higher than the rest of the muzzle. The stop is well-defined.
Its upper lip is full but not slack. The eyes are hazel or chestnut
depending on the color of the coat. The medium-sized ears are
pendant and somewhat pointed. The teeth should form a level or
scissors bite. The neck is long. The tail is straight and tapered
and is never docked. The feet are oval. Dewclaw removal on the front
legs is optional. The short, sleek, shiny coat comes in primarily
white, but may be liver, lemon, black or orange, either solid,
patched or speckled. Tri-colored is also permitted. The nose should
be the same color as the marking on the coat.
Temperament
Lively and independent, the Pointer is an alert and courageous
animal that can make a fine family pet and companion. These dogs
love to work, and are determined, enthusiastic, and have plenty of
stamina. Full of energy, the Pointer is a dog that loves to play and
join in with various family activities, and thrives on the love and
affection of his family. These dogs are not suitable for inactive
families, as they do need a lot of exercise. He also needs
attention, as neglect can lead to boredom and destructive behavior.
He can sometimes be stubborn and hard headed, which can make
training more challenging, but with the right attitude using
assertive and positive methods you will find that training this
breed shouldn't prove too much of a problem. The Pointer will get
along well with gentle children and when brought up with kids, and
also tends to get along well with other pets. They can be a little
reserved around strangers, but will usually be polite. The Pointer
is a responsive dog that is eager to please, and does not normally
display dominance over other animals or people. The Pointer can make
an excellent pet and companion for those with gentle children, other
pets, and enough time on their hands to dedicate to a loving and
affectionate pet.
Grooming
Grooming regimens for Pointers are very simple. Their coat is
virtually trouble free and a brushing, or even just a rubbing with a
rough cloth every week or two will keep their hair down to a
reasonable level. The hair is somewhat coarse and they usually enjoy
a good scalp massage. The brushes with long rubber points will do a
very good job of accomplishing both. Their floppy ears may require
cleaning every few weeks, also. This should very gently be done with
a gauze pad, being careful to wipe only around the outside of the
ear and never into the ear canal. Since the sheen of Pointer fur
comes from the protective oils their skin makes, you should try to
avoid washing your dog as much as possible. A good rinse is
allowable and many of them enjoy swimming, but a soapy bath should
be an annual event.
Health Problems and Life Expectancy
The life expectancy of the Pointer is 11-14 years, and there are a
number of health problems associated with this breed. This includes
cataracts, entropion, epilepsy, HD, PRA, and thyroid problems.
Activity Level
Pointers need plenty of exercise, often in excess of two hours per
day. This means that if you're not keeping your dog out in the
country, you'll need to take him or her to the park very regularly
or devote a great deal of your day to dog-walks, without fail. Of
course, few people have that much free time, and since they prefer
to run around, pointers really appreciate having a nice big yard to
tumble about in. As long as your fence is rather high, they should
be able to be contained in even a suburban yard.
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