Dog breed

Pointer

The Pointer is an English gundog with a lean, athletic build, a short coat and a distinctive “point”: freezing motionless toward game with one paw raised. It stands 61–69 cm at the withers. It is gentle and friendly at home, but in the field it's a tireless runner that needs more than two hours of exercise a day.

FCI Group VII · Pointers · standard no. 1

Weight: 20–34 kg
Height: 61–69 cm
Lifespan: 10–14 years
Origin: United Kingdom

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Photo: Lilly M, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

At home the Pointer can be surprisingly gentle and cuddly: it loves the couch, a warm blanket and being close to its family, and it is usually friendly and patient with children and guests. Outside it turns into a hunting dog with enormous drive: it hunts by air scent, quarters the ground in wide sweeps and can freeze on point at the sight of a bird. It has a keen nose and a lot of independence, so recall in the field takes long, consistent practice. It is sensitive and reacts badly to harsh handling, and it learns best through play and rewards. It gets along well with other dogs. It may accept cats if raised with them from puppyhood, but birds and small animals will always excite it. Without exercise and something to do, it becomes restless and destructive.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Pointer for?

The Pointer suits an active owner, hunter or athlete who has time for long runs in open country, enjoys training and can give the dog human company for most of the day. It's happiest in a house with a yard near fields and woods. Don't choose it as a first dog or for a small apartment downtown, or if all you can offer is short leash walks.

Pros

gentle and friendly at home
short, easy-care coat
usually good with dogs and children
superb hunting and sporting dog

Challenges

very high exercise needs
strong hunting instinct and weak recall
copes poorly with being alone
gets cold in winter

Size and looks

Size and looks: Pointer
Height at the withers	males 63–69 cm, females 61–66 cm
Weight	males 25–34 kg, females 20–30 kg
Lifespan	10–14 years
Coat	short
Colors	lemon and white, orange and white, liver and white, black and white, solid, tricolor
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Classification	Group VII: Pointing dogs
Also known as	English Pointer

Care and exercise

120–150minof exercise a day

1/5grooming needs

3/5shedding

A Pointer needs a great deal of exercise, the Royal Kennel Club suggests more than two hours a day, with a chance to run free. Ideally it has work that suits its instincts: hunting, field trials, retrieving, nosework or canicross. Only let it off leash where it's safe, because on a scent it can range very far. The short coat needs a once-a-week rubdown with a grooming mitt, but the thin skin is easily cut in the brush, so check its paws and flanks after walks. A dog coat helps in winter and rain. Feed two smaller meals and don't allow intense exercise right after eating. Keep training gentle, with plenty of rewards and recall practice on a long line.

How much should the Pointer eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Pointer usually lives 10–14 years and is considered a fairly healthy breed; the Royal Kennel Club places it in Category 1 of Breed Watch and recommends hip screening for breeding dogs. Hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation and bloat, typical of deep-chested dogs, are described in the breed. Inherited deafness occurs, so it's good if the breeder tests the puppies' hearing. Rare but serious genetic diseases include hereditary sensory neuropathy, spinal muscular atrophy and X-linked cerebellar ataxia. Its thin skin and low body fat make the Pointer prone to injuries and getting chilled.

hip and elbow dysplasiaThe Royal Kennel Club recommends hip screening for breeding dogs.
gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat, GDV)A life-threatening condition in deep-chested dogs.
deafnessIt can be inherited; responsible breeders have their puppies' hearing tested.
patellar luxationThe kneecap slips out of its groove, causing intermittent limping.
hereditary sensory neuropathyA rare genetic disease that begins in puppies and leads to self-mutilation of the paws.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED)
hearing test (BAER)

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Pointer was developed in Britain as a specialized pointing dog: it was meant to search wide areas, catch the scent of birds on the wind and freeze on point, showing the hunter where the game had settled. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was highly prized by the British gentry as an elegant, fast dog for shooting. In the FCI nomenclature the Pointer heads the list of breeds: its standard is No. 1. The Pointer still takes part in field trials today, and working and show lines differ somewhat in build and temperament.

Fun facts

The Pointer is No. 1 in the FCI nomenclature.
The FCI standard lists white with lemon, orange, liver or black as the usual colors, but also allows solid colors and tricolor.
The breed's name comes from the English verb “to point.”
In the 18th and 19th centuries the Pointer was the British gentry's favorite shooting dog.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Pointer live in an apartment?

Only in exceptional cases: if it gets more than two hours of active exercise and some nose work every day. Indoors it can be calm, but an under-exercised Pointer becomes restless and destructive. A house with a yard near open country suits it much better.

How long do Pointers live?

Usually 10–14 years. The breed is considered relatively healthy, though joint dysplasia, bloat and inherited deafness occur. Plenty of exercise and a lean body support a long life.

Do Pointers shed?

Yes, the short coat sheds all year, but there isn't much of it, and it's easy to remove with a rubber mitt once a week. It is not, however, a hypoallergenic breed.

Are Pointers good family dogs?

Yes, if the family is active. The Pointer is gentle and patient with children, but a young dog can be very boisterous. Without a daily chance to run, even the gentlest Pointer will be hard to live with.

How much does a Pointer weigh?

Adult dogs of this breed usually weigh: males 25–34 kg, females 20–30 kg. Height at the withers: 61–69 cm. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.