English Pointer - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
There is an ongoing debate about the date of origin and ancestry of the English Pointer. One of the most popular theory suggest, that the Pointer is descendant of Old Spanish Pointer brought to England in the beginning of the 18th century by soldiers returning from Spain after the Peace of Utrecht. Later Italian Pointers got into england and they were crossed with the Spanish Pointers, which created the English Pointer. Other theory suggest, that the ancestors of the Pointer are Bracco italiano, Portuguese Pointer and French Pointer. ​

2) Pointing
The Pointer got its name from the stance it have when it detects the game. When a Pointer scents game birds he stands tall and still, one foot raised off the ground, pointing the hunter in the right direction. The hunter would than throw a net over the Pointer to catch the birds. Of course, today, hunters are not using nets anymore, they use guns, but pointing is still very valuable skill of all the hunting breeds. And the dogs are trained to stay still until the hunter shot the gun, so they do not get injured.

3) Hunters
This is one of the best bird game and small game hunter in the world. The Pointer has a high prey drive, high energy, great stamina and endurance, they are very adaptable even to harsh terrain, obedient and loyal to the hunter and they have extraordinary sense of smell. And as a bonus, this dog is very elegant during the hunt!

4) Companions
But the English Pointers are not only amazing hunters, they also make great companions. They are totally devoted to its family, they enjoy playing with children and they like other dogs in the family as well. Smaller household pets and birds might be problematic, because of the Pointers high prey drive. The pointer is excellent choice for active families who like outdoors and have plenty of time for the dog, because these dogs need plenty and plenty of exericise.

5) Dog sports
Thanks to the intelligence and high athleticism of this breed, the Pointer is excellent adept for various dog sport and BTW, dog sport is a great way how to deal with Pointers boundless energy. The English Pointer does great at field trials, obedience trials, but also in agility or rally. They also make excellent show dogs.

6) Size
This is a pretty tall and athletic dog breed with proud stance and average height between 61-69 cm, which is 24-27 inch and weight is typically between 20-34 kg, which is 45-75 pounds. Females tend to be slightly smaller than males.

7) Appearance
The Pointer just looks great. They have very distinctive head with long muzzle and chiseled appearance. The neck is also quite long and the body is very sleek and strong. At the end of the body is finely pointed tail. The English Pointers coat is smooth and short and most commonly it is in white color with patches of black, orange, liver or lemon. Some pointers are solid color and some are tricolor.

8) Training
Pointers are independent, strong willed and energetic dogs with high strength. They are just not the best choice for novice dog owners. On the other hand they are pretty smart and they do get new commands pretty quickly. They just need a consitent training with firm and patient trainer who will train and socialize them properly.

9) Maintenance
The short and smooth Pointers coat does shed, but it is nothing terrible and the grooming needs are minimal. Even without any grooming, Pointer will look good. If you would like to minimize the shedding, regular brushing is needed. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check the dogs ears, eyes, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed.

10) Health
The English Pointer is usually pretty health dog breed with average lifespan around 14 years, which is great. Of course, just like all breeds, they do ocassionaly suffer from some health issues, for example from hip dysplasia, congenital heart defect, eye conditions or bloating.