Perdiguero de Burgos - TOP 10 Interesting Facts - Burgos Pointer - Spanish Pointer

1) Origin
The Perdiguero de Burgos is relatively old dog breed, that has been around since the 15th century. In the past, this dog breed was highly valued versatile hunting dog, especially for their scenting and pointing abilities. It is thought, that the Burgos Pointer is descendant of the Old Spanish Pointer and Sabueso Espanol.
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2) Ancestor
It is believed, that the Perdiguero de Burgos played important role in development of other European pointing dog breeds. Most of the European Pointers have their ancestry in Iberian Peninsula and it is very likely, that one of the dog breed they evolved from is the Perdiguero de Burgos. Some of the breeds, that are believed to be relatives with Burgos Pointer are, for example, German Pointer, Russian Pointer or English Pointer.

3) Almost extinct
The 20th century was a very bad time for this breed. The World War and Spanish Civil War negatively affected the population of this breed and they almost went extinct. Luckily, after the conflicts, big efforts were made to save and revive the Perdiguero de Burgos. Manuel Izquierdo and Geardo Sardonil are two of the men who are credited for reviving the breed. Today, it is still considered as a rare breed that can be mainly found in Spain, where it is once again valued for their pointing and retrieving abilities.

4) Hunting
The Perdiguero de Burgos has one main purpose and utilization and that is hunting. Originally, these dogs were used as scenthounds, specialized on hunting deers, but over the time, they become excellent at hunting hare and also birds. They are very endurant dogs, capable of hunting in any kind of a terrain without any problems. It is also very quick and agile dog breed. Of course, they have high prey drive and chasing instinct and they are absolutely passionate on the hunt. The Perdiguero de Burgos is also good adept for hunting trials.

5) Companion
Even though passionate hunter, the Perdiguero de Burgos is also loving, even tempered, playful, gentle and loyal companion dog. If they are properly exercised, they tend to be pretty calm at home and they make good partners for kids and of course, they can live with other dogs, especially if socialized together from the puppyhood. Other household pets might be problematic due to their higher prey drive. This breed is intelligent, naturally obedient and fairly easily trainable. On average, this is very friendly, pretty mellow and affectionate companion. They should never be agressive towards people without a reason.

6) Exercise
If the Burgos Pointer is used for hunting, than there is no need for additional exercise, they will burn off their energy on the hunt. But if they are living the typical life of companion pet, than these dogs will need quite a lot of exercise. Short normal walks are not enough for these dogs. Daily longer walks, jogs, hikes, vigorous playtime and fun training sessions are a must, so the dog can stay healthy and happy. Without enough exercise, they might develop some unwated behaviour, such as destruction.

7) Size
This is a well built, muscular, but quite elegant dog breed with straight back, strong legs, deep chest and overall athletic appearance. The average height is between 59-67 cm, which is 23-26 inch and weight between 55-66 lbs, which is 25-30 kg. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males.

8) Coat and color
The coat of Perdiguero de Burgos is described in the official breed standard as „Dense, short, smooth and evenly distributed all over the body“. And what about the color? Basic coat colors are white and liver. The coat is irregularly patched or roaned, which could give the dog a liver marbled or a speckled coat. A heavy ticked coat gives the dog a grizzled appearance. It is not uncommon for these dogs to have a white patch on the head.

9) Maintenance
Great fact is, that the Burgos Pointer has minimal grooming needs. They do shed some deal of fur all year long. You should regularly brush their coat to remove all the dead and loose hair and to redistribute natural oils all over the coat, but even without any grooming and brushing at all, the dog will keep the coat in okay condition. Just like with any other dog breed, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed.

10) Health
The average life expectancy of this breed is between 12-14 years, which is pretty good for dog if this size. There are no official studies about the breeds health, but it is reported, that this is usually very healthy and hardy dog breed and that they do not usually suffer from any serious health issues. Of course, they might sometimes suffer from the typical doggy issues, such as some eye problems, joint problems or allergies and infections.