Pointing breed

A pointing breed is a type of gundog typically used in finding game. Gundogs are traditionally divided into three classes: retrievers, flushing dogs, and pointing breeds. The name pointer comes from the dog's instinct to point, by stopping and aiming its muzzle towards game. This demonstrates to the hunter the location of his or her quarry and allows them to move into gun range. Pointers were selectively bred from dogs who had abundant pointing and backing instinct. They typically start to acquire their hunting instincts at about 2 months of age.

History

The pointing breeds can be dated to England and Europe in about the 1650s.^[1] They may have descended from dogs from Spain. (Furgus, 2002) Pointing dogs were originally used by hunters who netted the game. The dog would freeze or set (as in Setter) and allow the hunter to throw the net over the game before it flushed. Flushing dogs, on the other hand, were often used by falconers to flush game for the raptors.

Most continental European pointing breeds are classified as versatile gun dog breeds or sometimes HPR breeds (for hunt, point, and retrieve). The distinction is made because versatile breeds were developed to find and point game as all pointing breeds, but were also bred to perform other hunting tasks as well. This distinction likely arose because while the British developed breeds which specialized in tasks such as pointing, flushing, and retrieving from land or water, in Continental Europe, the same dog was trained to be able to perform each of these tasks (albeit less effectively). The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association defines versatility as "the dog that is bred and trained to dependably hunt and point game, to retrieve on both land and water, and to track wounded game on both land and water." As an example, German Shorthair Pointers are often used to retrieve birds duck hunting, whereas calling upon a Pointer to do the same would be less common. Unlike the pure pointing and setting breeds, many versatile dogs were bred for working in dense cover, and traditionally have docked tails.

The Westminster Kennel Club was organized in the early 1870s, and the club's early English import, "Sensation", is still used as the club logo.

Appearance

Pointing breeds come in all varieties of coats, from short-haired dogs, to wire-haired dogs, to silky-coated Setters. Most breeds tend to have some sort of spots on their body, whether the spots are small and round, or a large oval shape.

Breeds

Pointers (and setters) include the following breeds:

• English Setter
• Gordon Setter
• Irish Red and White Setter
• Irish Setter
• Pointer

The following breeds are also considered versatile hunting dogs:

• Bracco Italiano
• Braque de l’Ariège (Ariege Pointer)
• Braque du Bourbonnais (Bourbonnais pointer)
• Braque d'Auvergne
• Braque Francais
• Braque Saint-Germain
• Brittany (Epagneul Breton, formerly known as the Brittany Spaniel)
• French Brittany (Épagneul Breton, FCI standard)
• French Spaniel
• Canadian Pointer
• Cesky Fousek
• Frisian Pointer (Stabyhoun/Stabij)
• German Longhaired Pointer
• German Shorthaired Pointer
• German Wirehaired Pointer
• German Hunting Terrier
• Hungarian Vizsla
• Labrador Retriever
• Large Munsterlander
• Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
• Old Danish Pointer
• Old Spanish Pointer (Perdiguero Navarro)
• Portuguese Pointer
• Pudelpointer
• Slovak Rough-haired Pointer
• Small Munsterlander
• Spanish Pointer (Perdiguero de Burgos)
• Spinone Italiano
• Stichelhaar
• Weimaraner
• Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
• Wirehaired Vizsla (Drótszőrű Magyar Vizsla)

References

1. ↑ "Pointer". 5 Star Dog. Retrieved 2008-07-14. 

• Fergus, Charles. Gun Dog Breeds, A Guide to Spaniels, Retrievers, and Pointing Dogs, The Lyons Press, 2002. ISBN 1-58574-618-5

v t e Dogs Behavior Barking Communication Intelligence Human-canine bond Health Aging Anatomy Coat Diseases Odor Reproduction Skin disorders Vaccination Rabies Training Clicker Obedience Rescue Socialization Puppy Types List of types Bandogs Bay dogs Eskimo dogs Catch dogs Companion dogs Crossbred dogs Curs Feral dogs Fighting dogs Guard dogs Herding dogs Hounds Hunting dogs Bird dogs Gun dogs Lap dogs Livestock guardian dogs Mongrels Mountain dogs Molossers Meat dogs Pointers Purebred dogs Retrievers Setters Scenthounds Sighthounds Sled dogs Spaniels Spitze Street dogs Terriers Turnspit Dogs Village dogs Water dogs Wild dogs Breeds List of breeds List of crossbreeds Breed Groups Ancient breeds Conformation Breeding Crossbreeds Origin Purebred Rare breeds Extinct breeds Work Assistance dog Attack dog Detection dog Guard dog Guide dog Hearing dog Herding dog Hunting dog Livestock guardian dog Pet dog Police dog Search and rescue dog Service dog Sled dog Therapy dog War dog Working Group (dogs) Human–dog interaction Animal testing Baiting Breed-specific legislation Communication Dog attack Dog park Dog sports Dog walking Dog daycare Dog grooming Famous dogs Intelligence Therapy Training Fear of dogs Dog license Dog food Dogs in religion Book Category Portal