thePointer

Even-tempered, Hardworking, Loyal
Sporting Group Sporting Group

meet thePointer

Did you know?

The first Pointers appeared in England about 1650.

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at aGlance

Energy & Size

medium ENERGY &
medium size

AKC Dog Ranking

119th
Most Popular Dog Breed

Personality

  • Check Even-tempered
  • Check Hardworking
  • Check Loyal
Even-tempered, alert, hardworking, and loyal; a peerless hunting partner.

theBreed Standard

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Pointer Breed Standard Illustration 01 02 03 04 05 06

  • General Appearance

    The Pointer is bred primarily for sport afield; he should unmistakably look and act the part. The ideal specimen gives the immediate impression of compact power and agile grace; the head noble, proudly carried; the expression intelligent and alert; the muscular body bespeaking both staying power and dash. Here is an animal whose every movement shows him to be a wide-awake, hard-driving hunting dog possessing stamina, courage, and the desire to go. And in his expression are the loyalty and devotion of a true friend of man.

  • Head

    Ears-Set on at eye level. When hanging naturally, they should reach just below the lower jaw, close to the head, with little or no folding. They should be somewhat pointed at the tip-never round-and soft and thin in leather. Eyes-Of ample size, rounded and intense. The eye color should be dark in contrast with the color of the markings, the darker the better.

  • Body

    Neck: Long, dry, muscular, and slightly arched, springing cleanly from the shoulders.
    Shoulders: Long, thin, and sloping. The top of blades close together.
    Back: Strong and solid with only a slight rise from croup to top of shoulders. Loin of moderate length, powerful and slightly arched. Croup falling only slightly to base of tail. Tuck-up should be apparent, but not exaggerated.

  • Forequarters

    Elbows well let down, directly under the withers and truly parallel so as to work just clear of the body. Forelegs straight and with oval bone. Knee joint never to knuckle over. Pasterns of moderate length, perceptibly finer in bone than the leg, and slightly slanting. Chest, deep rather than wide, must not hinder free action of forelegs. The breastbone bold, without being unduly prominent. The ribs well sprung, descending as low as the elbow-point.
     

  • Coat

    Short, dense, smooth with a sheen.

  • Hindquarters

    Muscular and powerful with great propelling leverage. Thighs long and well developed. Stifles well bent. The hocks clean; the legs straight as viewed from behind. Decided angulation is the mark of power and endurance.

A Pointer
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