English Pointer Dog Breed Information

General Information:

Height: 23-28 inches
Weight: 44-75 pounds
Life Span: 12-15 years
Coloring: Black, lemon, liver and orange; solid or with a white base.
Area of Origin: England
Similar Breeds: German Shorthair Pointer, Gordon Setter, Irish Setter, and Vizsla.

History and Origin:

The Pointer’s ancestors developed slowly throughout Europe; however, it was not until they landed in England between the 16^th and 17^th centuries that the breed really came into its own as the noble hunter’s companion that we know today. Developed with the help of various sight hounds, bloodhounds and foxhounds, the Pointer became an unmatchable icon in the hunting world.

These dogs were used to flush out rabbits and other quarry for the sight hounds before rifles gained popularity where they then were taught to flush out birds and small animals for hunters directly.

The Pointer did not make it to the United States until the 1800s and were first greeted with hesitation, it was not until the 1900s that they were given a chance to show what they were capable of and have since become the bird dog of choice through much of the United States, particularly in the South.

The breed itself was first recorded by name in England in 1650 and officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1884.

Personality and Temperament:

The Pointer is very much a mixed-energy dog. These dogs are very quiet, laid-back couch potatoes indoors content to just lie around and spend time with their family. They are very empathetic and will often mimic the personalities of their owners which is why one must socialize this dog well from when they are little.

Out of the house is a completely different scenario. These dogs have limitless energy and can run for hours without a break. These dogs truly need at least one hour a day to go out running as a walk will just not be enough for this dog’s energy needs. If a Pointer is not properly exercised or given enough mental stimulation, they are known for becoming quite destructive with their chewing and digging which can be quite costly both in your dog’s health and the replacement costs of the items destroyed.

These dogs get along well with people of all ages, dogs and other animals when they are trained properly and are known for their gentle behavior. Birds are another story however, as this is what the dog was bred to seek out and even if they do not try to hurt the bird, they will often be far too interested in them causing a great deal of stress on both the dog and the bird.

These dogs, as gentle and loyal as they are, are not pushovers. These dogs have very strong and quick minds and therefore they need a very strong pack leader. This makes them less ideal for soft-spoken or first-time dog owners. Also if you are looking for a dog that will automatically do what you ask without questioning your authority, you may want to look at other breeds as Pointers seem to believe that respect is to be earned not given freely.

Exercise & Training:

As mentioned above, the Pointer is exceptionally active and requires a minimum of an hour run a day. They are known for having enough energy to hunt all day, from sunup to sundown and still have energy left to go for a run. If you are looking for a jogging partner, this would be a good match; however, if you are looking for the occasional quick walk after work, another breed may be more suitable.

These dogs can live in the city provided that they are given plenty of exercise, mental stimulation (such as a tracking club), a large fenced yard and attention. Ideally these dogs belong out in the country where they have plenty of room to roam during the day yet are allowed to come in the house to be with the family when they are home as this dog thrives on human attention.

The Pointer is an incredibly smart dog and very versatile. They are a quick study once they develop a bond with their owner and start to show their trademark pointing ability at around 7-9 weeks old. They are also very sensitive so one must remember this as they do not take verbal or physical abuse lightly and permanent damage can be done if one is too hard on them.

These dogs excel in field trials, hunting, obedience and some dogs even do well in agility. When you show an interest in an activity and have a passion for it, the Pointer will pick up on this and strive to do his best.

Socialization is the key with this dog as are prone to being wary of strangers. These dogs pick up quickly on their owner’s emotions and so if you are quick to anger, the dog may start displaying the same traits, whereas if you are nervous about certain people, the dog will pick up on this as well. When these dogs feel their pack leader is not as strong as they are, they will quickly step up and assume the role which can be quite dangerous if not stopped early.

Grooming:

For those who do not like spending a lot of time and energy grooming a dog, the Pointer is ideal in that it is only a moderate shedder and only requires modest grooming with either a firm bristled brush or a glove-style brush once a week followed by a wipe down with a damp cloth to keep them looking in their top form. Bathing should only be done every couple months unless they absolutely need it.

Their ears should be cleaned and checked every week or so at the same time you trim their nails.

Health and Wellness:

In all, the Pointer is a robust, healthy dog that has few health issues; however, with genetics being what they are, there are a few things the breed can carry. Other than allergies and skin cysts, it is important to ensure the parents of the dog you are looking at purchasing have been genetically screened for issues with a genetic factor. Some of the issues that can be associated with the Pointer are:

Addison’s Disease (Hypoadrenocorticism)
- A condition where the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones which ends up causing electrolyte and metabolic imbalances. This is a very serious disease with various causes, usually genetic. There is only one noted preventable form of Addison’s disease and that is iatrogenic hypoadrenocoticism which is caused when a dog is suddenly taken off a steroid medication.
Aortic Stenosis
- A congenital disease which causes a narrowing of the channel between the aorta and the left ventricle of the heart. There are often no signs of this and in mild forms nothing needs to be done as the dog will function fine. In more acute cases, a veterinarian will need to be consulted to determine the best course of treatment whether it is beta blockers, procainamide or surgery.
Bloat (Torsion/Gastric Dilation-Volvulus)
- Bloat is a serious condition that kills many deep-chested dogs annually. There is no set reason for why it occurs or what causes it although gulping down food, swallowing air, or drinking excessively after eating combined with exercise seem to be serious concerns. Unfortunately, by the time bloat has been diagnosed, time is already racing against you. The best thing to do is to call the veterinarian on the way to their office where they will attempt to clear the blockage through fluids and steroids; however, this is rarely enough and emergency surgery is usually required.
Demodectic Mange
- A condition where the dog is infested with mites passed on by the mother. Usually dogs have little to no side effects as their immune systems keep the mites at bay, yet for dogs with compromised immune systems either from stress, autoimmune disease, allergies, or malnutrition this can cause hair loss and skin infections. Usually treatment is not necessary; however, when it is required it can be easily treated with antibiotics and medicated shampoo.
Epilepsy
- Epilepsy comes in two main forms – petit or grand mal seizures just like in humans. In most cases, your veterinarian will be able to prescribe the appropriate medication to help prevent these from occurring allowing your dog to live their life normally.
Hip Dysplasia
- A genetic condition where the dog’s hip joint is shaped incorrectly causing painful rubbing and tearing of the surrounding tissue. This is usually treated by medication, physiotherapy, massage therapy and diet for mild cases. Severe cases may require surgery to either fix or replace the affected joint. This can be tested for by the parents. The average Pointer scores a 9.3, however to improve the breed, potential parents should score lower.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- A genetic condition which causes the dog to slowly lose their vision until they eventually go blind. There is no treatment; however, there is a simple DNA test which can be taken by the parents prior to breeding to prevent the likelihood of this being passed on to any offspring.
Wobbler Syndrome (Spinal Muscular Atrophy)
- A genetic condition which can display at any age although usually when they are around 5 months. It causes a dog to progressively lose the ability to walk without a tremor, muscle degeneration and causes the spinal reflexes to be weak and delayed. Unfortunately diagnosis is only suspect until the veterinarian is able to confirm via necropsy.

Ethical breeders will want to breed to improve on the breed and to eliminate potential hereditary issues such as some of the above. When people say that purebreds have more health issues than mixed-breeds, they are partially true.

This is true of unethical breeders who breed dogs without ensuring their health and are more interested in making a profit rather than improving the breed. These breeders will breed dogs with known issues or dogs who they have bought as “pet quality” dogs on a no breeding contract without hesitation.

The main reason a lot of breeders sell their dogs as “pet quality” is not because they have any issues wrong with them, on the contrary, these are usually very high quality dogs. They usually get chosen as pets as they do not meet the ethical breeder’s near impossibly high standards and therefore to preserve only the truest and highest quality dogs of the breed, they are not chosen to continue on the lines.

One other thing to keep in mind with the Pointer is to feed a good quality food and to ensure they do not eat too quickly as they are susceptible to bloat. Some things that can be done to prevent this are to ensure your dog eats slowly and does not contain ingredients which easily ferment causing gas such as corn, oatmeal, rice, soy and wheat. Feeding smaller, more frequent meals can also reduce your dog’s risk as the food will be digested easier and faster allowing less time for the food to ferment. If the dog continues to attempt to eat their food quickly you can get special bowls designed to slow the dog down or feed them on a flat surface such as a plate or cookie sheet. You should also keep the dog calm and quiet after meals so they have time to digest their food before they have any form of exercise as this has been linked to increased cases of bloat.

Interesting Facts about the English Pointer:

The Westminster Kennel Club uses the Pointer as their logo.
In the United States this dog is referred to as the English Pointer or “bird dog,” whereas to the rest of the world this dog is known simply as a Pointer.
The Pointer was originally banned from field trials in the United States in favor of the Setter, yet once they were allowed to compete, they quickly proved their superiority over the Setter at their own game.