The pointer

Flag and Fountainhead

Every bird dog fancier has strong feelings, at one extreme or the other, about the Pointer. His admirers see him as a bird-finding wizard; his detractors, as an incorrigible outlaw. Either way, this sleek and light-footed animal is the ultimate athlete among birddogs-in fact, among all sporting breeds. Of English origin and often called ¡§English Pointer¡¨, the breed has become in the last 100 years or so the all-American birddog.

American Pointers are split, totally and irreconcilably, into two types¡Gfield-breds and show-breds. So dissimilar that they should be separate breeds, the two don¡¦t even share a common registry. laid-back, and statuesque show-breds prance and pose at dog shows¡]although a few exhibit field ability, too¡^and are registered with the AKC.

The pointer was among the first batch of breeds recognized by both the AKC and the FDSB when these two registries were founded¡]AKC in 1884 and FDSB in 1900¡^.To this day, the AKC emblem carries the likeness of a pointer.

An old breed and probably the first to stand its game, the Pointer started its career afield long before the introduction of wingshooting. Falconers used them to locate gamebirds for their birds of prey. Coursers used them to locate hare before turning their¡]high-speed/low-endurance¡^sight hounds losse.. Historians have found written records of pointers being so used back into the early seventeenth century.

Like most old breeds, its origins are more inferred than known. Most educated guesses include the Greyhound, the Foxhound, the Bloodhound, and various other progenitors. No one knows for sure whether the breed started in continental Europe and spread to England, started in England and spread to Europe, or started independently in England and Europe.

Regardless, the pointer has played a significant role in the development of other breeds. Reliable histories of most birddog breeds, although tentative about precise origins, generally postulate an infusion of pointer blood somewhere along the line.

Further, many claim that the Pointer continues to influence other breeds today-mostly through surreptitious crosses. For example, whenever an established pointing breeds has recovered after being in trouble, with only a few remaining working specimens, rumors abound that breeders turned to the Pointer to rejuvenate their stock. Similarly, whenever American breeders have dramatically improved the range and style of a newly imported breed, rumors persist about Pointer crosses.

True or not, such rumors testify eloquently about the esteem the Pointer has earned as a bird dog. Think about it¡Gevery time another pointing breed, or even one strain, Shows significant improvements in the field, observers ¡¨blame¡¨ the Pointer.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Field-bred Pointers, which make up about 90 to 95 percent of the breed¡¦s population, come in various sizes, usually from about 21 to about 26 inches at the withers and from 35 to 70 pounds. A few are smaller and a few are larger, but that is the typical range. Their short, sleek coats are mostly white with markings of liver, black, yellow¡]lemon¡^, or orange, they have short backs, well-sprung ribs, businesslike heads, and high set -tails. They are active, nervous animals with tremendous endurance. Everything about them indicates athletic ability. They mature, both physically and mentally, more quickly then any other pointing breed.

  Show-bred Pointers vary in size, too, but are more standardized than the field-breds. Taller and more willowy than the field-breds, males stand from 24 to 29 inches at the withers and weigh 55 to 80 pounds. Although they share the same short, sleek coat and the same colors, they are more apt to be heavily marked with the darker color. They have sloping backs, low set tails deep but narrow chests, and slab-sided heads with heavy flews. They move gracefully at a dog-show gait, but cannot approach the grace and elegance of the field-breds at higher speeds. They mature, both physically and mentally, much more slowly than do the field-breds. 

TEMPERAMENT

  To understand the temperament of the field-bred Pointer, you should keep in mind its historic role in the American birddog world. Since the early 1900s, it has been our top winner in American Field-type trials. Breeders have made the pointer the premier all age stake dog. It is the featured attraction in the world of Southern plantation trial ground, Tennessee Walking horses, and professional trainers. To earn its keep in that world, a dog must reach out as far and as fast necessary to get to the birds first without worrying about where the boss happens to be. Most all age Pointers run so wide that their handlers need mounted scouts to help keep track of their dogs.

  Granted, not all American Field trials are big- running, all age affairs. They also offer ¡¨shooting dog¡¨ stakes for dogs of more modest range. But even in these stakes, the handlers ride horses and the dogs run to prodigious distances. And Pointers dominate these shooting dog stakes, too.

  Life is simple for field trial dogs. Winners get bred and losers get ah...lost. So most field-bred pointer litters come from forebears that dog types. True, some breeders specialize in foot-hunting Pointers. True also, even in the best-bred field trial litters, some of the pups will hunt quite close. So you can find a pointer that will hunt at whatever range you prefer¡Xif you look hard enough.

  However, it will not be a lap dog. Although there are exceptions, a typical pointer won¡¦t show the boss much affection, or even attention. Field-breds have one mission in life¡Gto find birds. People as such make little impression on them. The Pointer¡¦s favorite person is whoever happens to be taking it afield at the moment, even if it happens to be a total stranger.

  Pointers will bark when strangers approach their owner¡¦s property, but they are not territorial. They get along well with other dogs; in fact, they pay little attention to them.

  Because the Pointer is so aloof, he can be a real challenge to the trainer. Getting the dog¡¦s attention is difficult, and keeping it is some times impossible. Furthermore, when the boss has his attention, the unpredictable beast can turn strangely soft and sensitive ¡Vor stubborn and pig-headed. Thus, a good trainer must alternate severity and gentleness appropriately if he is to establish and maintain control without cowing the dog.

Other than training, field-bred Pointers don¡¦t require much human attention. They can live as comfortably in a kennel as in the home, perhaps not noticing the difference.

They mature earlier than dogs of any other pointing breed. Many can be steadied to wing and shot long before their first birthdays. However, they don¡¦t retain training as well as the slower-maturing breeds. They need either year-round work or periodic retraining.

Those who work them year-round should be careful during hot weather. Because of their intensity, these dogs will run and hunt until they drop dead. So it¡¦s up to the owner to limit how long they run in hot weather.

The show-bred, although slightly more people-oriented, are also aloof and independent. They enjoy living in the house but do adjust to kennel life, at least on a pare-time basis. They are also territorial around home.

¡§Mine are very protective¡¨ said Erica Bandes of Bethlehem, Connecticut, who has for many years bred, shown, and field-trialed show-bred pointers. ¡§But they have little loyalty. If I were to put one in someone else¡¦s home and come back an hour later, it would probably look at me as if to ask, ¡§Who are you? ¡¨.

Show-bred Pointers have less desire to find birds, but can be acceptable hunters. They mature much more slowly, more like the other pointing breeds, and normally should not be steadied until tow years old or older. ¡§Mine don¡¦t mature until they are past two years, sometimes two-and-a-half or three years ¡¨, said Erica Bandes. ¡§But when they¡¦re ready for steadying, they get through it very quickly. One of mine was completely steadied in 48 hours. And they retain it quite well. They don¡¦t need retraining every year like some dogs do¡¨.

HUNTING NICHE

A person wanting a close-ranging field-bred pointer, especially a first-time buyer, should look at started dogs, not just-weaned pups. A pup, no matter the breeding, may grow up to run wider than such a person likes, leaving him with three bad options¡Gaccept the greater range, fight with his dog continuously, or get another dog. Better to buy an older dog with a known and comfortable range.

Because of their field trial backgrounds, field-bred Pointers have the widest ranges of all pointing breeds. All age stake dogs run consistently at distances of one-half to one mile ahead of their handlers. Even shooting stake dogs hang out there a quarter of a mile or more.

Some big-running dogs adapt their range to their situation. They run big when the boss climbs upon a horse, and they stay in closer when he walks carrying a shotgun. Such a dog has learned from experience that when the owner rides a horse, the run will be short, but when the owner walks, it may be an all-day affair. The dog learns to pace himself. However, field-bred Pointers have unbelievable endurance, so they won¡¦t adapt as much as other breeds.

Not all field-breds run big. Many pups from all age parents never get out more than 100yards. Trouble is, you can¡¦t tell which these are until they mature. That¡¦s why I recommend started dogs to first-time buyers.

¡§I¡¦ve had a couple of field trial dogs¡¨, said Fred Rowan, longtime Pointer fancier of Atlanta, Georgia, ¡§but mostly I¡¦m a hunter, a foot hunter, so I want a closer-working dog. I¡¦ve had good success in getting what I want by buying started dogs. It¡¦s impossible to peg the range on a puppy¡¨.

The better field-bred Pointers have class to spare in every movement. They seem to float through the cover, even when going at breakneck speed. They turn gracefully and when they hit bird scent, their sudden stops can be electrifying. They point very stylishly, with 11 or 12 o¡¦clock tails, head held high, muscles twitching, and eyes popping out with excitement. It is this class and style that has made the pointer out top field trial dog. It is this class and style that makes it popular with so many hunters.

One other reason for the breed¡¦s sustained popularity among both trailers and hunters¡Gthey have outstanding noses, probably the best of all sporting breeds. Because this breed covers so much ground so quickly, serious breeders have always stressed the importance of nose. Speed and range do more harm than good if the dog can¡¦t pick up the slightest whiff of bird scent as he sails through the cover.

¡§I won¡¦t breed two dogs¡¨, said herb Holmes, breeder of Gun smoke pointers for over 35 years, ¡§unless both of them have shown me that they are outstanding bird-finders¡¨.

Show-breds tend to hunt closer. They point with a level tail, quite frankly, so few show-breds see action in the field that it¡¦s difficult to say much about their potential there. However, the new AKC noncompetitive hunting tests should bring out more of them. Let¡¦s hope so.

Field-breds have less natural retrieving talent than most other pointing breeds. American Field trials don¡¦t require retrieving, so those who want their hunting dogs to retrieve may well have to force-break them. Jigger, a field-bred I had years ago, didn¡¦t retrieve naturally. He would pick up a dead bird, shake it to make sure it was dead, drop it , and take off looking for another covey. Even after I force-broke him, he did only a minimal job of retrieving.

Show-breds seem to have more natural retrieving instinct. Although AKC field trials don¡¦t require retrieving for this breed, many of the trials do include retrieving¡]because other breeds require it¡^. The new AKC hunting tests require retrieving for all breeds, so future generations of show-bred Pointers may exhibit even more inclination or retrieve.

¡§The ones I have run in hunting tests¡¨, said Erica Bandes, ¡§have retrieved naturally. I have also run several of mine in AKC field trials where retrieving was required, and they did it just fine. I¡¦ve never force-broken my dogs¡¨.

Of all pointing breeds, the Pointer is least comfortable in water. However, they will swim if encouraged early, and they will retrieve the odd bird that falls in or across water. However, they have no place in the duck blind. They have too little coat, too little body fat, and too much energy to sit quietly for long.

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