Large overview of pointing dog breeds (+ photos)

Pointer (gun) breeds are dogs that are used for hunting birds with a gun.
The main features of cops: an excellent sense of smell and the ability to take a stance when detecting game. With the help of his extraordinary “upper” sense of smell, the cop smells a bird from afar, quietly approaches it, stands in a stance waiting for the owner with a gun, and then scares away the game, lifting it under the hunter’s shot.

The special stance of the cops was cultivated and consolidated over centuries through artificial selection. As a result of this, in modern pointing dog breeds the stance is genetically fixed, i.e. it does not need to be taught separately.

Features and types of cops

Pointing dogs are usually of medium height and have a strong build with little fat. They most often have soft and floppy ears. These breeds are in great demand among hunters, and the dogs can also make excellent companions.

Traditionally, all breeds of pointing dogs are divided into two large groups:

island
continental

Due to the popularity of gun hunting among the European nobility in the Middle Ages and Modern times, each country on this continent developed its own breeds of cops. There are especially many of them in Germany and France.

Historical roots

Breeds of pointing dogs
Even ancient hunters noticed that individual dogs, sensing the lying of an animal or a hidden bird, froze, stretched out in that direction. Already more than two thousand years ago these habits were used.

Modern pointing dogs are descended from ancient European hunting dogs that assisted in bird hunting with nets. Having found the game, this dog lay down in front of it (hence the name “copper”), and the hunters threw a net over the victim and the dog. Later, hound breeds were used to breed such pets, so they acquired the property of making a stance when a victim was detected.

Note! English dog breeders called the pointers pointers, which translated means “pointer.” The special stance of such breeds has been cultivated and consolidated over centuries through artificial selection. Today, this quality is fixed at the genetic level and does not require special training.

Cop stance

With the invention of firearms, the popularity of such pets has increased significantly. Nowadays, a pointing dog is a faithful companion that indicates the location of the victim for the hunter, pursues an escaped wounded victim, and brings it to the owner.

Story

All cops have ancestors of the ancient dogs of Europe, with which man has hunted birds since ancient times. An ancient dog, having found prey, lay down next to it, hence the name of the group of breeds - “coping dog”.

Initially, pointing dogs that appeared in Spain had long hair, but over time they became short-haired. Then they stopped lying down and began to make a beautiful stand.

Gradually, continental cops learned to bring game to the feet of the owner (port) from land and from water, stand on the hare, follow the trail, etc., and became even more in demand among hunters.

Exterior description

FCI Standard No. 1 dated October 28, 2009 “English Pointer”. Group 7 “Coping dogs”. Section 2 “British and Irish Pointers and Setters”. The description of the English Pointer breed contains a standard height at the withers of 61-69 centimeters.

The pointer became famous for its famous classic “stance”: it freezes in front of the game, stretching out in one line from the nose to the tip of the tail, and thus points to the hidden bird. The description of the Pointer breed is very similar to the appearance of the German shorthaired pointer - shorthaired pointer.

Pointer dogs have a medium-sized skull proportional to the length of the muzzle. The occipital protrusion is clearly visible. The nose appears upturned due to the concave “back”. Dark nose, soft, moist wide nostrils.

Large eyes can be brown or light brown , depending on the color of the coat. The dark rim of the eyelids is lighter in representatives with a snow-white lemon color. The head is located on an elongated neck with a lot of muscles.

The wide chest is combined with a short, arched lower back. Long oval paws are distinguished by closely spaced toes with elastic pads.

The English pointer moves with light movements, without prancing, with the help of which he is able to cover significant territories. The hind limbs help move with strong kicks.

Standard color of the Pointer dog breed:

orange-white;
black and white;
lemon white;
liver-white.

Single color and tricolor are allowed.

Any deviation from the described standard is considered a defect , the severity of which affects the severity of the defect.

Disqualifying characteristics: cowardice or aggressiveness.

Advantages of pointing dogs

Cops are considered descendants of hound dog breeds. They are similar in appearance and behavior. They differ from them only in their extremely keen sense of smell and ability to stand in front of the game.

Here are the main character traits of cops:

There is no aggression towards humans in almost all breeds
They prefer to hunt independently rather than in a pack
Have a labile, mobile nervous system
Easily switch attention while hunting
They have their own search style and hunting stance.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

high intelligence, obedience, friendliness;
hunting skills - excellent gun dog;
outer beauty;
acute sense of smell;
endurance, activity.

The pointer hunting dog also has its disadvantages:

difficult to maintain in a city apartment;
needs long walks;
cannot be left alone for a long time.

Island Pointer Breeds

English Setter

Height: 61-68 cm.

Weight: 20-25 kg.

Country of origin: UK.

The English Setter is a very beautiful and elegant breed of pointing dog, a direct descendant of the ancient hunting dogs of Europe, which were used to hunt with nets in the Middle Ages until the advent of the hunting rifle.

With the advent of firearms, English setters also improved for the better: they learned to run much faster and stand up more beautifully. Eduard Laverack played a major role in the formation of the breed and its standard.

It was thanks to him that a purebred English setter was born, which was named Laverack in honor of the father of the breed. This is a very aristocratic breed of dog with an elegant physique, calm and good-natured character.

Scottish Setter

Height: 62-66 cm.

Weight: about 29 kg.

Country of origin: UK.

This beautiful black and tan setter is the result of crossing English Setters and Pointers. The breed was formed and described in the mid-60s of the 19th century.

This is a very hardy dog that is capable of hunting in the most difficult terrain. He has an excellent sense of smell, but requires long and painstaking training. She can be kept in a city apartment, but needs constant walking.

The Scottish Setter requires periodic brushing and bathing. He constantly requires the attention of his owner and family, he is a wonderful companion and a wonderful friend. It cannot be alone, sitting on a chain as a watchman.

English pointer

Height: 61-69 cm.

Weight: 20-34 kg.

Country of origin: UK.

This is a fairly large setter, in which the blood of a foxhound, bulldog and even a greyhound flows. The first standard of the breed was formed only at the end of the 19th century, although it has been bred for at least two hundred years.

The breed is divided into light and heavy types. Even in the second case, this is a slender and graceful dog with very great dignity. By character, like all Englishmen, she is a phlegmatic person in a calm state, and a real choleric person in an excited state.

The English Pointer has an excellent nose, he is a natural hunter, and therefore constantly needs walks in fields and forests. The dog has the ability to search widely and has an excellent strong stance.

Irish Red Setter

Irish Setter

Height: 55-67 cm.

Weight: 27-32 kg.

Country of origin: Ireland.

These setters come from Ireland and developed as a separate breed in the mid-19th century. The Irish Setter appeared in Russia a long time ago, but it is difficult to train due to its proud nature.

It is worth noting that Russian dog handlers and breeders became interested in these pointers and developed their own improved breed of Irish setters. As a result, it became much easier to communicate and get along with them.

This is a very beautiful and elegant dog with a high stance. It can be used in summer and autumn for hunting in the steppe, swamps and forests. With proper upbringing, it demonstrates miracles of training.

Irish Red and White Setter

Height: 57-66 cm.

Weight: 15-30 kg.

Country of origin: Ireland.

This is another popular Irish pointer specializing in hunting game birds. She simply loves hunting and needs a large rural space and regular exercise.

This setter is completely tireless in searching for game, has a beautiful stance, and an innate ability to fetch. A good bird hunter simply cannot find a better assistant. The Irishman is not aggressive towards people and pets.

If you just need a companion, then this dog is very friendly and good-natured, and will quickly find a common language with children. Just don’t forget to walk her through the forests and fields longer, otherwise she may become sad and get sick.

Features of cops

According to the classification of the International Canine Association, pointers belong to the 7th group. In fact, there are many more breeds in the world that fit all the characteristics, but they either have not received international recognition or their numbers are very small.

The main function of a hunting cop is to track and “serve” game. But even here, not everything is so simple: some dogs work on water, others prefer land, and others can do both. Some cops are exclusively hunters, but some representatives manage to perform other functions.

The group is considered quite large, but there are a number of common characteristics that apply to all cops:

no innate aggression;
they have complex relationships with other animals;
strongly attached to the owner;
representatives of some breeds are able to work in pairs or in a pack, but only after preliminary training.

Cops are very adventurous, they are fascinated by the search for game, and having found it, they take a special stance, and then take the wounded animal to the hunter without damaging it. If a house needs a watchman or a security guard, then a pointer is not suitable for this purpose. Some individuals may exhibit certain protective qualities, but they are not enough to become the best in this type of activity.

Representatives of this species are able to move very quickly and cover vast distances without signs of fatigue. Such a dog is very well oriented in space and can quickly switch upon hearing another command. Cops have a balanced psyche, but can be overly gambling during work.

The dogs are taught the basic program, then they begin training, and are allowed to test on the ground no earlier than from 7-8 months. Without such events, the dog is not used for work.

Continental Pointer Breeds

German Shorthaired Pointer

Height: 58-66 cm.

Weight: 20-32 kg.

Country of origin: Germany.

This is a German shorthaired pointer, bred in Germany from older German breeds of pointers that previously hunted birds with nets. Later they became more versatile and learned to hunt with a gun.

Today, this popular breed continues to be improved by breeders; the dogs are able to carry out all hunting commands even in old age. The color can be very different: from deep black to coffee with many spots.

The shorthaired pointer can hunt birds and small animals. He does best hunting in the field, he swims beautifully even in icy water, brings game to the feet of his owner, follows a trail of blood, etc.

German drathaar

Height: 57-68 cm.

Weight: 23-32 kg.

Country of origin: Germany.

This breed of pointing dog was bred in Germany at the end of the 19th century. She is of medium height and brown in color with spots. The drathaar's tail is usually docked if the dog is to be used for hunting.

The breed is very popular among hunters all over the world. She perfectly hunts not only birds, but even wild boars, taking a stance or barking at the animal if necessary.

The hard coat protects the drathaar from the cold and insects. In search of a shot bird, it swims beautifully even in cold waters. Never shows any aggression towards people, good friend.

Hungarian Vizsla

Height: 54-64 cm.

Weight: 20-27 kg.

Country of origin: Hungary.

This Hungarian pointer is considered one of the smartest and most talented dogs in the world. In addition, she has a very impressive appearance and an elegant gait. The ancestors of this dog appeared in the Carpathians in the 10th century with the nomadic Magyar tribes.

Their bright red or gold color attracted the Hungarian nobility. The dogs were their absolute favorites not only for their beauty, but also for their excellent hunting talents: a keen sense of smell, excellent stance, the ability to hunt anywhere, etc.

The Hungarian Vizsla is of average height and has a beautiful, muscular build. This is a very good-natured and friendly dog that shows virtually no aggression. He loves an active lifestyle and requires constant walks and exercise.

Italian bracque

Height: 55-67 cm.

Weight: 25-40 kg.

Country of origin: Italy.

This is an Italian pointer, which is used for hunting birds, although it is a universal hunter, it can also hunt rabbits. Italian breeders believe that the Braccus appeared in the 4th century and is descended from the Molossians.

Bracchi were extremely popular among the noble families of Italy during the Middle Ages. Back then, bird hunting was considered a sign of aristocracy. And at the end of the 19th century, these dogs almost disappeared. It took a long time to restore the breed.

The standard for the Italian cop appeared only in the middle of the 20th century, at which time it was officially recognized. This is a very strong and passionate dog that is simply eager to hunt. In between hunts, she can be a wonderful companion.

Weimar pointer

Weimar Pointer
Height: 57-70 cm.

Weight: 30-40 kg.

Country of origin: Germany.

The ancestors of the Weimar pointer hunted big game hundreds of years ago. She has a high level of intelligence, is well trained and obeys her owner. This breed appeared, was recognized and registered at the end of the 19th century.

The Weimar Pointer is of medium to tall height and has a harmonious, muscular build. Color – antique silver. That is why the dog has the nickname “silver ghost” in Germany.

The Weimaraner is a very active dog that loves to learn and perfectly absorbs new material. She is mobile, active, and loves to always be ahead. The good-natured and gentle Weimar Pointer never shows aggression towards humans.

Historical reference

The history of the breed begins in the 17th century, in Great Britain, where Bloodhounds, English Foxhounds and Greyhounds were crossed. Even then, dogs actively participated in hunting hares.

During the Civil War, Pointers ended up in America, where a kennel club was created specifically for the development of the breed. One of the managers of the institution brought a dog from England, with the help of which they began to develop the offspring.

The Kennel Club, which exists in America, officially recognized the breed at the end of the 19th century and classified it as a sporting variety.

The breed received worldwide recognition only a century later.

By the end of the 17th century, the standard for the Pointer dog breed was finally formed , which to date has not undergone virtually any changes.