Breeds / Large
Pointer puppies
Even tempered, good natured and intensely keen, a British gundog that is affectionate at home and needs a real outlet for their stamina.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin Great Britain
- Adult weight 20.4 to 34 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 45 to 75 lb
- Adult height 58 to 71 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Short smooth
- Shedding Moderate
- Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
About the Pointer
The Pointer was developed in Britain to find game birds and freeze on point until the gun caught up, and the job is still visible in the way they move and hold themselves. This is a clean lined, athletic dog of about 20.4 to 34 kg standing 58 to 71 cm, with a short glossy coat, and they commonly live 12 to 15 years. Pointers are even tempered and good natured, hard driving in the field and generally easy going once they are settled indoors.
The exercise requirement decides whether this breed works for you: an hour or more of real running every day, plus a securely fenced area, or the dog becomes restless and destructive. Grooming is a weekly brush. Training comes easily because the breed wants to work with people, though a young Pointer matures slowly and is silly for a couple of years. They suit runners and shooting households, and they are a poor fit for a flat or a sedentary home.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Pointer puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed for
- Eye disorders, found by an ophthalmologist evaluation of breeding stock
- Bloat and gastric torsion, a surgical emergency in deep chested dogs
- Ear infections, caught by checking the drop ears each week
Your Pointer puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Pointer.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 20.4 to 34 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 42 inch (42 x 28 x 30 in, 107 x 71 x 76 cm) for an adult of up to 34 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other large breeds
More on the Pointer
Previous: Plott Hound · Next: Polish Hunting Dog
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Pointer breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pointer/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: ToB, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.