Portuguese Pointer puppies

About the Portuguese Pointer

The Portuguese Pointer is an old bird dog from Portugal, thought to have contributed to the pointing breeds later developed in Britain. This is a medium sized, square headed dog of 15.9 to 26.8 kg standing 52 to 56 cm, with a short hard coat and a typical lifespan of around 14 years. In the field they work close and very keen. In the house they are affectionate to the point of leaning on people, and they want to be with their family rather than left outside.

The energy level is very high, especially in young dogs, and safe off lead running is what settles them. Grooming amounts to a rub over with a rubber brush plus routine ears, nails and teeth. Training is easy, since the breed is eager to please and quick to read a handler. They do best in an outdoor household with a secure fence, and they can be pushy with other dogs. Lead walks alone will not do for this dog, so think twice about one as a house pet.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Portuguese 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 medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. 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
• Epilepsy and seizure disorders, diagnosed by veterinary work up and tracked through breeding lines
• Autoimmune disease and early onset cancers, worth asking a breeder about across the wider family

Your Portuguese Pointer puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Portuguese Pointer.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 15.9 to 26.8 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 26.8 kg; chew toys made for medium 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

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Portuguese Pointer

Previous: Portuguese Podengo Pequeno · Next: Portuguese Sheepdog

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 Portuguese Pointer breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/portuguese-pointer/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Afonso Silva, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.