Breed library

Pointer

Also known as Pointer.

Pointer photograph.
English Pointer orange-white.jpg - Canarian. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:English_Pointer_orange-white.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Breed overview

The Pointer, sometimes called the English Pointer, is a medium-sized breed of pointing dog developed in England. Pointers are used to find game for hunters, and are considered by gundog enthusiasts to be one of the finest breeds of its type; however, unlike most other hunting breeds, its purpose is to point, not retrieve game. The popular belief is that the Pointer descends from the Old Spanish Pointer that was brought to England from Spain with returning soldiers at the beginning of the 18th century. Once in England, they were crossed with local dog breeds to improve the breed's hunting abilities.

  • Breed classification: pointing dogBreed reference breed group.
  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: EnglandBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • There has been much debate among dog historians about the ancestry of the Pointer.
  • The most commonly held position is that the breed descends from Old Spanish Pointers that were imported into England.
  • In 1902, Victorian era sportsman William Arkwright produced the book The pointer and his predecessors often considered one of the best early histories of the Pointer for which he expended considerable time and money searching continental archives.
  • A second less commonly held belief is a form of Pointer that was present in England, much earlier than the introduction of the Spanish Pointer, and that they were used from medieval times to indicate the location of hares which were subsequently coursed by greyhounds or caught by hawks; it is held that these dogs were subsequently heavily influenced by the introduction of imported continental European pointer blood.
  • The earliest recorded mentions of Pointers in England date from the early 18th century.

Size and appearance

The Pointer is a medium-sized, athletic breed that is built for both endurance and speed. They typically stand between 21 and 28 in with bitches being shorter than dogs. The breed standard of The Kennel Club states that dogs should stand 25 to 27 in and bitches 24 to 26 in. When compared to images of pointers from the 19th century the modern breed is a much finer dog, reflecting inclusion of greyhound blood. As with many British gundog breeds, stark differences have emerged between Pointers bred for the purpose of field work and those bred for conformation shows which accent certain features of the breed, such as narrower chests, exaggerated facial features, straighter shoulders, a less natural movement and less muscle than those bred for use as gundogs.

  • Body mass reference: 20.412 - 29.484 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 45 - 65 lb. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: 24.948 - 34.019 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 55 - 75 lb. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 60.96 - 66.04 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 24 - 26 in. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: Up to 66 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum.
  • Height reference: 61 cm or moreBreed reference height. female, minimum.
  • Height reference: 63.5 - 68.58 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 25 - 27 in. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 63 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum.
  • Height reference: Up to 69 cmBreed reference height. male, maximum.
  • Coat length: short
  • Coat texture: smooth
  • Height category: tall
  • Weight category: medium
  • Weight category: large

Personality and behavior

Care planning: record what your dog enjoys, how they greet visitors, and how they respond to new places. Add notes after walks and training so you can see their habits over time. Where this profile includes behavior research, use the same named measures when comparing your shortlist.

  • Attachment and attention seeking (C-BARQ mean): 1.96 / 4Owner-reported attachment and attention seeking factor mean for US reference population Pointer.
  • Chasing (C-BARQ mean): 2.35 / 4Owner-reported chasing factor mean for US reference population Pointer.
  • Dog-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.58 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Pointer.
  • Dog-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 1.05 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Pointer.
  • Energy (C-BARQ mean): 2.28 / 4Owner-reported energy factor mean for US reference population Pointer.
  • Excitability (C-BARQ mean): 2.11 / 4Owner-reported excitability factor mean for US reference population Pointer.
  • Familiar-dog aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.55 / 4Owner-reported familiar-dog aggression factor mean for US reference population Pointer.
  • Non-social fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.82 / 4Owner-reported non-social fear factor mean for US reference population Pointer.
  • Owner-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.18 / 4Owner-reported owner-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Pointer.
  • Separation-related problems (C-BARQ mean): 0.65 / 4Owner-reported separation-related problems factor mean for US reference population Pointer.
  • Stranger-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.61 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Pointer.
  • Stranger-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.90 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Pointer.
  • Touch sensitivity (C-BARQ mean): 0.93 / 4Owner-reported touch sensitivity factor mean for US reference population Pointer.
  • Trainability (C-BARQ mean): 2.61 / 4Owner-reported trainability factor mean for US reference population Pointer.

Exercise and activities

When hunting, the Pointer quarters in front of the hunter systematically with its head high scenting the air upwind, when a dog detects hidden game it halts suddenly with its nose pointing to the game so the hunter can prepare to shoot, when ready the hunter commands the pointer to flush the game to be shot. Many writers consider the Pointer to be the ultimate pointing dog breed because of its sensitive nose, big stylish movements and flashy pointing stance. The Pointer is the most popular pointing dog breed used by sporting estates in the United Kingdom and commercial shooting preserves in the United States, they are also the most popular and successful pointing breed used in pointing dog trials in both countries.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat length: short
  • Coat texture: smooth

Health and lifespan

Care planning: keep your dog's veterinary records, health-check dates and agreed care plan together. Add reminders for appointments and record changes you want to discuss at the next visit. Use the linked breed organizations and original references to explore their current health resources.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

Compare breeds

Compare supported adult height and weight ranges, matching research measures and sourced coat and care categories.

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Breed history

There has been much debate among dog historians about the ancestry of the Pointer.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Pointer (dog breed) - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Pointer (dog breed), revision 1365159161. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pointer_%28dog_breed%29&action=history
  2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  4. File:English Pointer orange-white.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0. English Pointer orange-white.jpg - Canarian. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:English_Pointer_orange-white.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.