| English Pointers: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about English Pointer personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the English Pointer, including these excerpts:
"The AKC Standard says, "Every movement shows him to be a wide-awake, hard-driving hunting dog possessing stamina, courage, and desire to go."
Though dignified, sweet-natured, and gentle, the English Pointer is bred primarily for sport afield. He is packed with energy and belongs with an active owner who will give him the running exercise he needs to feel satisfied.
English Pointers, especially youngsters, become restless and bored when confined too much and may resort to destructive chewing and barking. A walk around the block is barely a warm-up for this superb athlete.
With strangers, most English Pointers are slightly reserved, but congenial. This is not a guard dog. He is amiable with other animals.
A bit stubborn and easily distracted, but also kindly and sensitive, the English Pointer responds well to patient obedience training that includes food rewards and praise rather than jerking around.
Commands such as "down" and "stay" are important for instilling self-discipline and control."
History
Spectacularly fast and wide ranging, with great concentration and competitiveness, the English Pointer is the king of national pointing trials.
Size
23-28 inches and 45-75 lbs |
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English Pointers
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- There are energetic Pointers, and placid Pointers.
- Hard-headed Pointers, and sweet-natured Pointers.
- Serious Pointers, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Pointers, and Pointers who love everyone.
| If you acquire an English Pointer puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
Now let's look at some common characteristics for this breed...
- Is large, sleek-coated and tautly-muscled, a true athlete
- Is energetic and hard-driving, packed with energy, primarily bred to be a hunting dog
- Is dignified and sweet-natured
- Is usually congenial with everyone, including other animals
An English Pointer may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- Vigorous exercise requirements
- Rowdiness and exuberant jumping, especially when young or not exercised enough
- "Separation anxiety" (destructiveness and barking) when left alone too much
- A distractable mind of his own -- tends to ignore calls and commands when an interesting sight or scent catches his attention
- Shedding
- Slowness to housebreak
An English Pointer may not be right for you.
| If I were considering an English Pointer... |
My major concerns would be:
- Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. English Pointers MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by barking and destructive chewing. Bored Pointers are famous for chewing through drywall, ripping the stuffing out of sofas, and turning your yard into a moonscape of giant craters.
| If you simply want a pet for your family, and don't have the time or inclination to take your dog running or hiking or biking, or to get involved in hunting, or tracking, or agility (obstacle course), or a similar canine activity, I do not recommend this breed. English Pointers were never intended to be simply household pets. Trying to suppress their "hardwired" desire to run and work, without providing alternate outlets for their high energy level, can be difficult. |
- Bounciness. Young English Pointers (up to about two years old) romp and jump with great vigor, and things can go flying, including people.
| If you have small children, or if you or anyone who lives with you is elderly or infirm, I do not recommend English Pointer puppies. The temptation to play roughly is too strong in many young Pointers. |
- Separation anxiety. More than most other breeds, English Pointers need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They tend to express their unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking. If you work all day, this is not the breed for you.
- Mind of their own. English Pointers have an independent mind of their own, can be stubborn, and are easily distracted by exciting sights, scents, and sounds. You must show them, through absolute consistency and great patience, that you mean what you say and that they must pay attention to you.
- Shedding. For such a shorthaired dog, English Pointers shed more than you might think. Their short coarse hairs come off on your hands when you pet them, and stick tenaciously to your clothing, upholstery, and carpeting.
- Housebreaking. The pointing breeds can be a bit slow to pick this up. Expect several months of consistent crate training.
| If you're considering an adult English Pointer... |
There are plenty of adult Pointers who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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Copyright © 2000-2006 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author. |
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