About the Breed
Pointers (sometimes referred to as "English Pointers", although most registries around the world just call them "Pointers") make wonderful family pets. They are loyal and loving and very biddable.
Pointers are higher-energy and thrive best when they have a job. That job may be the routine of a daily walk, or more complicated such as training to compete in obedience or agility or working in the field.
Pointers were originally bred as hunting dogs. They need to run every day and they do best when integrated into active families. When Pointers get physical (and mental) exercise, they are very happy to be a couch potato in the evening; watching Netflix or curling up with their humans and a good book. Because Pointers have a certain amount of prey-drive and the desire to run big, a fenced-in yard and safe environment is a must.
For more information on the CKC Pointer breed standard, see: https://www.ckc.ca/CanadianKennelClub/media/Breed-Standards/Group%201/Pointer.pdf
North Americans began breeding two types of Pointers:
Bench style pointers are generally much calmer than North American field style pointers but they still have plenty of drive to hunt. We support responsible hunting with a dog, and we have done some bird work with our own dogs, however, we do not condone the "throw-away" approach taken by some hunters who will discard a dog who they feel doesn’t hunt well, or who throw them away at the end of the season.
Pointers (sometimes referred to as "English Pointers", although most registries around the world just call them "Pointers") make wonderful family pets. They are loyal and loving and very biddable.
Pointers are higher-energy and thrive best when they have a job. That job may be the routine of a daily walk, or more complicated such as training to compete in obedience or agility or working in the field.
Pointers were originally bred as hunting dogs. They need to run every day and they do best when integrated into active families. When Pointers get physical (and mental) exercise, they are very happy to be a couch potato in the evening; watching Netflix or curling up with their humans and a good book. Because Pointers have a certain amount of prey-drive and the desire to run big, a fenced-in yard and safe environment is a must.
For more information on the CKC Pointer breed standard, see: https://www.ckc.ca/CanadianKennelClub/media/Breed-Standards/Group%201/Pointer.pdf
North Americans began breeding two types of Pointers:
- The traditional “bench” (or show-style Pointer) is what we breed at Coquetel, and this what you see in show-rings and fields around the world. These are very well-rounded dogs and conform to the breed standard above.
- Some North American hunters began breeding a style with a bias for two differences: (1) a "12 o'clock tail set", and (2) a desire to run harder, faster and further. These dogs could be hunted from horse-back, whereas the original pointers were designed to be hunted on foot.
Bench style pointers are generally much calmer than North American field style pointers but they still have plenty of drive to hunt. We support responsible hunting with a dog, and we have done some bird work with our own dogs, however, we do not condone the "throw-away" approach taken by some hunters who will discard a dog who they feel doesn’t hunt well, or who throw them away at the end of the season.
Care and training
Pointers have a single, short, fairly dense coat and are comfortable in Spring, Summer and Fall. In Canadian Winters they do need a coat if they are outside for longer periods of time and care must be taken to not leave them outside in extreme cold.
Pointers like to be comfortable and will make use of dog beds and/or access to your furniture (at your prerogative!)
We strongly recommend crate-training as a useful tool to keep them out of mischief and for safe transport when needed.
Pointers are very clever and trainable, but sometimes they question: "why should they do something?" They can be soft-tempered and in order to get the best out of them, you will need to apply the right amount of pressure without hurting their feelings. Given that most Pointers are food-motivated this helps facilitate a positive training experience for both the dog and owner!
Pointers are usually easy to house-train provided that they have had a good start in life and are encouraged to keep their home and bed clean. When we raise our puppies, they are trained to have a clean sleeping area and separate potty area in their puppy pen. They are usually demonstrating the positive elements of house training when they leave our home at age 8-9 weeks and should transition with minimal setbacks to their new homes providing they are given ample opportunity to get out to empty their puppy-sized bladder.
Pointers have a single, short, fairly dense coat and are comfortable in Spring, Summer and Fall. In Canadian Winters they do need a coat if they are outside for longer periods of time and care must be taken to not leave them outside in extreme cold.
Pointers like to be comfortable and will make use of dog beds and/or access to your furniture (at your prerogative!)
We strongly recommend crate-training as a useful tool to keep them out of mischief and for safe transport when needed.
Pointers are very clever and trainable, but sometimes they question: "why should they do something?" They can be soft-tempered and in order to get the best out of them, you will need to apply the right amount of pressure without hurting their feelings. Given that most Pointers are food-motivated this helps facilitate a positive training experience for both the dog and owner!
Pointers are usually easy to house-train provided that they have had a good start in life and are encouraged to keep their home and bed clean. When we raise our puppies, they are trained to have a clean sleeping area and separate potty area in their puppy pen. They are usually demonstrating the positive elements of house training when they leave our home at age 8-9 weeks and should transition with minimal setbacks to their new homes providing they are given ample opportunity to get out to empty their puppy-sized bladder.