Pointer breed guide

The Pointer's amiable, even temperament and alert good sense make it a congenial, trainable companion in the field and at home. AKC calls the high-energy Pointer an excellent runner's companion.

Pointers are versatile and many have multiple titles before and after their names.

Pointers live 12 to 15 years. AKC calls them very healthy. Breeders screen for hip dysplasia and eye disorders and like other large, deep-chested dogs Pointers may get bloat, so owners should learn the signs.

The short, dense, glossy coat needs minimal maintenance: a weekly brushing with a soft-bristle brush or hound glove removes dirt and loose hair.

The athletic, exuberant Pointer is a very active sporting breed that needs lots of exercise every day, through long walks and vigorous play and a securely fenced yard where it can run full out burns off some of its renowned hunting drive.

In the days before rifles, British pointing dogs hunted hares in tandem with coursing hounds: the Pointer found and indicated the prey and the hounds gave chase.

In the 1700s, with the rise of wing-shooting, the Pointer became a devoted and durable hunting dog. AKC says that in pointing and retrieving game birds it has few peers.