Pointing breed

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Image:PointerDogSketch3.png A pointing breed is a type of gundog typically used in finding game. Gundogs are traditionally divided into three classes: retrievers, flushing spaniels, and pointing breeds. The name pointer most likely comes from the dog's stance when they locate game; many dogs point naturally at interesting noises or possible prey by lifting one paw and tucking it under their chests, with their nose extended and tail straight behind. Pointers were selectively bred for dogs who had this natural trait. They typically start to acquire their hunting instincts at about 2 months of age, although many need to be trained to assume the stance at all appropriate times and to maintain it until released by the hunter

In the Southern United states, the name Pointer is often used to refer to the English Pointer exclusively.

The pointing breeds originated in England and Europe in about the 1650s. They may have descended from dogs from Spain. Pointing dogs were originally used by hunters who netted the game. The dog would freeze or set (as in Setter) and allow the hunter to throw the net over the game before it flushed. Flushing dogs, on the other hand, were often used by falconers to flush game for the raptors.

Pointing breeds come in all varieties of coats, from short-haired dogs, to wire-haired dogs, to silky-coated Setters.

Some European pointing breeds are further classified as "versatile gun dog breeds". The distinction is made because versatile breeds were developed to find and point game as all pointing breeds, but were also bred to perform other tasks as well. The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association defines versatility as "the dog that is bred and trained to dependably hunt and point game, to retrieve on both land and water, and to track wounded game on both land and water." The versatile designation is not a qualitative one. That is to say, defining a breed as a versatile breed is not saying that they are superior in anyway. Rather, it means that the dogs were bred for a different purpost. As an example, German Shorthair Pointers are often used to retrieve birds duck hunting whereas, calling upon an English pointer to do the same would be highly unusual.

Image:Pudelpointer on point.jpg Pointers include the following breeds: