Pointer Breed Profile

Head: Mesaticephalic skull type, somewhat long in length, moderate in size, rather rectangular in appearance, and in proportion to the rest of the body. It is neither heavy nor light in substance or size. The topskull is only moderately broad, being only slightly broader than the muzzle. In profile, the topskull is long and flat. The occiput is well-pronounced. A faint median furrow starts at the stop and disappears toward the occiput. The brows are well-developed. Although the head is lean, it is powerfully equipped with strong, smooth, well-developed, yet never overly prominent muscle. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles.

Eyes: Moderate in size, oval to almond in shape, and green or amber to dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.

Ears: Medium in size, hanging close to the head, with or without slight folding or rolling. They are somewhat tapered or pointed toward the tip, never broad and rounded. They are set on fairly high at eye level but may be raised when alerted. They should extend to, or just beyond, the lower jaw when hanging naturally. The ears are never excessively long, overly large, or “fly-away.”

Muzzle: Long, broad, deep, full, rectangular, and strongly developed. The plane of the muzzle may be straight or with a slightly concaved “dish-face,” resulting in the nose being set slightly higher than the plane of the nasal bridge. The upper and lower jaws are equal in length, have good bone substance, appear strong and well-developed, and never appear snipey or weak.

Nose: The nose is well-pigmented, black, or self-colored, according to the coat. The nose is broad, and the nostrils are well-opened. In profile, the tip of the nose may project slightly forward.

Neck: A fairly long neck allows for a proud head carriage, powerfully muscled with a slight arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is dry and clean-cut, without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.

Chest: Deep, sufficiently broad for ample heart and lung capacity, but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. The forechest is well-developed.

Body: The body is that of a canine endurance and agility athlete. It is deep, solid, and of moderate substance. The body is never cloddy or heavy. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.

Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.

Tail: Set neither high nor low on the croup but as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. It is carried horizontally to 20 degrees above the level of the topline when working but also kept in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, never tucked or carried curved or up over the back. The tail should be left natural and never docked short. Natural tails are of a moderately long length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail is straight.

Movement: The Pointer breed moves with graceful, powerful, and agile motion. His actions are effortless, efficient, and energetic. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.

Temperament: The Pointer breed is an intelligent and friendly dog that loves to work and loves to move. Their stable temperament and can-do attitude make them a great candidate as a pet for active families, although they excel in the field and the show ring. They can be trained to use their nose in many disciplines, including fieldwork, search and rescue, or tracking and article search. They excel in other events as well, such as that of obedience and agility. They bond strongly with their family and are tolerant of other dogs and people. They enjoy a hard day’s work, and daily exercise is necessary for this breed to curb potential behavior issues. They should never appear nervous, shy, or fearful. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.