Portuguese Pointer Breed Profile

Head: Mesaticephalic skull type, moderate in size, somewhat blocky in appearance, and in proportion to the rest of the body. The head is clean-cut, without excess skin or wrinkles, with smooth muscling throughout. The topskull is elongated and appears almost flat when viewed from the front but slightly arched in profile. A broad but shallow frontal furry is visible. The occiput is only slightly developed. The superciliary arches are well-developed.

Eyes: Moderately large, yet never excessively so. Somewhat round or opened, oval in shape, and medium to dark brown, preferably darker in color than the coat. The eyes should be set level, not obliquely. 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: Somewhat large in size. Set fairly high on the skull and above the level of the eyes. They are triangular in shape, with rounded tips. They should hang with the inner edges and tips close to the head. The ears should be approximately equal in length to the length of the topskull or just slightly greater. The ears are never long, overly large, or "fly away."

Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight and level or may be slightly concaved or dished. It tapers slightly from the broad base toward the nose. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, have good bone substance, never snipey or weak.

Nose: The nose is well-pigmented and black. The nostrils are well opened. The nose is flush with the vertical line of the end of the muzzle.

Neck: Moderate length allows for good head carriage. It is strongly muscled with a good arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut with a slight amount of loose skin at the throat area but without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.

Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. The forechest is well developed without being excessively pronounced.

Body: Of sufficient substance to allow for stamina, endurance, and agility in the field. The body is never racy or cloddy. 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. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, usually in a natural, neutral downward position, but when at work, it will be held out horizontally, either slightly above or level with the topline. It is never tucked or carried up over the back. The tail may be natural (preferred) or docked short. Natural tails are of a moderate length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. Docked tails are surgically removed at 1/3 to 1/4 the original length. The tail is straight.

Movement: Easy, energetic, effortless, and efficient, 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 Portuguese Pointer breed is a winning combination of traits that make for an excellent hunting companion. They are energetic, loyal, and completely devoted to their person, almost to the point that some would consider it a detriment. They work closely with their master, hanging onto every direction and, if properly trained, carrying it out with expert precision. They are less of an independent thinker and hunter than many other field dogs and prefer to work in close proximity with their people. Unlike most gun dogs and pointers that you take hunting, they go hunting with you. Their cheery disposition, boundless enthusiasm, steady energy, the urge to please, and desire to accompany their people make them wonderful companions for families with children. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.