At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
short, fine and smooth
A graceful, athletic gundog with a short, hard, sleek coat that has a clear shine. The slightly dished muzzle helps lift the nose to catch scent.13
Personality what they are like
Even-tempered, gentle and adaptable, with an alert, aristocratic bearing. It can be a little more reserved than some other gundogs and usually makes a good family companion.123
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Very high: the Royal Kennel Club suggests more than two hours of exercise a day. A great partner for runners and suited to homes with plenty of space.34
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The short coat needs about a weekly brush. It does shed.3
Home where they are happiest
Best in a large house with a large garden, according to the Royal Kennel Club.3
The story where it all began
Pointers were being used in England by the early 1700s to find partridge and other game birds. British breeders are believed to have blended continental pointing dogs with setters, hounds and later greyhounds to add speed as shotguns improved. The breed became a favourite of the 18th and 19th century gentry and its standard has changed little since 1936.23
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Its name describes its job: it freezes and points its nose toward hidden birds.4
- 2
A poem by John Gay from 1713 already mentions pointers hunting partridge.2
- 3
Falconers use Pointers to find game for their hawks and falcons.2
- 4
Unlike many continental breeds that hunt, point and retrieve, the Pointer specialises in finding and pointing.2
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard No. 1 (English Pointer), Group 7 Pointing Dogs, Section 2.1 British and Irish Pointers and Setters.1
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Gundog group; not a vulnerable native breed.3
- American Kennel Club
- Recognised breed.4
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Pointer. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 7every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI Standard N°1 English Pointer fci.beused for group, heights, coat, colours, temperament
- Pointer (dog breed) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for weights, lifespan, history, facts
- Pointer - The Royal Kennel Club royalkennelclub.comused for exercise, grooming, home, lifespan, history
- Pointer - American Kennel Club akc.orgused for recognition, activity, name fact
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.