Fun Pointer Facts For Kids

The Pointer dog breed belongs to the mammal class from the Canidae family. The scientific name of the Pointer is Canis lupus familiaris.

As we all know, all dog breeds are very cute and adorable and can be kept as a part of a family. Pointers have the traits of a multitalented and hard-working field dog and are excellent family dogs.

They were initially found in England in the 17th century but now can be found all over the world. The Pointer dog breed has a unique trait of pointing to the location of the hunter's game while standing still at one point.

Therefore, they are hounds as they assist in hunting. There are 10 types of Pointer dog breeds: Brittany, German Shorthaired Pointer, English setter, English Pointer, Bracco Italiano, Spinone Italiano, Vizsla, Weimaraner, Irish setter, and Gordon setter.

The body of the Pointer very well explains its breed's name 'pointer'. They usually have a long head and pointing tails with short, smooth, and shiny coats full of hair.

Dark Pointers usually have a black or brown nose, whereas light-colored Pointers have a light fleshed nose.

Male breeds of Pointers are comparatively bigger than females breeds. Males are 25-27 in (64-69 cm) tall and weigh about 55-75 lb (25-34 kg), and on the other hand, females are 24-26 in (61-66 cm) tall, and they weigh about 45-65 lb (20-29 kg).

English setters are an exceptionally fun-loving intelligent dog breed. They fall under the category of omnivores, and their treats and food must be full of protein and other basic ingredients (based on their required diet).

Pointers tend to face certain health issues like obesity, gastric dilatation-volvulus, and hip dysplasia. The coat of the Pointer breed helps them to adapt to different temperatures.

Adult Pointers are the ideal running companion. They are even-tempered, active, and energetic field dogs.

Pointer dogs require a daily exercise schedule, inclusive of physical activities. Pointers make a great pet and require a uniform weekly grooming pattern, and to keep their teeth and ears fit, they need brushing and proper cleaning thrice a week (since they are most likely to get infected). Puppy Pointers are cute, adaptable, and obedient.

If you liked reading this fun article, make sure to check out our facts on German shepherd and American English coonhound.
 

Pointer Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Pointer?

Pointers are a breed of dogs that belongs to the biological family of Canidae. Pointers are known as 'bird's dog,' a type of gundog or hunting breed that helps in finding game birds.

What class of animal does a Pointer belong to?

The Pointer dog breed belongs to the Mammalia class.

How many Pointers are there in the world?

Pointer dogs are found all over the world. However, no official population is recorded. There are ten types of England and American Pointers dog breeds out of 339 dog breeds (divided into ten groups.)

Where does a Pointer live?

Pointer dogs are great pets found in homes with a lot of activities and loving owners.

What is a Pointer's habitat?

Pointers dogs are originally a breed from England but can now be found all over the world. Bodies of these dogs are made in such a way that they can adapt well to any kind of temperature.

For instance, the thick layer of coat all over their body helps in adjusting with the temperature fluctuations and the reason why they are spotted with a lot of families living in different weather conditions in any part of the world.

Who does Pointer live with?

Pointers are also called family dogs, they prefer living with their owners and their family members as the perfect companion. Since this breed is full of energy and ready to play any time, they make the best buddies for kids. Nevertheless, they make a good pet no matter the family size.

How long does a Pointer live?

A Pointer's life span is around 12-17 years. They hardly have any predators, so being hunted down and killed is not a problem for them.

However, Pointers tend to face health issues like epilepsy, allergies, cataracts, demodectic mange. These health issues, if not dealt with in time, sometimes can end up being fatal. Pointers need special health care in order to have a long-lasting life span.

How do they reproduce?

Sometimes called the English Pointer, Pointers are known to be more active during the breeding season. Their average litter size is known to be four to six puppies per breeding season.

Dog reproduction generally occurs in four phases. The heat cycle of females lasts for about 18-21 days; it starts from the first stage, called proestrus.

In this stage, the female tends to attract males but is not ready to breed. The next stage is estrus, where the vulva becomes soft, which lasts for three to four days, and the female will be receptive to the male.

The third phase is diestrus, and after this, it takes them around 60-90 days until they give birth. And then, they finally enter into the anestrus, which is a period between the last cycle and the beginning of proestrus.

What is their conservation status?

When we discuss their conservation status, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Pointer as Least Concern. This breed is quite common and can be easily spotted all over the world, and many reports show the inclining population of Pointer dogs.

Pointer Fun Facts

What does the Pointer look like?

Dog breeds Pointers are medium-sized sporty dogs usually found in different colors. Pointers' colors vary depending on which species they belong to.

Pointers are commonly found in white with patches of lemon, orange, and black colors. Their patches are bigger than the usual spots found on some dogs, so these dogs do not have spots.

They are medium-sized dogs about 24-27 in (61-69 cm) tall, and they weigh around 45-75 lb (20-34kg). Pointer, one of the fun-loving dogs, has a shiny and smooth coat on its skin covered with dark hair. They have a pointing tail and a long head.

Dark-colored dogs have black and brown nose, and light dogs have light-flesh-colored noses. They are the best expression of canine energy and charm.

How cute are they?

Pointer is a hunting dog with a cozy, shiny coat and a pointy tail. They are adorable, appealing, and fun-loving dogs who love being surrounded by family members and love cuddling too. Pointer dog attracts people by their boldness and adoring nature. They are especially cute when they are little puppies but still are as energetic as adults.

How do they communicate?

Pointers communicate using various vocalization and auditory methods such as whines, barks, growls, howls, screams, pants, and sighs. They also communicate by using chemical or gustatory methods using scent and pheromones. They are even-tempered dogs and, with sufficient training, can become the best pet.

How big is a Pointer?

The male Pointer dog is around 25-27 in (64-69 cm) tall, whereas the female Pointer dog is around 24-26 in (61-66 cm). Males are slightly bigger than females and also bold in comparison. Pointer is categorized under 'hunting dog,' usually two to three times bigger than the Labrador Retriever breed.

How fast can a Pointer run?

Pointers can run up to 40 mph (64 kph). Similarly, German Longhaired Pointer can run at a speed of 35 mph (56 kph).

Pointers are medium-sized athletic dogs known for their endurance and speed. In numerous reports given by organizations, it is found that they can run up to 10 mi (16 km) a day on average.

Some of the owners claim that the Pointer can run a maximum of about 40 mi (64 km) in a day. They can easily run up to one mi (1.6 km) in under seven minutes.

Pointer is a field dog that needs regular training involving various running patterns, sports, games, and exercises.

How much does a Pointer weigh?

The Pointer is a medium-sized dog. In this breed, males are heavier than females. The male Pointer weighs 55-75 lb (25-34 kg), and females weigh between 45-65 lb (20-29 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Adult Pointer male is called a 'dog', and female is called 'bitch'. Pointers are field dogs, also called 'hunter dogs.' Males are comparatively larger than females in size.

What would you call a baby Pointer?

Baby Pointers are called 'puppies.' They are appealing and lovable who are always ready to engage in family activities.

Pointer puppies are born with contrasting colors such as lemon, black, and orange, either white or solid-colored depending on the breed. The baby Pointer needs regular exercise and grooming twice a week, including brushing teeth and coat, cleaning ears, and bathing, for their better growth.

What do they eat?

Pointer is known as 'bird's dog' from the hunting breed. Pointer generally feeds on dry homemade food and animal food.

They are omnivores and prefer eating all kinds of meats such as venison or lamb, which is good for their sensitive tummy. The best dog food for them is quality meat which is known to be the best source of animal protein.

Are they dangerous?

Pointer belongs to the hunter dog's breed that is ideally loving and gentle in nature. The pointer dog is not aggressive and loves playing with kids and being surrounded by people most of the time.

They seem to be well behaved even in front of strangers. Pointer requires proper training program to maintain their energy, and keep them happy and active.

Would they make a good pet?

Pointer dogs are known to be hunters and are also called field dogs. Pointer dogs make perfect pets and love to be part of the family. They are intelligent and super active dogs that require obedience training from a young age.

Pointer characteristics make them excellent pets. They are energetic dogs that require a daily training schedule followed with consistency, including exercises, a game that involves physical movement or sports, and a lot of running.

Full grooming is needed once or twice a week includes cleaning ears, nails, hair, and bathing. Before thinking of keeping them as a pet, an individual should be aware of the health issues they might face, such as allergy, hip dysplasia, obesity, gastric problems.

Are they slobbery?

Pointer dogs may drool a bit sometimes but not very often. Some species, such as Irish Setter, Gordon Setter, tend to drool a lot, but the breed like English Pointer and a few others don't. They might drool in front of food, though.

Did you know...

Pointer dogs are ideal hunting dogs and are on the list of favorites for many aristocrats in many countries.

Pointer dogs are not great swimmers but love learning; they tend to enjoy water games and are known for their fondness for water.

Female hunting dog names for Pointers are Bailey, Bella, Annie, Alexa, Ginger, Bebo, Lexie, Roxy, Ash, Levi, Trixxie, Janie.

The best dog food for German Shorthaired Pointers is the Orijen Original dry dog food.

They get attached to family members very fast and can adapt to changes. However, keeping a Pointer as one's pet is a big responsibility as taking care of their health is a big task.

Pointers are intelligent and sharp-minded dogs; easy to train. They are one of the best picks for couples or families who need active pets; Pointer dogs usually require two hours of exercise daily (field time) inclusive of different energy-consuming activities, sports, and games in order to keep the environment friendly and entertaining.

English Pointer is one of the breeds that usually shed a lot because of their extra long hair in comparison to other pointer dogs. English Pointer is a not-so-calm breed during its infant years and generally calms down when they reach the age between three to five years.

When it comes to owning a Pointer, please do check your local dog shelters to adopt one. If you are looking to purchase a Pointer puppy, be ready to shell out anything between $600 - $1200.

Also, be sure to ask for the health certificates of its parent dogs.

It is also important to consult a vet before going ahead with the purchase. Once you get yourself the puppy, though, you can sleep well knowing that you've made the right decision, as Pointers are one of the best pets you can have.

Do Pointer dogs bark a lot?

No, American Pointer dogs don't bark a lot if they are trained appropriately and are made to follow a daily exercise routine. Adult Pointers bark more when they are bored or in order to alert owners of danger or strangers. They have solid intuitions and alert their owners by spotting faraway threats.

How many hours of sleep a Pointer dog needs?

There is no specified information regarding a Pointer's sleep cycle, but dogs usually sleep between 12-14 hours (large dogs can sleep up to 18 hours a day). Pointers are active dogs and belong to the fields (with minimal sleeping hours).

The owner should give adult Pointer dogs proper training in order to put their high energy level at ease. They spend most of their time playing a game or sports rather than sleeping. However, the more they exercise, the better they sleep, hence keeping them happy and cheerful.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Spanish mastiff facts and Maine Coon facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable pointer coloring pages.