Portuguese Pointer

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Portuguese Pointer is a medium sized breed of dog developed as a gun dog. The dog is mainly used in Red-legged Partridge hunting and is one of several pointing breeds. The dog was initially bred in the royal kennels and later on became a very popular hunting dog for the lower classes of society. The Portuguese Pointer is also known to be called as Perdigueiro Portugueso and Portuguese Pointing Dog.

The dogs are overly affectionate and friendly that it has sometimes become inappropriate and inconvenient. They are, as mentioned, overly affectionate and extremely dedicated to their owners. These dogs are obedient and submissive that they will retrieve or hunt anything commanded with much eagerness. The dog thrives on physical contact and attention that when satisfied, they will surely return the favor by becoming intense hunters and highly trainable. The obedient dog is good with children and other dogs making them an all-around friendly hunting dog for the family.

Color

The dog's standard coat color is Yellow or Light Brown. It can either be solid or with White markings.

Coat

The dog's coat is short and flat. The coat is dense and somewhat coarse to the feel on their backs. The hair is short, find and soft on the head while even softer on the in the ears which will likely feel velvety to the touch. From the back to the abdomen, the density and coat texture changes gradually so that the coat in the groin, under the elbows and inner thighs is less dense and softer.

Personality

The Portuguese Pointing Dog doubles from a gun dog to a home pet as they are attentive, friendly and affectionate dogs. These dogs are quick, skilled and have a great sense of smell. These dogs are highly intelligent and greatly enjoy a hunting and retrieving activity. These dogs are tenacious, active and intense during hunting. They are submissive, kind and enjoys following instructions whenever with their family. As very versatile dogs, they can bend to their master's demand. Petting and playing with their family is what the dog needs constantly or any other form of physical stimulation.

Care

The Portuguese Pointer requires average grooming. The dog's hair does not shed and is maintaining growth. Thus, frequent brushing and trimming is necessary. It is strongly recommended that the dog is brushed a few times weekly and clipping the dog's hair every 6 weeks. The dog's coat comes in two layer varieties: wavy and curly. There are also types of clip to choose from: the lion clip and the retriever clip. The lion clip wherein saving is done in the hind quarters and the muzzle. On the other hand, the retriever clip is generally an inch long for all body areas. The puppy cut is another cut which works best during the hot climate. As the dog's ears are drooped, they are prone to ear infections so make sure to check it daily and after any activity done in the outdoors. The breed is known to be generally healthy and free from any genetic diseases but they are prone to hip dysplasia, epilepsy, bloat and cherry eye. Given proper nutrition and care, sufficient exercise and regular veterinary care, these dogs can live up to 12-14 years on the average.

Training

These dogs will require early socialization and obedience training at an early age. The dog will do best from a training that is firm and consistent but should never be harsh or negative. As a pointing dog, the dog will naturally point and retrieve sticks without formal training. The dog is highly intelligent making them fairly easy to train making it a point to do as their master says. They love retrieving and hunting done with their masters including anything to please their master. As a whole, the dog is an excellent hunting dog friendly enough to get along well with all the members of the family. In addition to the dog's qualities as a pointing dog and hunting dog, they are also perfect household pets.

Activity

These dogs require plenty of exercise to drain their excess energy as working dogs. They love to be outdoors but demands a lot of time and require intense exercise including plenty of walks and games to keep them in shape and running. Thus, the Portuguese Pointer is not meant to live in an apartment or small space. They need to have an active family that can keep up with their high energy, a large house with a large yard especially in the courtyard. Play will surely fulfill the dog's exercise needs; however, as any other breed, their primal instinct to walk will still need to be satisfied.