Pointer
指示犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Pointer (English Pointer) is the aristocrat of the gundogs — a powerful, graceful bird dog that has been finding and 'pointing' game for centuries. Even-tempered, loyal and highly trainable, Pointers are congenial house dogs when, and only when, they get a lot of exercise: the parent club says they can truly run all day and that a bored Pointer chews and barks. The short coat is easy to keep, but this is a breed for active homes with a securely fenced space to run.
Facts
| Size | Large |
|---|---|
| Height | 58–71cm |
| Weight | 20–34kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15years |
| Breed group | AKC: sporting FCI: 7 |
| Role | Sporting |
| Coat | Short coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 60–150min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 3 hours |
| Companionship need | 5/ 5 |
| Trainability | 5/ 5 |
| Barking | 3/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 5/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 4/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 2/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)
Deep-chested dogs of this breed are at risk of bloat, a life-threatening emergency. Ask your vet about the warning signs and prevention options.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is reported in the breed. Ask your vet about thyroid testing if you notice weight gain, lethargy or coat changes.
Epilepsy
Idiopathic epilepsy is reported in the breed. Ask your vet promptly if your dog has a seizure.
Skin and allergy problems
Skin problems and allergies are commonly reported in the breed. Ask your vet if you notice itching, redness or recurring ear/skin infections.
Immune-mediated conditions
Immune-mediated conditions are reported in the breed. Ask your vet if your dog has unexplained illness.
Behaviour
Bred to run all day
The AKC calls the Pointer a very active sporting breed that needs lots of daily exercise — long walks, vigorous play and, ideally, a securely fenced yard where it can run full out and burn off its "hunt all day" endurance — and says a well-exercised Pointer is a calmer, more contented house dog. The parent club puts it as "a tired Pointer is a happy Pointer": they can truly run all day, and without an outlet they chew and bark.
Amiable, trainable, but exuberant
The AKC describes an amiable, even temperament and alert good sense that make the Pointer a congenial, trainable companion in the field and at home, versatile enough for service, therapy and search-and-rescue work. The parent club adds that Pointers respond to patient, positive training and not to heavy-handed methods, and that their exuberant jumping and rowdiness — especially as puppies — is worth weighing in homes with very small children or elderly members.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 4/5 (high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "more than 2 hours per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 5/5, barking level 3/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Pointer
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Pointer (Sporting Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Pointer
Breed characteristics (size large, exercise more than 2 hours per day, lifespan over 12 years), plus the recommended pre-breeding health schemes and DNA tests.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — English Pointer (standard no. 1, group 7)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The American Pointer Club's "Is a Pointer right for you?" page says the breed suits active homes whose owners have the time and patience to train it and to give it a daily outlet for physical and mental energy — a Pointer that is not exercised will find its own entertainment, usually chewing or barking. It describes Pointers as friendly, intelligent and emotionally transparent dogs that love their "pack", including children and other pets.”
— American Pointer Club — Pointers in the Home via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Pointer — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Pointer — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Pointer — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]English Pointer — FCI standard no. 1 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Pointers in the Home — Is a Pointer right for you? — American Pointer Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.