Portuguese Pointer

Dog breed

Portuguese Pointer

11-year-old Portuguese Pointer

Other names| Perdigueiro Português
Origin| Portugal
| Kennel club standards

Fédération Cynologique Internationale|  standard
Dog (domestic dog)

A Portuguese Pointer, (Portuguese: Perdigueiro Português) is a breed of dog developed as a gun dog. It is one of several pointing breeds and is mainly used in red-legged partridge hunting.

## History[edit]

The Portuguese Pointer (perdigueiro Português) arose from Iberian hunting dogs with its presence in Portugal traceable to the early twelfth century. Initially the dog was bred in royal kennels and later became a very popular hunting dog for the lower classes of society. In the eighteenth century, many English families established a presence in the region of Oporto in the business of wine production and came to know the Portuguese hunting breed which was taken to England where they played a part in the origin of the English pointer. However, during the nineteenth century when Portugal was experiencing considerable social hardships, the breed began a progressive decline. It was not until the 1920s when some breeders made an effort to salvage the breed by locating some of the ancient Portuguese dogs in the inaccessible north of Portugal. The Portuguese pedigree book was then established in 1932 and breed standard in 1938. For at least a thousand years, this dog has always had the same square head, a marked stop, triangular ears and compact look and since the 17th century, the same docked tail, and among pointing dogs all over the world just the perdigueiro and his "son" the English pointer have this kind of skull-facial convergence so typical.[1]

## Description[edit]

A female Portuguese Pointer

### Size & Build[edit]

The Portuguese Pointer is a dog of medium proportions.

The height at the withers is 48–56 cm (19–22 in). The weight is 18–27 kg (40–60 lb) for males, and 16–25 kg (35–55 lb) for females.

When being evaluated at a conformation show, dogs judged for conformation that benefits working ability, with deviations from the standard penalised according to the amount that they interfere with working ability. The dogs are square in build, with the 10:10½ height to length ratio. The tail is docked to half, or two-thirds the natural length, and held level with the spine when the dog is excited, hanging down otherwise.

### Coat & Color[edit]

The coat is short and coarse on most of the dog, being the texture of velvet on the ears and face. The Portuguese Pointer does not have an undercoat.[2]

Standard colors recognized by the FCI include light yellow, red yellow, and yellow, both unicolored or with white markings.[2]

### Health & Lifespan[edit]

The Portuguese Pointer has an average life expectancy of 14 years.[2] They are considered a hardy breed with no known health issues specific to them. However, hip dysplasia, patellar lunation, cancer, and autoimmune diseases are potential health concerns for dogs of this size.[3]

## Temperament[edit]

Portuguese Pointers are an energetic and affectionate breed. As a hunting dog, the breed are enthusiastic and dedicated. They work in close contact with their handlers and are known to be devoted companions, sometimes to the point of being "inappropriate and inconvenient" in their affections. While very sociable and dedicated to their owner, they can be aloof towards other dogs.

## See also[edit]

* Dogs portal
* List of dog breeds

## References[edit]

1. ^ "The History of Perdigueiro". www.canildetorres.com. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
2. ^ a b c "Portuguese Pointer Dog Breed Information". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
3. ^ "Portuguese Pointer". DogTime. Retrieved October 9, 2023.

## External links[edit]

* The History of Perdigueiro (or Portuguese Pointer)

* v
* t
* e

Gundogs

Pointers
and setters|

* Ariège Pointer
* Blue Picardy Spaniel
* Bracco Italiano
* Braque d'Auvergne
* Braque du Bourbonnais
* Braque Français
* Braque Saint-Germain
* Brittany
* Burgos Pointer
* Ca Mè Mallorquí
* Cesky Fousek
* Drentse Patrijshond
* English Setter
* French Spaniel
* German Longhaired Pointer
* German Roughhaired Pointer
* German Shorthaired Pointer
* German Wirehaired Pointer
* Gordon Setter
* Irish Red and White Setter
* Irish Setter
* Large Münsterländer
* Old Danish Pointer
* Pachón Navarro
* Picardy Spaniel
* Perdigueiro Galego
* Pointer
* Portuguese Pointer
* Pudelpointer
* Saint-Usuge Spaniel
* Slovakian Roughhaired Pointer
* Small Münsterländer
* Spinone Italiano
* Stabyhoun
* Vizsla
* Weimaraner
* Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
* Wirehaired Vizsla

Retrievers|

* Chesapeake Bay Retriever
* Curly-coated Retriever
* Flat-coated Retriever
* Golden Retriever
* Labrador Retriever
* Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Spaniels|

* American Cocker Spaniel
* Boykin Spaniel
* Clumber Spaniel
* English Cocker Spaniel
* English Springer Spaniel
* Field Spaniel
* German Spaniel
* Kooikerhondje
* Pont-Audemer Spaniel
* Russian Spaniel
* Sussex Spaniel
* Welsh Springer Spaniel

Water dogs|

* American Water Spaniel
* Barbet
* Cantabrian Water Dog
* Irish Water Spaniel
* Lagotto Romagnolo
* Poodle
* Portuguese Water Dog
* Spanish Water Dog
* Wetterhoun

Extinct breeds|

* Braque Dupuy
* English Water Spaniel
* Norfolk Spaniel
* Old Spanish Pointer
* Tweed Water Spaniel

* v
* t
* e

Dogs originating from Portugal

Extant|

* Barbado da Terceira
* Barrocal Algarvio
* Cão da Serra de Aires
* Cão de Castro Laboreiro
* Cão de Gado Transmontano
* Cão Fila de São Miguel
* Estrela Mountain Dog
* Portuguese Podengo
* Portuguese Pointer
* Portuguese Water Dog
* Rafeiro do Alentejo

Extinct|

* Fila da Terceira
* Podengo de Mostra

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template