Pointer

(Based on the Revised 1975 AKC Standard)

Which Is the Best Pointer?

Pointer Fig 1 "sans markings" was photographed years ago having won the
Sporting Group at an American show. German Shorthaired Pointer Fig 2 won the
Group the next day. I use the photograph of Fig 1 in my all-breed type, structure,
locomotion presentation to pose the question, "What breed does this Pointer
remind you of?" Invariably the answer is a German Shorthaired Pointer.

Reduced to bare outlines without markings and compared at the same height i.e.
25-inch minimum for the male Pointer and 25-inch maximum for the male GSP,
there is a similarity. Neither is ideal, but even so Fig 2 looks more like a GSP than
Fig 1 looks like a Pointer. Study of Fig I will not help to formulate an image of
ideal, in fact it serves best to warn of departures. From a type standpoint, you will
see how this Pointer departs from typical as this article progresses.
Which Head Is Correct?

There are two

differences between Fig
3 and Fig 4 heads. The
Standard errs in my
opinion in asking for the
ears to set on at eye
level, and by neglecting
to say anything about
the necessity for a pronounced occiput (back of skull). I prefer Fig 4's higher ear
set and possession of a pronounced occiput.
The Head

It is generally accepted that the head is the hallmark of the Pointer. It is both field
functional and show distinctive. The Pointer's head enables it to excel in the field,
where it must locate upland game by scent in heavy cover.
As for appearance, the Pointer's head is required to have:
a skull of medium width;
a slight furrow between the eyes;
cleanly chiseled cheeks;
well-developed wide open nostrils;

 jaws ending square;

eyes of ample size, rounded and intense, the eye color dark in contrast with the
markings, the darker the better;
flews that are not pendulous.

Two Head Types

In the United States, there are two types of head, i.e. "the parallel planes" head and
one with "a muzzle with the nasal bone so formed that the nose is slightly higher at
the tip than at the stop".
Fig 5 represents a "parallel-planes" head and Fig 6 represents a somewhat concave,
slightly dished muzzle although the AKC Standard does not use the words concave
or dished; in fact in the bookThe Pointer, A Graphic Discussion of the AKC
Standard, 1981, the author John G. Laytham depicts the muzzle on his "DishedFace" drawing as a straight line without dish, the muzzle just tipped up.
Based on what I see at Canadian and American shows, Fig 6's slight dish is how I
interpret the intent of the AKC Standard, if not the exact wording. However since
the AKC Standard doesn't include the British words, "concave, slightly dishedfaced appearance" I could be wrong. The next five drawings convey what I mean.
Five Muzzles

The slightly dished-faced muzzle on Head D produces quite a different appearance

than does the parallel planes on Head A. The initial response by American artists to
"nose slightly higher at the tip than at the stop" was to produce Head B wrong
because it promoted a projecting chin. This eventually was corrected in Head C to
conform to "jaws ending square". Slight dished-faced Head D was the next logical
if not specified step. Taken too far, extreme dished-faced Head E represents too
much of a good thing.
Unofficial Ideal

Before you assess the next two dog

classes, each with three real-life
Pointers, consider the merits of Fig 7.
He doesn't exist in real life; he
illustrates in simple outline the image
in my mind's eye of Pointer ideal.
This unofficial representation of ideal
serves to graphically fill in the blanks
in the AKC Standard as well as
illustrate that which is clear and
concise beginning with the head. For
example:
The length of this Pointer's muzzle is half the length of the head, the midpoint
being the inner corner of the eye. The ears are set on high, lie close to the head and
are somewhat pointed at tips. The neck is long, dry, and slightly arched. The
forechest is obvious. The withers are high, the long shoulder blades are well laid
back and close together at their points together with a sloped upper arm of good
length. The elbow is level or very slightly below brisket and is situated midpoint
between withers and as in the ground making the foreleg equal in length to depth
of body as in the Italian Standard. The foreleg has oval bone; the pasterns are
thinner than forearm and slope slightly forward. The feet are oval, the toes are
arched.
The body is slightly longer than tall. The Italian Standard describes the Pointer as
square measured from the point of shoulder (not the point of forechest) to the point
of buttocks. Tuck up is apparent. Good hindquarter angulation is in balance with
forequarter angulation. The tail is heavy at root, set on level with the croup's slight
slope, tapers to a fine point, and is of no greater length than distance to hock.
Dog A, Dog B, Dog C ?

You are invited to place in order of merit three American champions. Two of the
three won BIS and if the third did not win a BIS he was honored on at least one
occasion as a great Pointer of the past. I selected these three proven acceptable
Pointers because they are so different from one another. Their markings have been
removed to protect the innocent.
These three particular Pointers provide an interesting study. None of their croups
round off to the degree of my ideal. Stretched, none position with their rear
pasterns vertical. Only two have the smooth transition of slightly arched neck into
withers and topline. Two appear to have cat feet. One appears shorter bodied than

the other two only because his less-well-angulated shoulder blade and upper arm
have forced his body to raise above the elbow. And one has too much forechest
and crouches in the rear.
Make your choices for 1st, 2nd, 3rd now.

First, Second, Third

I gave first place to Dog C, aware that his feet are incorrectly more round than oval
and that there is a little too much slope to the front pasterns. Second place went to
lanky Dog A, and third place to Dog B who possesses compact power but lacks
graceful curves and lissome appearance.
Dog D, Dog E, Dog F?

All three Pointers in this class have won more than one American BIS. If there is
such a thing as an American show Pointer as opposed to an English show Pointer
which is different again from an Italian show Pointer, then surely it is represented
in this class.
All three have a "parallel-planes" head which could be a coincidence. Feature by
feature, there are many similarities and few differences. At this level of excellence,
there are not many faults but there are enough differences and faults that first,
second and third place can be arrived at.
Just as it is important that you appreciate Pointer virtues, it is equally important
that you can recognize faults both in type and in structure. Beginning with Dog D,
his muzzle could be longer, his shoulder blades could slightly have more slope and
his topline could be improved. Dog E's brisket is a little above the elbow and his
topline could be improved especially at beginning of the croup. The only obvious
fault possessed by Dog F is that his ears are higher than "set-on-at-eye-level" ears
which I personally do not consider a fault.
Make your choices for 1st, 2nd, 3rd now, then choose WD and RWD

First, Second, Third, Winners Dog, Reserve

I gave first Place to Dog F, second to Dog E, and third to Dog D.

Winners Dog went to Dog F, and Reserve to Dog C.
Copyright WorldClassDogs Internet Inc. 1996 - 1999