Judging the Pointer

Judging the Pointer

The Pointer is one of the first breeds exhibited in the United States. It is also a breed that has been depicted through the centuries by artists. Many of the dogs immortalized by masters such as George Earl, his daughter Maud Earl, Thomas Blinks, Leon Danchin, Richard Fath, and Marguerite Kirmse, just to name a few, are not very different from the modern-day Pointer.

When you enter the ring, you will see a class of Pointers in different colors and coat patterns. This is the icing on the cake, for it is what lies underneath that makes a good Pointer. Thus, color and markings should have no bearing on your decision.

In the General Appearance section of the Pointer Standard, phrases such as “bred primarily for sport afield,” “impression of compact power and agile grace,” and “hard-driving hunting dog” are used. In evaluating the Pointer, one must keep in mind the breed’s purpose. These dogs should have outgoing temperaments and be in excellent muscular condition so they can perform the duties for which they are bred.

For many years, the Pointer has been described as a head breed. There is no doubt that the correct Pointer head is the hallmark of the breed and distinguishes it from other breeds. However, putting all emphasis on the head and neglecting the traits that make the dog capable of hunting all day is a disservice to the breed. That being said, the Pointer’s head is very well-chiseled. The planes of the skull and muzzle can be either parallel or slightly dished. The standard calls for the muzzle to give the impression of length. Wide, open nostrils enable scenting ability. The eyes are ample, rounded, and intense; an oval eye is incorrect and detracts from expression. Eye color should be dark, in contrast with the coat color. The ear leather is fine, so thin that veins are evident, and is short, reaching just below the lower jaw when relaxed. The ears are pointed at the tip, not rounded like those of a scent hound.

The outline of the Pointer consists of a series of gentle curves from the neck blending into smooth, laid-back shoulders. The correct topline has subtle curves from the head to the tail, with a slight rise over the loin and a gently sloping croup. The underline is also integral to the outline, with a gentle, non-exaggerated tuck-up—neither straight nor overly curved, which would suggest hound characteristics. The Pointer’s silhouette should show a well-balanced dog devoid of exaggerations, such as an extreme sloping topline or very high tail carriage. The Pointer should not appear low in leg, as these traits are not correct for the breed.

The Pointer’s chest is deep rather than wide, and the breastbone is bold but not overly prominent. Bone is oval in shape, neither too refined nor too heavy, as both extremes would hinder the breed’s agility and endurance. The feet are oval with well-arched toes and deep pads, necessary for speed and agility.

Our standard calls for muscular and powerful hindquarters. Well-defined musculature should be apparent when examining a Pointer, as strong hindquarters propel the breed in the field. Decided angulation is required in the Breed Standard. Purists will say the head and tail are the two most important physical characteristics of the Pointer. The tail is thicker at the base, tapering to a fine point. Never docked, it should not reach below the hock in length, carried straight without curl, and lash from side to side when moving. The tail may be held straight off the back or as high as 20 degrees above it. The Pointer’s tail should never be carried between its legs.

People often refer to the ideal Pointer tail as a “bee-sting” tail. It is extremely short, tapered, carried perfectly straight, and lashes from side to side in motion. One would never need to measure this tail, as it falls well short of the hock.

In 1906, William Arkwright wrote in The Pointer and His Predecessors, “…while the head is the hallmark of the breed, for the certificate of blue blood, apply at the other end.” At the turn of the last century in England, Pointers were crossed with Foxhounds and Greyhounds, though Mr. Arkwright was opposed to these crosses. He felt that the tail could indicate hound crosses, a concern still relevant today. Certain hound characteristics can still be seen in some Pointers: lack of stop, round bone, cat feet, exaggerated tuck-up, lack of tuck-up and skirting, long ropy tails without taper, sickle tails, long ears with rounded tips, flat croups, and steep croups. Any hound characteristic is incorrect in the Pointer and should be penalized.

A good Pointer’s gait is as integral to breed type as its head and tail. The gait should be strong and powerful, with the head held proudly and tail lashing from side to side. In the U.S., there is significant emphasis on movement, with judges looking for tremendous reach and drive. However, the dog should not lose its outline when moving. The Pointer should not become longer and lower or let its head face the ground. Faults like hackney gait and pounding movement should be penalized.

Pointers may be black, lemon (with a flesh-colored nose), orange (with black pigment), or liver, either solid or combined with white. The lemon Pointer has a hazel eye, which is genetically impossible to darken, often causing confusion among judges who may mistakenly see the lighter eye as a fault.

The standard does not explicitly address proportions, as in some other breed standards, but it does mention “compact power” and “loins of moderate length.” Most Pointer breeders agree that the breed is just off-square, meaning the height from withers to ground is equal to or slightly less than the length from forechest to rear of the upper thigh.

If you keep these points in mind, you will be comfortable judging the Pointer and able to reward the dog that best exemplifies our standard—a Pointer capable of doing a day’s work in the field and going into the show ring the next day.

For more resources, including the American Pointer Club’s Illustrated Standard, PowerPoint presentations, and informative articles, visit our website at www.americanpointerclub.org.