The Portuguese Pointer
General Appearance
Of medium size, almost square, well boned and muscled without coarseness or exaggeration. Stylish hunter.
Characteristics
Hunt point retrieve breed. Always a keen hunter and works with persistence and enthusiasm, staying in close contact with handler. Hardy and capable of great endurance.
Temperament
Kind, affectionate, calm and very sociable.
Head and Skull
In proportion to the body. Skull to muzzle ratio 3:2. Skull broad, almost flat, slightly arched in profile, neither bony nor fleshy. Planes of skull and muzzle convergent. Occiput not pronounced. Cheeks well filled. Stop very well defined. Muzzle square. Flews slightly pendulous but not excessive and gently rounded when viewed in profile. Corner of lips clearly visible. Nose black and well developed with large open nostrils. Skin elastic but not wrinkled.
Eyes
Oval tending to round and quite full, set level and forward facing. Eyes brown, of a darker colour than the coat. Alert and expressive. Eye rims black.
Ears
Set high, above the level of the eyes, lying flat to the skull and well back. May show folds when attentive. Triangular, wider at the base and with rounded tip. When pulled forward just covers the eye. Leathers thin, smooth and covered with dense, short hair.
Mouth
Jaws strong with a perfect regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and Set Square to the jaws.
Neck
Medium length. Slightly arched and flowing smoothly into withers. Slight dewlap evident.
Forequarters
Shoulders well laid and muscular. Good length and return of upper arm, placing elbows close to the body. Forearm long and straight, pastern slightly sloping.
Body
Withers only slightly marked. Topline sloping gently to croup. Short, broad back with short, well-muscled loin. Ribs well sprung in upper section, tapering gently to the sternum. Chest reaching to the elbow. Underline rising slightly without noticeable tuck up.
Hindquarters
Broad and muscular. Gently sloping croup. Well-developed first and second thigh. Stifles well bent, hocks well let down and parallel when viewed from behind.
Feet
Strong, slightly oval, well padded. Turning neither in nor out. Well arched toes. Black pads. Nails preferably black. Hind feet slightly longer than front feet.
Tail
Undocked: Set on in line with croup. Thick at root, tapering gradually, not reaching below the hock. At rest hangs naturally. Active in motion, carried at or just above line of back, with no upward curl.
Docked: As above, to cover scrotum in dogs and vulva in bitches.
Gait/Movement
Easy, elegant, with rhythmic trotting action.
Coat
Single coat. Short, close, harsh and dense, covering the body evenly. Finer and shorter on the head, particularly on the ears giving a velvety effect.
Colour
Yellow of light, medium and dark shades. Solid or with white patches on the head, neck, chest, legs below the elbows and hocks, and tip of undocked tail.
Size
Height at withers: dogs: 54 – 58 cm (21¼ – 22¾ ins); bitches: 50 – 54 cm (19¾ – 21¼ ins). Weight: dogs 20-27 kgs (44 – 59½ lbs); female’s 16-22 kgs (35½ – 48½ lbs).
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
The Head
In proportion to the body. Skull to muzzle ratio 3:2. Skull broad, almost flat, slightly arched in profile, neither bony nor fleshy. Planes of skull and muzzle convergent. Occiput not pronounced. Cheeks well filled. Stop very well defined. Muzzle square. Flews slightly pendulous but not excessive and gently rounded when viewed in profile. Corner of lips clearly visible. Nose black and well developed with large open nostrils. Skin elastic but not wrinkled.
Breeding
Before breeding any Portuguese Pointer it is recomended that the following tests are carried out
Hip Scoring.
The score is between 0 – 53 for each hip, the median score is currently 12
Clear Eye Certificate.
The Portuguese Pointer is not currently listed for any eye condition on the Known Inherited Ocular Disease list (formally Schedule A)
Picking a Puppy
Usually at 6 weeks, we look for a pup displaying balance and soundness, square in its outline and head, with a good body. We do not stack puppies too much preferring to see them standing naturally and watching them move around. They should be happy and outgoing, the one that catches your eye and fulfils all the requirements.
Portuguese Pointers are a medium sized dog, they love to hunt with a passion they are very intelligent but have a stubborn streak they quickly grow from the little bundle of joy you brought home to an active member of the family. They can be sensitive so need socialising well.
The Portuguese Pointer is very trainable, provided you put the work in as soon as your puppy arrives and it’s ongoing, don’t be fooled by the apparent helplessness of the eight-week-old puppy, without proper boundaries they will be ruling the roost in double quick time.
Portuguese Pointers are active dogs and need a good amount of exercise, they are best suited to active households who love the outdoors, they are very much a people’s dog and want to be with you constantly, they are not a dog who likes to be left for long periods of time, they are very loyal
The Perdigueiro Portuguese
When we think about this breed we should never forget its heritage as a great pointing dog, the characteristics that embody this are what makes this breed so unique and as such should be nurtured and above all respected.
The PP has a tremendous need to please its owner, this translates to any scenario whether it be on the field, at home or in the show ring, they are an extremely intelligent breed and if this is harnessed in the right way you will have a truly amazing dog. With this in mind an 8 week old pup can be quite different from any other breed you may have known, incredibly switched on, many will show an instinctual aptitude to work from as early as 5-6 weeks, this can and should be nurtured right away, allowing the pup to channel and utilise its natural instincts.
Of course, if you are not interested in working the PP there is no doubt that you can still have a great life companion.
This breed quickly adapts to all situations, especially the love and comforts of a family home but never forget that they are a HPR breed and a highly primitive one at that so stimulation and good training are absolutely essential, a highly intelligent dog with a great ability to problem solve does not make a good house guest if it lacks the necessary training but reared and nurtured in the correct way there is no doubt that you will have the most wonderful companion, for this breeds capacity to love is a great one
Tiago Fortuna
Fab Point Perdigueiro Portuguese