COUNTRY: Portugal
WEIGHT: 35-60 pounds
HEIGHT: 201/2-22 inches
COAT: Short and smooth; longhaired (old type)
COLOR: Yellow or chestnut, solid color or with some white in the Irish pattern (not pied)
OTHER NAMES: Portuguese Pointer
GROUP: Gun Dog
Perdigueiro means partridge in Portuguese, and this breed is the native partridge dog. The dog, known by Portuguese hunters as "the National," enjoys a proud history which remains today. The pointer of Portugal stems directly from ancient hawking dogs of the fifth and sixth centuries. Where the hawking dogs came from is unknown, as Portugal was on the ancient sea trade routes from all directions.
Afonso III, living in the 13th century, painted dogs of the type known today. Hawking dogs, then called Podengo de Mastra (pointing hound) were described in a Portuguese book of hunting by Joao I in the late 1300s. During the same era, Gaston Phoebus described the big, beautiful body, the grand head and the white and cinnamon color of the Portuguese falconer's dog.
Well established for so long and with the extensive travel and trade of the Portuguese, this breed may have contributed much to the development of European hunting dogs. The Portuguese Pointer was introduced to England by a Portuguese businessman in the early 1700s. H. Symonds describes the Iberian connection in A Treatise on Field Diversions in 1776 and says the "pointer" was first seen in England "about 40 years ago." Although refined for English tastes, the origin of the "dish" face on the Pointer of England is certainly explained by this history. The Portuguese Pointer is a big, classical, athletic dog still commonly used by hunters throughout his native country. The head has the short muzzle and a slight convexity which is unique to him and his English cousin.
Hunting instincts of the Portuguese are strong and natural- Owners say these dogs begin sight pointing and retrieving sticks and other objects by two or three months of age, without any training. As soon as they are taken to the fields for instructions, they naturally begin an intense searching pattern. They can withstand extremes of climate and do well in any terrain. This dog is exceptionally sweet and affectionate to his master. In fact, the official standard says he can "go to extremes of affection, occasionally embarrassing, which can be easily corrected by ... training." One current owner describes a female that would sit for hours in front of him, staring in adoration. His wife would jokingly say that the dog was the reincarnation of an old lover—the only way to describe the sweet, tender expression in the dog's eyes.
Obedience and sociability in large doses are built into this breed as well. Despite his abundance of attributes and his prestige at home, he has not gained a following outside Portugal.
WEIGHT: 35-60 pounds
HEIGHT: 201/2-22 inches
COAT: Short and smooth; longhaired (old type)
COLOR: Yellow or chestnut, solid color or with some white in the Irish pattern (not pied)
OTHER NAMES: Portuguese Pointer
GROUP: Gun Dog
Perdigueiro means partridge in Portuguese, and this breed is the native partridge dog. The dog, known by Portuguese hunters as "the National," enjoys a proud history which remains today. The pointer of Portugal stems directly from ancient hawking dogs of the fifth and sixth centuries. Where the hawking dogs came from is unknown, as Portugal was on the ancient sea trade routes from all directions.
Afonso III, living in the 13th century, painted dogs of the type known today. Hawking dogs, then called Podengo de Mastra (pointing hound) were described in a Portuguese book of hunting by Joao I in the late 1300s. During the same era, Gaston Phoebus described the big, beautiful body, the grand head and the white and cinnamon color of the Portuguese falconer's dog.
Well established for so long and with the extensive travel and trade of the Portuguese, this breed may have contributed much to the development of European hunting dogs. The Portuguese Pointer was introduced to England by a Portuguese businessman in the early 1700s. H. Symonds describes the Iberian connection in A Treatise on Field Diversions in 1776 and says the "pointer" was first seen in England "about 40 years ago." Although refined for English tastes, the origin of the "dish" face on the Pointer of England is certainly explained by this history. The Portuguese Pointer is a big, classical, athletic dog still commonly used by hunters throughout his native country. The head has the short muzzle and a slight convexity which is unique to him and his English cousin.
Hunting instincts of the Portuguese are strong and natural- Owners say these dogs begin sight pointing and retrieving sticks and other objects by two or three months of age, without any training. As soon as they are taken to the fields for instructions, they naturally begin an intense searching pattern. They can withstand extremes of climate and do well in any terrain. This dog is exceptionally sweet and affectionate to his master. In fact, the official standard says he can "go to extremes of affection, occasionally embarrassing, which can be easily corrected by ... training." One current owner describes a female that would sit for hours in front of him, staring in adoration. His wife would jokingly say that the dog was the reincarnation of an old lover—the only way to describe the sweet, tender expression in the dog's eyes.
Obedience and sociability in large doses are built into this breed as well. Despite his abundance of attributes and his prestige at home, he has not gained a following outside Portugal.