If you’re looking for gun dogs or bird dog breeds that also make great family pets, then we’ve got five pointing breeds to introduce you to. If you weren’t aware, dog pointing is when the dog catches the scent, points their nose in the direction of the scent and lifts their front paw. Pointers can literally point their human hunting partner in the right direction. Pretty clever pups!
Characteristics of Pointing Breeds
Pointers are not for people looking for low-energy couch potatoes. Pointer hunting dogs need active pet parents who have the time to exercise them daily — a walk around the block won’t cut it for these dogs. They need to run out all of their energy, and then do it again the next day. They need mental stimulation to get their brains exercising, too.
There are 14 pointing breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, and we’ve selected five of them to highlight. Pointing breeds other than the ones described below include the German wirehaired pointer, the English setter and the wirehaired pointing Griffon. Pointer is the name of a pointing breed, too.
German Shorthaired Pointer
The German shorthaired pointer is an all-purpose bird dog that can point and retrieve birds at a very young age. They listen to instructions well and love to please their humans. They’re playful dogs that have an extended puppy stage and will remain playful and very active into their senior years.
Male German shorthaired pointers grow to up to 70 pounds and two feet tall. They are lean, muscular dogs with long legs and big webbed paws that make them fantastic swimmers. Their hair is short, which helps prevent burs and seeds from getting stuck and makes their coat easy to maintain. However, their long floppy ears need regular inspections and they can be susceptible to bloat and hip dysplasia.
German shorthaired pointers are highly energetic dogs that need regular exercise. These bird dogs excel at agility, dock diving and anything else that runs out all of their energy. They’re a smart dog breed with an even temperament and a need to be around their people. However, they need lots of training, and be warned, they can be destructive if bored.
Brittany
The Brittany dog breed, previously called the Brittany spaniel, was developed in the Brittany region of France. These photogenic bird dogs make dedicated hunting partners as well as loyal dogs who love their family. Brittanys are an outdoor-loving breed that are also at home on the couch — as long as all of their energy has been run out first.
They’re one of the smaller pointers at only 40 pounds and are typically tailless or stub tailed. Brittanys need access to a large yard that is fenced, as they have a very strong prey drive. But they also need to be exercised. This could be actual exercise like a run or long walk, or a dog sport like agility or flying disc.
Irish Setter
Another dog named after their original homeland, the Irish setter was bred to hunt birds and set (lie on their stomach) to announce their presence. The red color of the Irish setter makes them easy to spot across fields when used as bird dogs.
These playful pups make great companions as well as hunting partners. They can grow to up to 70 pounds but their deep chest can make them prone to bloat or gastric dilatation-volvulus (stomach twisting). Long distance running is great for Irish setters so they can burn off all of their energy. They also love (and need) to use their brains, so combining exercise and mental stimulation (e.g., agility or tracking) is the perfect combination.
While their names are similar, Irish setters, Irish red and white setters, English setters and Gordon setters are different colors and different breeds. A fun fact about Irish setters is that the 1945 novel Big Red by Jim Kjelgaard featured an Irish setter.
Vizsla
Vizsla, pronounced VEEZH-la or VEESH-la, are versatile hunting dogs renowned for their skills at pointing and retrieving. The breed is over 1,000 years old; Russian warriors who settled in Hungary to become herdsmen and hunters owned these copper-colored dogs. They were first named yellow pointers in the 1200s and then Hungarian pointers, before becoming vizslas in the 16th century.
They were originally bred to hunt a wide variety of animals including pheasants, ducks, rabbits, deer and even bears. Their eyes and nose are reddish-brown which blends into their coat color, providing easy camouflage among the brush while they’re hunting. Wirehaired vizslas are considered a separate breed from sleek-coated vizslas.
Vizslas are high-energy hunters and family pets that can also work as guide dogs, search and rescue dogs and drug detection dogs. They were used as messenger dogs in World War I and then almost became extinct. Like all pointing dogs, they need a lot of exercise and active owners.
Weimaraner
These sleek pointer dogs are nicknamed “Gray Ghosts” after their silvery-gray coat color, light-colored eyes and stealthy hunting abilities. Weimaraners were developed in Germany in the 19th century by the grand duke of Weimar by crossing bloodhounds with other hunting dogs.
Weimaraners are long-legged dogs that can weigh up to 90 pounds. Similar to the Irish setter, their deep chests put them at risk of bloat, so it’s best to limit their ability to scarf down food quickly.
Known to be velcro dogs for their obsession with being near their humans, if you’re looking for a companion who will be by your side constantly, Weimaraners are for you. They’re also great for active families with kids, as long as you have the time to exercise them daily. They need to exercise their brain and their body, so dog sports can be a good choice for Weimaraners.
One notable behavior that some, but not all, Weimaraners display is nooking. Weimaraner Planet explains that nooking is where the dog suckles on a blanket or soft toy without destroying it; they can also knead while they suck. It is thought to be a self-soothing or calming behavior.
Best Hunting Dog Breeds
There are many different hunting dog breeds. Which one is right for you just depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re interested in retriever breeds like the Labrador retriever or the Chesapeake Bay retriever, check out this article on retriever breeds to get to know.