Pointing dogs, sometimes called bird dogs, are a type of gundog typically used in finding game.[1][2] Gundogs are traditionally divided into three classes: retrievers, flushing dogs, and pointing breeds.[3] The name pointer comes from the dog's instinct to point, by stopping and aiming its muzzle towards game. This demonstrates to the hunter the location of their quarry and allows them to move into gun range. Pointers were selectively bred from dogs who had abundant pointing and backing instinct. They typically start to acquire their hunting instincts at about 2 months of age.[4][5]
- ^ "Continental pointing dog breeds investigated". 30 March 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "How to Pick a Pointing Breed - Gun Dog Magazine". 26 May 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ Parra, D.; Méndez, S.; Cañón, J.; Dunner, S. (2008). "Genetic differentiation in pointing dog breeds inferred from microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA sequence" (PDF). Animal Genetics. 39 (1): 1–7. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2052.2007.01658.x. PMID 18254732. S2CID 16719543. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-20.
- ^ Mazover A. P. (1985). Hunting dogs. Agropromizdat. p. 239.
- ^ "Gun Dog - The Evolution and Definition of Modern Dog Breeds". Project Upland. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2021-12-25.