Buyer question
Is a Pointer good for beginners?
Usually not: our Animal Library rates the Pointer 2 out of 5 for beginners (needs an active owner).
Source: the Pointer page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Pointer in the Animal Library
The detail
The English Pointer was bred to range far and fast across open fields and freeze on point at the scent of game birds. Sleek, athletic and even-tempered at home, it has the stamina of a distance runner and needs room to run every day.
- Temperament
- Driven, even, friendly
- Best fit
- Hunters, runners, big yards
- Trainability
- 3 out of 5 (Bright, easily distracted)
- Energy
- 5 out of 5 (2 hrs hard exercise daily)
- Grooming load
- 1 out of 5 (Quick weekly wipe)
What to weigh
Pointers are built to run for hours and get restless and destructive without it. Recall is unreliable once they catch scent, and the thin coat means they feel the cold.