Official ICCF breed description
Brief historical background
The Pointer is one of the oldest English pointing breeds, with origins dating back to the 17th century. It is believed that the breed was developed from Spanish Pointers, English Foxhounds, Bull Terriers and other working dogs, united by the goal of creating a light, fast and highly sensitive pointing dog. The Pointer quickly became a key assistant for hunters thanks to its ability to detect game scent instantly, hold a steady point and maintain endurance for many hours. In the 19th century, the breed spread widely across England and the United States, where its modern structure and working style were established. Today, the Pointer is considered the benchmark of a field pointing breed, combining speed, stamina and natural hunting intuition.
General appearance
The Pointer is an elegant, dry and athletic dog with harmonious lines and a pronounced working type. The body is slightly elongated, the musculature well defined but not coarse. The topline is straight and firm, the chest deep, the belly tucked up. The head is elongated and noble, with an expressive, attentive look. The limbs are long and strong, giving an impression of both lightness and strength. The tail is straight, carried level with the topline, emphasizing speed. The overall appearance must be energetic, focused and agile, reflecting the dog’s ability to work in the field for long periods and at high speeds. The outline combines grace, velocity and functional power.
Important proportions
The proportions of the Pointer emphasize its purpose as a high-speed pointing dog. The body length slightly exceeds the height at the withers, creating a lightly elongated outline. The chest is deep, reaching the elbows and providing large lung capacity. The limbs are long, increasing stride length and enhancing speed. The head is proportional to the body: skull and muzzle are nearly equal in length, forming a balanced profile. The neck is long and elegant, smoothly merging into the topline. The tail is straight and tapers towards the end. All proportions aim at endurance, maneuverability and the ability to work at a fast pace for extended periods.
Behaviour and temperament
The Pointer is energetic, well balanced and highly motivated for work. It has a strong hunting instinct, capable of orienting quickly in the field, reacting instantly to the scent of game and maintaining concentration for a long time. While independent in search, the Pointer cooperates well with its handler, showing obedience and willingness to work together. At home, the temperament is calm, but in the field the dog becomes active and driven. It is friendly, social and not prone to aggression. Excessive shyness, nervousness, lack of pointing ability, weak motivation or overstimulation are considered serious faults.
Head
The head of the Pointer is dry, elongated and noble in outline, harmonizing with the elegant body. The skull is moderately wide, slightly rounded, with a noticeable but not abrupt median groove. The stop is moderately defined and smooth. The muzzle is long, straight and deep but not coarse, gradually narrowing towards the nose while maintaining correct proportions. The lips are dry and close-fitting. Cheeks are moderate. The jaws are strong, with a scissor bite. The head must express attentiveness, concentration and working temperament, avoiding coarseness or excessive refinement.
Facial region
The facial region of the Pointer highlights dryness and nobility. The nose is large, well pigmented, with wide nostrils providing airflow during intense work. The nasal bridge is straight. The lips are thin, neat and tight. The jaws are strong and even, ensuring a reliable grip. The muzzle is long and deep at the base, proportional to the head. The transition from forehead to muzzle is smooth. The skin is tight, without wrinkles. The expression is intelligent, focused and work-oriented. A shortened muzzle, weak jaws, looseness or asymmetry are not acceptable.
Eyes
The eyes are oval, medium-sized and set moderately deep, expressing attentiveness, softness and working focus. The color varies from dark brown to amber, harmonizing with the coat. The eyelids are dry, tight and well pigmented. The eyes must be clear, clean and show confidence and stable temperament. Too light, round or protruding eyes, signs of strabismus or unstable, nervous expression are considered faults.
Ears
The ears of the Pointer are of medium length, hanging, thin and soft, set fairly high. In a relaxed state, they fall close to the cheeks, forming an elegant outline. The tips are rounded. They must not be too long, heavy or coarse. The coat on the ears is short and dense. The ears should emphasize attentiveness and the breed’s working type. Low set, folds, excessive cartilage thickness or improper attachment are faults.
Neck
The neck is long, dry, elegant and strong, widening smoothly towards the shoulders. It is well muscled but not coarse, with a slight arch along the upper line enhancing the noble profile. The skin is tight, without dewlap or wrinkles. The correct shape and length of the neck ensure freedom of movement, body balance and characteristic head carriage during search. A short, heavy or loose neck disrupts breed harmony and reduces field efficiency.
Body
The body of the Pointer is dry, elegant yet strong, combining power and lightness. The topline is straight, firm and without sagging. The withers are moderately pronounced, blending into a straight, strong back of medium length. The loin is short, slightly convex, muscular and transmitting drive effectively. The chest is deep, reaching the elbows, with moderately arched and long ribs extending well back. The abdomen is tucked up, accentuating the dry format. The croup is slightly sloping and sufficiently broad, ensuring freedom of movement of the hind limbs. The body must convey speed, power and endurance.
Tail
The tail is of medium length, straight, strong at the base and tapering towards the end. It is set level with the topline and carried almost horizontally in work, emphasizing speed. At rest it may hang down but must not curl or rise too high. The coat is short and dense. The tail must be straight, without kinks or deformities. Incorrect set, excessive length or shortness, or upward carriage are faults. A correct tail stabilizes the dog during high-speed movement.
Forequarters
The forequarters are long, straight and dry, with strong bone, emphasizing the breed’s athleticism. The shoulder blades are long, sloping and well-fitted, forming a correct angle with the upper arm and providing wide stride. The upper arms are long and muscular but not coarse. The elbows face strictly backwards, not turned in or out. The forearms are straight, long and parallel. The wrists are strong. The pasterns are slightly sloping and elastic. The feet are oval, compact, with tight pads and well-arched toes. The limbs must provide lightness, reach and efficient field movement.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are strong, dry and well muscled, providing powerful drive and endurance for long field work. The thighs are long and broad with defined but not coarse musculature. The lower thighs are elongated and dry, forming correct angulations. The stifles are strong and face forward. The hocks are low-set, firm and flexible, neither straight nor overly angled. The rear pasterns are vertical, without looseness. The feet are oval, compact and well padded. The structure must allow fast, economical movement and stability.
Gait and movement
The gait of the Pointer is free, wide and springy, with excellent coordination. At the trot the dog moves straight, with long reaching forelimb action and strong rear drive. The topline remains stable, without sway or dip. Movements must be light and economical, demonstrating endurance and the ability to work at a fast pace for long periods. In gallop, the Pointer shows long, extended strides while maintaining balance and control. Stiffness, short stride, toeing in or out, weak joints or signs of lameness are faults.
Coat
The coat is short, dense and smooth, lying close to the body. The guard hair is fine but firm enough to form a smooth, glossy layer that accentuates the dog’s dry build. Undercoat is minimal to moderate depending on climate. The coat must not be long, wavy, curly or overly soft. Bald spots, poor density or coarse texture are not acceptable. A correct coat provides easy maintenance and comfort during work in various conditions.
Permitted colours
Permitted colours include a variety of natural combinations. Primary colours are white with patches or ticking of lemon, black, liver or orange. Solid colours are also acceptable: black, liver, lemon or orange, as well as tricolour. Patches may be large or small, freely distributed. Ticked patterns are typical. Pure white without pigmentation is undesirable. Merle, diluted, brindle or any non-typical colours are not permitted. Colour must harmonize with the dog’s outline and reflect field-type tradition.
Size
The Pointer is a medium to large breed, maintaining harmony and lightness of movement. Height at the withers is typically 63–69 cm for males and 61–66 cm for females. Weight ranges from 20 to 30 kg depending on bone structure and musculature. The dog must appear dry, elegant yet strong and enduring. The body length slightly exceeds height, providing an elongated profile needed for long-distance field search. Extreme deviations that reduce functionality or alter type are undesirable.
Faults
Faults include characteristics that reduce harmony, functionality or breed type. These include weak bone, looseness, short limbs, excessive heaviness or lightness. An overly narrow or broad chest, soft topline, short or coarse neck are faults. Head faults include excessive stop, short muzzle, weak jaws, light or round eyes. Movement faults include stiffness, wobbling, toeing in or out. Coat faults include softness, waviness, excessive length or sparseness. Temperament faults include shyness, nervousness, weak motivation, lack of pointing instinct or unstable behaviour.
Disqualification
Disqualifying faults include severe deviations that distort type or impair working ability. Aggression toward humans, panic fear, pronounced nervousness or uncontrollability exclude the dog from breeding. Incorrect bite, absence of several major teeth, serious skeletal deformities or impaired movement are disqualifying. Depigmented nose or eyelids, heterochromia, pure white or non-typical colours, blue or diluted shades are not allowed. Severe coat defects, alopecia, congenital anomalies, coordination disorders or signs of genetic disease fully exclude participation in shows or breeding.
Conclusion
The Pointer is a classical, high-performance pointing breed, combining speed, endurance, excellent scenting ability and a stable temperament. In the ICCF system, only dogs with official ICCF documents confirming origin and standard conformity may participate in shows and breeding. The primary goals of breeding include maintaining working temperament, harmonious proportions, strong body, correct head lines and proper coat quality. A Pointer must demonstrate confidence, energy and the ability to perform long field searches. The breed remains a reliable hunting partner and a benchmark pointing dog in accordance with ICCF traditions.
