A not so common breed of dog is the french shorthaired pointer, They are dogs that are characterized by their uniform brown color on their heads and spots from the neck to the rest of the body. In this post you will learn about its origin, its characteristics, the types of French Pointers that exist, a little about its character, behavior and how to care for it.
french shorthaired pointer
El French Pointer with short and hard hair, he is of French origin and is known as such since this was his homeland. He belongs to the family of Pointers which is also part of the short-haired variety. This has been bred in the late 19th century but has been developed at the beginning of the 20th century, this is a recent breed. The breed was recognized by the French dog cartel and arrived in the USA approximately in the 20th years of the 20th century, but in 1953 the French club in America was founded.
Its appearance is due to the trivialization of the idea of hunting as a sports activity accessible to all, in the second half of the 19th century, in this sport dogs played an essential role not only by pointing but also by chasing and collecting game.
This race is a selective creation and improvement of certain physical characteristics, the appearance of the French Pointer it also occurs in this same context, perhaps a little later than the generality of hunting dogs, but serving the same objective since there are no certainties as to its ancestry.
The past of this dog is closely related to the foundation of the breed club in its country of origin, in 1902, this is due to the fact that this entity was the first to initially protect the varieties of French Pointers, that have been carefully selected to be bred. All these French Pointers they are robust and endowed with a coat resistant to water and cold. This short-haired breed has been one of the most famous dogs in that sporting world of 1928.
Origin
As for the origin of this breed, they were seen in France at the end of the 1700s with their owners hunting (this in the South of France), however it was related to European breeds such as the German Shorthaired Pointer, the Weimaraner and the English Pointer. In fact one theory makes them descendants of the Chien d' Oysel although the German Spaniel seems to be a more direct descendant.
In the same way, the idea was handled that they were crosses with breeds of dogs that came from Spain, Portugal or Italy and that in the South of France they stayed with their owners. The truth is that since their origins they have dedicated themselves to hunting and have been trained for it. In fact, it was a hunter named Selincourt who described them for the first time, noting their large size, large nose, long ears and brown and white fur.
Features
This dog has a large stature, its height usually varies between approximately 60 and 67 centimeters in males and between 56 and 62 centimeters in females. Its weight varies approximately between 25 and 34 kilograms in males and between 20 and 29 kilograms in females, compared to other Pointers Coming from different breeds, this breed is heavy and has a medium square appearance.
Their fur is thick and rough, and their coloration is usually dark, either black or brown in most of them, they have a brown head and part of the neck and the rest of the body is full of brown spots or patches that differentiate it. of other races. These are slender dogs that have a fine tail that can be short or long, their snout is short and their head is slightly rounded but a size according to their body, their ears are a bit high although they have a slight bend.
Types of French Pointer
There are currently two breeds of French Pointer, one is the French Pyrenean Shorthaired Pointer and the other is el French Pointer of Gascony. In addition to all this, this dog also performs other functions in addition to hunting, as a companion, exhibition and competition dog. This is a versatile, active and very intelligent dog, made to help man in hunting as it adapts to any scenario, be it land or water, and maintains its firm and attentive posture.
Behavior
Their main characteristics in terms of their behavior is that they are very bold, boisterous, collaborative and intelligent, affectionate, have an extraordinary sense of smell, a persistent and effective search, a great passion for working in water, an elegant style, great physical resistance, the courage to face larger and more aggressive animals without hesitation and have higher than normal canine intelligence.
It is characterized as an affectionate and loyal pet to its master. Her relationship with the children is healthy, but supervision is recommended. These dogs like to be integrated into a family during their growth and to be exposed to contact with people and other pets so that they are more sociable. They like to keep busy and learn, facilitating their training, and they only stay calm at home if they are given a dose of physical exercise.
Hair should be brushed twice a week where possible. In the same way clean his ears to avoid future infections. These dogs are ideal to keep them active and that is why they need to practice physical exercise on a daily basis or else they will become restless and obese. The ideal is that they live outside and with a fenced area because they run a lot and are attentive to any game that appears to them, it is also recommended that they practice an intense and fun activity twice a day.
It is a versatile hunting dog, without a doubt the most complete and efficient breed for hunting thanks to its physical qualities and innate aptitudes. Mainly excelling at finding and displaying prey gracefully. He runs both on land and in water without distinguishing between hair and feather. He is the best companion of the hunting man and the most characteristic in the art of falconry. He demonstrates his courage by facing such temperamental and determined animals as the wild boar for example.
It arose in the 19th century due to the need for a versatile dog that would serve for different hunting modalities, instead of having a different and common breed. Games with the master will be welcomed as they are very active, they also like to bark, which makes them a good guard dog.
He is an intelligent dog, he enjoys these games and easily learns many tricks, his favorites will always be those of tracking prey, so by asking him to look for something he has sniffed, this great talent will be discovered in them. In addition to its easy training, it is currently one of the most appreciated hunting breeds worldwide. In addition to the fact that at home he is the most faithful, patient and unbeatable companion of children.
Again, this breed is extremely active, it is not a dog for sedentary people, for this reason it quickly becomes the best friend of children since they resist their energy with all their games, and it is also a good companion for those who do sport, because he is always walking and running with his masters.
Due to its hunting past, this animal is accustomed to exercise, so it is not recommended for small spaces. Braco you need a large garden a place where you can keep yourself entertained. If you want to have it in an apartment, you will have to take it out daily for at least an hour to exercise.
They are very hyperactive so they must be educated from puppies if you do not want to have deteriorated furniture or a disastrous garden, you have to educate them so as not to suffer the consequence of their accelerated character. Also, being so tireless, they can walk at their own pace, leaving their master behind, so if they visit large areas, it is best to keep them controlled and tied up.
They are very faithful and protective animals, great companions for young and old, with a fairly controlled and balanced character, which makes them get along well with other breeds. It is a very alert breed, so from puppies they quickly learn everything that their master wants to teach them. In this way, they are great specimens when it comes to demonstrating tricks.
Their education, as indicated above, is something very important and not only in this breed of dog but in others and not only in hunting dog breeds but in those who will also be the company of their owners at home. Since they are puppies, it is recommended to give them training that does not only include tricks or games, they are dominant dogs that tend to be a little fierce at times, however they learn behavior patterns that their owners teach them.
They are very obedient if they are trained to do so from the beginning, this is because their intelligence and the attention they pay to things make their learning much easier. It is necessary for their owners to focus on some socialization exercises so that they can have a good relationship with other animals and with other people. These can be easily found on the internet because they are basic exercises. The important thing is to always maintain respect with them and never hurt them.
Of course, punishments can be applied, but when aggressiveness is present they will be aggressive too, in addition to feeling hurt and suspicious of their own owners. This can be very harmful to them and will make their training a little more complicated, as well as their daily care at home. Violent punishments are not recommended with any breed of dog and in general with any animal.
When they are puppies they grow quite quickly, they are very attentive and active from an early age. Intelligence is something that is perfected as they grow, so a puppy can easily start some tricks, it is recommended that they have the company of other dogs from a young age but get used to short moments alone, but these should not be exceeded because they can become depressed when they are very lonely as adults.
Care
Regarding the care of the French Pointer, it has already been said that they are quite active and like games and exercises, these should be done daily or at least three times a week with moderate intensity so that there are no injuries or unnecessary exhaustion. . It is recommended to train them and exercise in the company of other dogs so that they have companions with whom to drain their energy.
His fur, although it requires brushing, is not like that of other breeds, for example Shih Tzu, being short it is quite easy to handle. However, their diet must be taken care of, giving them foods that provide a healthy and balanced diet that allows them to have the energy required by their active behavior. In addition to that, like all animal species, they need to have fresh water available at all times so that they hydrate whenever they need it.
As for their health, they are not usually very sick, their activity allows them to maintain high defenses (if they have a good diet), so illnesses such as colds or minor things are not usually very frequent. However, they can suffer from other types of diseases that arise from their walks or exercises and poorly done movements. This can lead to them requiring surgery, however it can be avoided with supervision and frequent visits to the vet.
Diseases
They may suffer from some Eye diseases in dogs, on the skin, internal and can even have tumors that lead to death if they are not cared for correctly and a lot of attention is paid to their health.
El French Pointer has a life expectancy that can reach 15 years, however, it is necessary to be attentive to some diseases such as hip dysplasia, cataracts, skin cancer, ear infections, genetic vision diseases, and the so-called disease of Von Willebrand which is particularly dangerous because it causes internal bleeding. Other more common diseases that have been observed in dogs of this breed are the following:
- progressive retinal atrophy
- Cataract
- Aortic stenosis
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Some may suffer from cleft lip for a moment
- Patella luxation
- Acral mutilation syndrome
