This month’s slideshow features the
dog breeds eligible for AKC pointing-breed
field trials.
Pointing dogs are unique individuals who
by nature are both independent thinkers and
team players. They hunt with courage and
high spirits, searching for upland gamebirds in
all types of cover and in all kinds of weather.
They often range well out from their handlers
in their quest yet keep in tune with their person and
respond to commands.
A pointing dog must have a good nose
to find scent, and the intelligence to use
the wind. He or she must also have the fortitude to
search the terrain and cover that gamebirds
prefer. Once game is located, they point
with great intensity, focused on the bird
with muscles taut. It is an awe-inspiring
sight!
The well-trained bird dog stands
steady, waiting for the handler to arrive.
When the handler flushes the bird and
fires a gun, the dog holds on point until the
handler signals that it is time for the team to
resume the hunt.
There are many pointing breeds, with
varied hunting styles, which means that
for every type of upland-bird hunter there
is a suitable breed.
Breeds pictured:
Cover shot: German Wirehaired Pointer, 2009 (AKC Gazette collection)
2. Spinone Italiano (David Woo © AKC)
3. German Shorthaired Pointer – Dual Ch. Ehrlicher’s Abe, c. 1980
(C. Bede Maxwell/AKC Gazette collection)
4. Wirehaired Vizsla (David Woo © AKC)
5. Weimaraner pups (Harry Giglio for AKC)
6. Brittany – DC Tigar’s Jocko, 1967 (C. Bede Maxwell/AKC Gazette collection)
7. Irish Setter pups, Rendition Kennels (AKC Gazette collection)
8. Pointer (Courtesy Helyne Medeiros, Seasyde Pointers, Cape Cod, Mass.)
9. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (Ron Armstrong, Wikimedia Commons)
10. English Setter – Ch. Country Squire North Star, JH, 1999
(Kathy Buesseler/AKC Gazette collection)
11. Bracco Italiano (Courtesy Lynda Beam)
12. Gordon Setters (Courtesy Jean Collins-Pitman)
13. Irish Red and White Setter (David Woo © AKC)
14. Vizsla (Robert Young, AKC)
Links:
AKC Gazette https://www.akc.org/products-services/magazines/akc-gazette
AKC Digital Library https://library.akc.org/
American Kennel Club http://www.akc.org
About the AKC Gazette:
Published since 1889, the AKC Gazette is the American Kennel Club’s official journal of news and information about dog breeds, raising and training dogs, and dog events. Enjoy the latest issue and browse 14 years of back issues free of charge at https://www.akc.org/products-services/magazines/akc-gazette. Search the entire archive of issues going back to 1889 via the AKC Digital Library: https://library.akc.org.
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