Old Danish Pointing Dog

White with large brown patches and small brown specks or a mixture of both.

Smooth, short-haired, single coat.

Dark brown

A strong and solid dog is the Old Danish Pointer. It is a well-proportioned dog with large feet ideally suited to move quietly and effortlessly across marshy land. The male of this breed is considerably more muscular than the female.

An affectionate dog despite its hunting heritage, the well-adjusted Old Danish Pointer does not tend to be aggressive.

An active dog that likes to play and interact, and will do so all day long if given the opportunity.

This is a quiet and stable dog; one that is not easily upset or nervous.

This dog is highly intelligent, well-adjusted to its living with humans and generally sensible; it needs positive and regular interaction to remain thus.

This dog is more a helper than a hunter; its purpose during a hunt is to point to and retrieve the prey rather than kill it. As a result the Old Danish Pointer does not have a high prey drive.

The Old Danish Pointer tends to be wary of new people visiting its domain.

Old Danish Pointers were bred to work together with their master. They are not overly independent and rely heavily on positive feedback and praise from their owner.

This dog does not tolerate solitude. Separation anxiety is seen of Pointers that are left alone for long periods of time.

The dog is reasonably easy to train. However training must be done properly and consistently and at all times the trainer must make an effort to hold the attention of the Pointer.

This dog doesn't bark to excess and soon settles once a perceived ‘danger’ has passed.

A well-trained Pointer can be recalled; of untrained dogs and puppies there is observed a tendency to chase a scent or moving object.

The Old Danish Pointer can be destructive if left on its own for long periods of time.

To own an active dog does not preclude someone from administering a strict dog food diet. Old Danish Pointers need two meals a day of high-quality dog food.

This breed is an excellent watchdog; it will alert you to there being someone near the house and will bark. Its ‘big dog’ bark has a tendency to ward off undesirable callers.

It is a very good choice for a first adoption by someone who likes hunting and / or sports.

Even a well-fenced shared garden is an insufficient provision for this dog. Pointers need to be outside often, and can jump very high.

The Old Danish Pointer needs a lot of exercise; exercise must be vigorous and prolonged.

Once trained, an Old Danish Pointer is exceptionally obedient and comfortable with new experiences. It is a dog that thrives on adventure and travel.

The Old Danish Pointer is tolerant of other animals, especially those with who he has been brought up. Take care when introducing him to new animals.

The male of the breed is usually more dominant. But, generally speaking, the Pointer is amicable and responds well.

On the whole this breed is good with children, in that the dog does not harm children deliberately or bare malice towards them. However, Pointers are boisterous and energetic, and may accidentally knock over even a large child over (incidentally, do not berate the dog for doing this).

Because it is a dog that requires such a lot of exercise the Old Danish Pointer is not the right dog for people of senior years.

Pointers moult only a moderate amount and may not excite a human allergic reaction.

11 to 13 years

This is an active and courageous dog that likes nothing better than a day of outdoor exploration.

The short coat of the Old Danish Pointer allows it to be more tolerant of hot temperatures than most.

The Old Danish Pointer is robust enough to withstand walks in the snow and rain, but care should be taken after cold walks to dry the dog’s coat.

Weight gain is not usually a feature of a well-exercised Pointer. But if your Pointer is not exercised as regularly as it should be and is fed too much human or substandard food it will quickly become obese.

• Cataracts
• Entropion
• Gastric Dilatation Volvulus
• Hip dysplasia
• Hypothyroidism
• Progressive retinal atrophy
• Wobbler Syndrome

The Old Danish Pointer is thought to have come about as a breed following the merger of several other farm dogs over the course of eight generations of breeding. The recognisable breed is said to have arrived in 1710 in northern Jutland (modern-day Denmark).