Old Danish Pointing Dog
Other names: Old Danish Bird Dog, Gammel Dansk Hønsehund
The Old Danish Pointer is a solidly built dog belonging to the agile and intelligent Pointer group of dog breeds. The dog is still used in some parts of the world as a hunter because of its excellent sense of smell and ability to move almost silently across the ground. The usual prey of the Old Danish Pointer is avian.
Key facts about the Old Danish Pointing Dog
Origins and history
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).
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 7 - Pointing Dogs
Section
Section 1 : Continental Pointing Dogs
Physical characteristics of the Old Danish Pointing Dog
Adult size
Female : Between 20 and 22 in
Male : Between 21 and 24 in
Weight
Female : Between 57 and 68 lb
Male : Between 66 and 77 lb
Coat colour
White with large brown patches and small brown specks or a mixture of both.
Type of coat
Smooth, short-haired, single coat.
Eye colour
Dark brown
Description
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.
Good to know
The Pointer is traditionally employed to locate game. Its three main skills of hunting are:
1. To point (the location of prey)
2. To honour (its instructions)
3. To retrieve (dead or wounded game)