Other names:
Burgos Pointer, Perdiguero Burgales, Burgos Pointing Dog
The Burgos Pointer breed stems from Central Spain, dating back more than 500 years. It’s very rare to see one of these dogs outside of their native homeland, where they are used as hunting dogs for different species of game. Although bred mainly as hunting dogs, they are equally happy relaxing in a home environment.
Key facts about the Burgos Pointing Dog
Life expectancy :
Between 13 and 15 years
Temperament :
Intelligent, Hunter
Size :
Large
Type of coat :
Short
Price :
Between £500 and £700
FCI Group
FCI Group
Group 7 - Pointing Dogs
Section
Section 1 : Continental Pointing Dogs
Physical characteristics of the Burgos Pointing Dog
Adult size
Female dog
Between 23 and 25 in
Male dog
Between 24 and 26 in
Weight
Female dog
Between 55 and 66 lb
Male dog
Between 55 and 66 lb
Coat colour
Liver and white, or grizzle. Some dogs have a white patch of hair on their face. Black is not acceptable for this breed standard.
Type of coat
The smooth, short coat of the Burgos Pointer is quite thick and bushy.
Eye colour
Dark hazel or brown.
Description
One of the most notable things about this dog are his long ears that fold down, giving him the appearance of having a double chin. He is a well-built dog, very elegant with long legs. As a hunting dog, he has a muscular and athletic body with quite a large head.
Temperament
Affectionate
The Burgos Pointer has an excellent temperament and will show lots of affection towards his master.
Playful
As a patient dog who aims to please his owner and family, he gets on well with children and loves to be involved in playtimes.
Calm
A pleasure to be around, this calm pointer dog is very caring and patient around children, and loves being part of the family.
Intelligent
As a hunting and pointing dog, his intelligence is of course obvious when he is carrying out these roles. When in the hunting field, he will point to alert his master to the presence of any prey, rather than barking.
Hunter
Traditionally bred to hunt deer, but in more recent years these dogs are used to hunt foxes, rabbits and birds.
Fearful / wary of strangers
Although at first this pointer can be reserved when any strangers are present, he soon shows them how friendly he can be. He shows no signs of aggression at all.
Independent
A very independent dog breed, who must be shown that his master is the leader, when out walking and working.
Behaviour of the Burgos Pointing Dog
Tolerates solitude
As a dog who adores his master, he doesn’t take too kindly to being left alone for long periods of time.
Easy to train / obedience
As a very willing and eager dog, the Spanish Pointer can be trained to hunt with very little instruction. He will also point, track, flush and retrieve any prey or game.
Barking
The Spanish Pointer alerts his owner to the quarry, by pointing, rather than barking.
Tendency to run away
Because he is from hunting stock, this dog loves nothing more than to follow a scent and chase off after the birds or rabbits. Care must be taken when out walking, especially in a public space, if you allow him to run off the lead.
Destructive
As this dog has such high energy levels, he needs to be exercised sufficiently and kept active, or he might well display destructive behaviours in the home.
Greedy / Gluttony
Not a greedy dog, providing he is fed a nutritious and healthy diet to suit his stamina and energetic lifestyle.
Guard dog
It usually takes a lot to startle a Spanish Pointer, and as he’s not an aggressive breed, he won’t make a good watchdog.
First dog
If their new owner is a fair, but firm dog handler, the Burgos Pointer will do very well as a first dog. However, his main preference in life is to hunt, so he won’t make a very good companion to lie on the sofa alongside his master.
Lifestyle
Burgos Pointing Dog in a flat
He much prefers a rural lifestyle with plenty of outside space, where he can run around freely and hunt his prey. Not best suited to living in a smaller flat or in the city, as he needs lots of space to be allowed to scent and roam.
Need for exercise / Sporty
The Burgos Pointer is a dog with very high endurance levels, capable of running, walking, hunting and swimming for lengthy periods.
Travelling / easy to transport
As a large dog breed, this pointing dog will travel in the rear of a car, or perhaps in a crate. It’s not recommended to take him onto public transport.
Compatibility
Burgos Pointing Dog and cats
This hunting dog, with a high prey drive, is sure to try to hunt and chase after cats and other small animals.
Burgos Pointing Dog and dogs
The Spanish Pointer is happy to share his home environment with another canine and they will get along just fine. Early socialisation with other canines certainly aids the situation.
Burgos Pointing Dog and children
Although he is bred as a working dog, he is also a good choice for a family pet and will tolerate living with children in the home very well.
Burgos Pointing Dog and the elderly
Providing this Spanish Pointer receives plenty of exercise, he will be content as an indoor dog. However, as he has lots of stamina and is very eager to hunt and chase, he is probably not the best choice of pet for an elderly person.
Price
Your initial purchase cost will be between £500 and £700 to obtain a Spanish Pointer puppy. Monthly maintenance costs, in addition, will be around £70 -£90, taking into consideration his food, vets bills, and pet insurance.
Grooming
Surprisingly, even though he is a hunting dog, working in the fields, he remains very clean. This is probably down to his short, smooth coat that requires very little maintenance. A once-weekly brush, or rub over with a cloth will remove any excess mud or debris. Likewise, check his ears weekly to make sure they are clean.
Because he is an energetic working dog, with lots of stamina, he needs a dog-food specially formulated for this large-breed canine.
Health of the Burgos Pointing Dog
Life expectancy
There are not many health issues documented with this breed. However, the Spanish Pointer may be prone to suffer from ear infections associated with swimming. Likewise, because he works hard in the hunting field, injuries and accidents can occur, like lacerations and cuts from the bushes he hunts in or strains and sprains to his muscles. Its average life expectancy is 13 to 15 years.
Strong / robust
With strong physical stamina and capable of reaching high speeds when running, the Spanish Pointer is definitely an endurant canine.
Withstand heat
This dog is used to working in all weather conditions, and he tolerates the heat quite well, especially with his short coat.
Withstand cold
Used to hunting over all terrains and in all weathers, the Spanish Pointer certainly tolerates working in cold weather. He also loves to swim, no matter how cold the water.
Tendency to put on weight
If the dog is fed a healthy diet, suitable for his breed and size and providing he is exercised sufficiently, he won’t gain excess weight. However, older dogs and those that have retired from the working field, who lay around at home and are more sedentary, will easily gain excess weight.
If you obtain your Spanish Pointer with a view to use him for dog sports or hunting, his training needs to begin at a very young age. It is also very important to socialise him with other dogs too, to make sure that they will get along together.
Origins and history
This breed dates back to the 1500s. While there is not much documented history, the breed is from the centre of Spain, where its main ancestors were the Sabueso Espanol and the Pachon Navarro. Over time, several other pointing breeds have developed throughout Europe from the Spanish Pointer.