We all know every dog breed has its good and bad points. After all, no dog is perfect, not even a Pointer! When you’re deciding which type of dog would be best for you and your family, you should take several things into consideration, including the size, grooming needs and typical temperament of a breed, as well as whether that breed is predisposed to developing certain health conditions.
The Good and the Bad about the Typical Pointer Temperament
Personality is important, so let’s take a look at the typical Pointer personality. You’ll gain a better idea of what to expect if you’re thinking of getting one of these wonderful (but not perfect!) dogs.
The Good Parts of the Typical Pointer Temperament
To paraphrase the American Kennel Club Standard for Pointers, these dogs should be alert, hard-driving and courageous. They should also possess a great deal of physical stamina. Pointers sound good so far, don’t they? After all, you don’t want a dog that “wimps out” after a 5-minute walk. If you did, you wouldn’t be considering a dog as large as a Pointer. You’d be thinking more along the lines of a Chihuahua or a toy Poodle, no offense intended toward either of those breeds!
As a general rule, Pointers are also sweet-natured, gentle, sensitive, affectionate, dignified animals. They tend to get along well with other animals, including other dogs. Pointers are usually quite good with older children, being tolerant, playful and loving. Pointers are sounding better and better, right?
However, being hunting dogs, Pointers are also packed full of energy. Their high energy level means these athletic dogs do best when they live in an active household, with owners who are willing and able to give them plenty of vigorous exercise, including long runs. Well, all right, depending on your situation and your own activity level, this aspect of the Pointer temperament might be either good or bad.
So, the typical Pointer temperament includes a lot of positives. Now, though, let’s move on to some aspects of the typical Pointer personality that might be less appealing.
The Bad Parts of the Typical Pointer Temperament
Pointers, especially Pointer pups, can become bored and restless if they don’t get enough exercise or if they’re confined excessively. These dogs are superb athletes, and a walk around the block (or two, or three) won’t even begin to tire them out. When bored or not exercised properly, a Pointer may turn to incessant barking and/or destructive chewing as an outlet for his excess energy. You must give a Pointer plenty of mental challenges and regular opportunities to “burn off steam.” These are large dogs, and bored Pointers have been known to eat through drywall, put sofas into early retirement and dig enough potholes in yards to make them look like the surface of the moon. Their high levels of energy also mean Pointers, especially when young, tend to be a bit rambunctious, so a young, boisterous Pointer might not be suitable for a family with very young children. For the same reason, Pointers might not be the best pets for senior citizens.
Pointers are not good watchdogs. The typical Pointer personality is slightly reserved but friendly, even with strangers. Some Pointers can be timid, which also detracts from their ability to serve as guard dogs.
Pointers have a strong hunting drive, and they tend to be easily distracted by sights, smells and sounds. They can also be a bit stubborn (some might say independent, but others might say they can be willful). These Pointer personality traits tend to make training Pointers a bit more challenging than training some of the other dog breeds. Pointers are also sensitive, gentle animals, and this means they respond to positive reinforcement during training much better than they do to harsh or abrupt training methods. Moreover, Pointers can take longer to housetrain than other dogs, although crating a Pointer until he gets the hang of it can be very helpful. In general, Pointer training requires a good deal of patience, short training sessions and a very consistent approach.
Being hunting dogs, Pointers also love to chase things. They’ll chase almost anything that moves, and once they start running after their “prey” your pleas for them to stop will probably fall on deaf ears. This Pointer personality trait makes obedience training an absolute essential. Teaching a Pointer a reliable “stay” and “down” could conceivably save his life if he starts chasing a car.
There you have it, the good and the bad about the typical Pointer temperament. Remember, no dog breed, no matter how many “good” characteristics it has, can be a perfect fit for every family. For example, Pointers are loving, affectionate dogs, but with their exuberant, boisterous natures and their need for regular vigorous exercise, they may not be suitable for families with small children or as pets for senior citizens who have slowed down or may be frail.