As a hunting dog with a family dog disposition, the Spanish Pointer temperament is ideal for an active family who would like a sporting dog that’s also great with children.
She’s a highly skilled combination of scent hound and pointer. She’s a hard-working, athletic dog who needs an active family and a lot of room to run.
Table of Contents
Spanish Pointer Temperament
1. Intelligent
This is a very bright dog that learns easily. She does several jobs well, combinations that you don’t normally see in one dog.
2. Obedient
The Spanish Pointer temperament is eager to please. She will happily do what you ask of her.
3. Energetic
The Spanish Pointer is an energetic dog who needs a lot of exercise. This is the key to successfully living with this breed.
If your family isn’t an active one, the Spanish Pointer would not be a good choice for you.
4. Loyal
The Spanish Pointer temperament is loyal to all family members. She will even be protective of the children. This breed forms close bonds with the family and doesn’t like to be left alone for long.
She would like nothing more than to be included in all your family activities.
5. Gentle
She has a sweet, gentle personality and is patient with kids if they are raised together. With good socialization, she is great with them.
She is tolerant of rough play. Playing with the kids would be a great way to burn off some of her energy.
The Spanish Pointer temperament can even be protective of them.
6. Calm
When she gets enough exercise, she will be quiet and relaxed at home. She is not much of barker.
7. Dog-friendly
The Spanish Pointer gets along quite well with other dogs, but it’s still a good idea to socialize her to them. It will teach her how to deal with dogs who might not be so friendly.
8. Prey Drive
As a bird dog, the Spanish Pointer Dog has a strong prey drive toward birds. She may also chase other small animals unless they are raised together.
9. Stranger-wary
The Spanish Pointer temperament is pretty good with strangers, but she is a little wary of them. She needs to be socialized to them.
10. Athletic
This dog is prized by hunters for her sure-footedness on various terrains, including water. She is an agile runner and a good swimmer.
As agile and athletic as she is, she would do well in dog sports such as agility, rally, or hunting trials. These would also be great activities to satisfy her need for exercise.
Spanish Pointer History
The exact Spanish Pointer origin is uncertain, though the breed goes back at least as far as 1600 on the Iberian peninsula.
Most historians believe she descends from the Old Spanish Pointer or Perdigeuro Navarro. While some think that these are the same dog, they are actually two separate breeds.
The Old Spanish Pointer is thought to be the ancestor of most of today’s pointing breeds. The list includes the Russian Pointer, the German Pointer, the French Double-Nosed Griffon, and the English Pointer.
Historians believe that another of the modern Spanish Pointer’s ancestors was the Sabueso Espanol. The Spanish Pointer seems to have inherited her thick skin from this breed.
Today, the Spanish Pointer is a rare dog that’s not often seen outside of Spain. She is still highly valued as a gundog in that country, though.
The Spanish Pointer was brought to the edge of extinction following the Spanish Civil War and again due to World War II.
Two men—Don Manuel Izquierdo and Geardo Sardonil—started efforts to restore the breed in the 1970s. Today, the Spanish Pointer is one of the most popular hunting dogs in Spain.
However,