Pointer Bay

50-65 lbs
21-24"
Unknown
German Shorthaired Pointer
Chesapeake Bay Retriever

The Pointer Bay is a designer dog, an intentional cross between two exceptional and well-known hunting dogs, the durable Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the versatile German Shorthaired Pointer. This crossbreed generally excels at all aspects of hunting including trailing birds and other game, pointing to indicate the position of the target and retrieving carcasses. This is an active dog in both mind and body and they do require a great deal of exercise and mental stimulation to keep them from becoming anxious or destructive. Although these dogs make excellent hunting dogs and are great companions for active adults and older kids, some individuals may be too high-spirited for toddlers and very young children, and they are generally too large and active to be comfortable in an apartment setting.

purpose Purpose
Hunting Dog, Family Companion
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
German Short Haired Pointer and Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Pointer Bay Health

Average Size
Male Pointer Bay size stats
Height: 23-26 inches Weight: 60-75 lbs
Female Pointer Bay size stats
Height: 21-24 inches Weight: 50-65 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Canine Hip Dysplasia
  • Lymphedema
  • Subaortic Stenosis
  • Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) or Bloat
Minor Concerns
  • Entropion
  • Ectropion
  • Cataracts
  • Lupoid Dermatitis
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
  • vonWillebrand’s Disease
  • Third Eye (Cherry Eye)
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Hemivertebra
  • X-linked Muscular Dystrophy
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Degenerative Myopathy (DM)
  • Pannus
Occasional Tests
  • Hip X-Rays
  • Eye Examination
  • Skin Evaluation
  • Genetic Testing
  • Chest X-rays
  • Electrocardiograph (ECG - measures rate and rhythm)

Pointer Bay Breed History

The Pointer Bay is a hybrid dog, a cross between two outstanding hunting dogs, the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Although some version of the German Shorthaired Pointer has been in existence since the 18th century, the modern version of the German Shorthaired Pointer was not developed until the late 19th century, and refinements continued through the early part of the 20th century. The German Shorthaired Pointer was designed to be a multi-purpose hunting dog, one that could track, point, and retrieve just about any type of game in any environment. Records of this breed’s development are scarce but some of the breeds that are believed to have contributed to the final product include Spanish Pointers, Braque Francais, French Gascon, and several types of “blood scenting hounds” such as the Hanoverian Schweisshunds or the Weimaraner. The overall result was an outstanding success as the modern German Shorthaired Pointer is well-suited to tracking anything from quail to deer and retrieving birds from both the land and the water. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a little bit older than the German Shorthaired Pointer, but also a relatively new breed of dog, developed in early 19th century in the Chesapeake Bay area of the United States of America. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed can trace their line back to two very specific St. John’s Newfoundland dogs, a black colored female by the name of Canton and a red male named Sailor. These two dogs were rescued from a shipwreck together off the coast of Maryland, and each went to different owners. Although the two dogs were unrelated, they both had the same intense drive to retrieve and became well-known for their prowess in the icy waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Due to these qualities, puppies from both of these dogs were in high demand, and they were bred extensively, sometimes with other Newfoundland dogs and other times with Flat and Curly-Coated Retrievers. Although these two dogs were never bred to one another, their collective offspring were the foundation for the Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed, a breed of well-built dogs that are usually brown in color, with short to medium length waterproof coats that are thick and wavy, and with the same intense drive to retrieve as Canton and Sailor, returning to the icy water over and over again, sometimes retrieving up to a hundred birds a day. 

Pointer Bay Breed Appearance

The Pointer Bay is a medium to large-sized dog with long, powerfully built legs, and a deep chest. They have a moderately sized head with a muzzle long enough to allow the dog to retrieve game without damaging it. Their ears will hang down, framing their face, but some will have the longer, lower set ears of the German Shorthaired Pointer while others will have shorter ears that hang down from much higher on the skull, and their almond-shaped eyes may be either the dark brown of the German Shorthaired Pointer or the distinctive amber or honey color that is common to the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. It is interesting to note that Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and their offspring are often born with blue eyes that change color as they mature, and may have webbed feet. The coat of the Pointer Bay will certainly be water resistant, but beyond that can vary somewhat from dog to dog as these hybrids may take traits from either the short, thick, single-layer coat of the German Shorthaired Pointer or from the double layer coat of the Chesapeake, consisting of a thick, dense undercoat sheltered under a copious layer of short, wavy fur that is coarse in texture.

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Pointer Bay eyes
Brown
amber Pointer Bay eyes
Amber
Nose Color Possibilities
brown Pointer Bay nose
Brown
Coat Color Possibilities
brown Pointer Bay coat
Brown
fawn Pointer Bay coat
Fawn
black Pointer Bay coat
Black
white Pointer Bay coat
White
red Pointer Bay coat
Red
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Pointer Bay wavy coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Pointer Bay Breed Maintenance

As a companion animal, the grooming requirements of this dog are fairly simple. Bathing is required a few times a year to keep the coat clean and smelling fresh, and weekly brushing, using either a slicker brush or grooming glove for the German Shorthair type coat or a pin brush and comb for the thicker style coat of the Chesapeake, is suitable for managing loose hair and properly distributing oils over the coat. Dogs that are employed in the field will generally need bathing more often as they are likely to be moving through areas that may be muddy, and should be carefully groomed and examined to check for injuries, skin irritation, and parasites every time they return from the field. 

Brushes for Pointer Bay
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Comb
Comb
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Pointer Bay requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Pointer Bay Temperament

This crossbreed is generally good-natured with most people, although there can be slight differences in personality between individual dogs due to the differing personalities of the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. This crossbreed is generally tolerant children of all ages and their boundless energy makes them loyal and entertaining companions for older children but interactions should be closely supervised as the Chesapeake is often unaware of their own strength and the German Shorthaired Pointer may be too boisterous for younger children. The Pointer Bay is a thinking animal with an ability to think quickly from the German Shorthaired Pointer and the exceptionally long memory of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Whether or not this thinking animal is particularly trainable will depend on the individual. Dogs that inherit quick mind and eager nature of the German Shorthair and the long memory and enduring temperament of the Chesapeake should be exceedingly easy to train. On the other hand, dogs that inherit the stubbornness and independent nature of the Chesapeake and the distractibility of the German Shorthaired Pointer may present a significant training challenge. 

Pointer Bay Activity Requirements

This is a very active and athletic dog that requires a great deal of exercise in order to stay happy and healthy. Activities such as walking, running, tracking, agility courses, rally sports, competitive frisbee, and, of course, water sports are all wonderful outlets for this canine’s seemingly endless energy and although they are usually fairly content with an hour and a half of vigorous activity per day, they are even happier if they can get two hours or more. It is important to remember that this breed’s mind is as active as its body and they should be given plenty of mental stimulation throughout the day to prevent mischeivous or destructive behaviors from surfacing. This crossbreed is generally too large and active to make a good apartment dweller and is much happier in a larger house, preferably with a fenced in yard
Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
14 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
90 minutes
activity minutes

Pointer Bay Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.5 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00
food bag monthly cost

Pointer Bay Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Pointer Bay size stats at six months
Height: 20.5 inches Weight: 47.5 lbs
Female Pointer Bay size stats at six months
Height: 19.0 inches Weight: 37.5 lbs
12 Months
Male Pointer Bay size stats at 12 months
Height: 23.5 inches Weight: 62.5 lbs
Female Pointer Bay size stats at 12 months
Height: 21.5 inches Weight: 52.5 lbs
18 Months
Male Pointer Bay size stats at 18 months
Height: 24.5 inches Weight: 67.5 lbs
Female Pointer Bay size stats at 18 months
Height: 22.5 inches Weight: 57.5 lbs

Pointer Bay Owner Experiences

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