Portuguese Pointer

The Portuguese Pointer is still known as the Perdigueiro Português which comes from the Portuguese word for partridge. Therefore, the Portuguese Pointer’s original purpose was to flush and point partridge. It has been speculated that the Portuguese Pointer descended from dogs that were being used by Portuguese falconers sometime during the fifth or sixth century. The most widely accepted ancestry of the Portuguese Pointer is that he has descended directly from the Iberian Hound, an ancient breed that was brought into Portugal thousands of years ago. He did not become well known until the he was described by author Joao I in a book of hunting in the 12^th century. Then, he was depicted in paintings done by Alfonso III in the 13^th century. Ancient records show that when the Portuguese Pointer was first developed, he was strictly owned by royalty. The common hunter could not own the Portuguese Pointer until much later. Royals would oftentimes gift the Portuguese Pointer to royalty in other countries. Once commoners were able to own a Portuguese Pointer, he became a very popular gun dog throughout Portugal. Because the Portuguese are seafaring people, the Portuguese Pointer would accompany his hunter on voyages throughout Europe. It is quite possible that the Portuguese Pointer has been a strong influence on many other Pointer breeds and gun dogs throughout Europe. The Portuguese Pointer was imported into England and as English hunters began breeding them, they were renamed the English Pointer. Today, the English Pointer is a very different breed from the Portuguese Pointer, but the similarities between the two are striking. In 1996, the United Kennel Club officially recognized the Portuguese Pointer and he was allowed to participate in all events hosted by the UKC. Because there are too few Portuguese Pointers within the United States, he is not officially recognized by the American Kennel Club. He has been allowed to be a part of the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service.