English Pointer Dog Names

There are no records of the English Pointer being featured in a film or even a fictional book. The most famous, and probably the only notably recognized, English Pointer is Judy from the book Judy: A Dog In A Million. In the book, the author Damien Lewis tells the true story of Judy, a white female English pointer who was the only animal that got held captive and officially got recorded as a “Prisoner of War” during the World War II.

Judy, originally named Shudi, was born in the year 1936 in Shanghai, China. The author of the book was able to interview the descendants of the war veterans who were able to witness the greatness and courage of Judy. They described Judy as a “quick-thinking and courageous” dog, and that the people from that time cherished and considered her as a family member and not just a dog. Based on the collected information by Lewis, Judy was adopted by the ship’s Royal Navy when she was only six months old. She lived on the ship named Gnatas and grew up around the servicemen on board. According to them, Judy was an “instant hit” and “didn’t take long to prove her worth”.

Judy had the ability to sense danger before anyone else on board became aware of it. Her one-of-a-kind abilities offered protection to her family inside the Japanese prison camp and saved countless of lives. During World War II, the ship she was on board was stationed at Yangtze, which made the threat from the Japanese always present. From 1936 to 1938, Judy and her human ‘family’ stayed at the Gnatas. Judy would always warn the servicemen on board of incoming aircraft, giving the crew time to prepare for any incoming threat. In 1939, Judy and some servicemen transferred from the Gnatas to the Grasshopper ship. The Grasshopper was then sent to a different station in Singapore, where the Battle of Singapore went down. The Grasshopper tried to evacuate but sunk in the process, nearly killing Judy. She got rescued by the surviving crew and was transported to a deserted island. Judy’s ability to catch scent resulted in her tracing a source of fresh water, which is the reason why she and the remaining crew managed to survive. Judy got transferred from one camp to another, and experienced numerous accounts of danger. She remained courageous and loyal to her human family in spite of the years of horror and terror from the war. Her devotion to her family kept their dying spirits alive, and made them feel that somewhere, somehow, there is still hope.

Judy’s biography is one of the most unforgettable in canine history; it is both inspirational and heartbreaking. Judy’s bravery and loyalty to the people around her during the dark days further proves that she is truly a dog in a million.