Can Any Dog Be A Pointer?

Pointing is usually associated with specific dog breeds used for generations to hunt game birds and other animals. German and English pointers, Brittany spaniels, Vizslas, Weimaraners, and setters are classic pointing dogs. These dogs showed an aptitude for pointing and, as a result, were selected as pointers to find game during hunting. Some people may have other dog breeds and wonder if their dog can point or be taught to point.

It is possible to train any dog to be a pointer. Dogs with medium to high energy will learn more quickly than dogs with low energy and limited prey drive. The basics of pointing can be found in all dog breeds as they evolved from predators. Trainers use these behaviors to train pointing. 

For some dogs, pointing is natural, but they still need the training to refine their skills. For other dog breeds, pointing exists in rudimentary forms, and a lot of time will be required to teach the dogs to point.

Is Pointing A Natural Behavior In All Dog Breeds?

Dogs by nature are predators and have hunt instincts that have been modified over centuries. The underlying interest in their environment and potential prey can be seen in most dog breeds. It is natural for dogs to freeze and focus on something that catches their attention.

This behavior can be seen in fighting breeds such as bull terriers and pit bulls that become still and focused before attacking. Similar behavior is seen in terrier breeds, such as Jack Russells and Fox terriers, when searching woodpiles or holes in the ground. They become still and pinpoint the location of the prey.

In some dogs, the freezing and focusing behavior may be very brief before the dogs explode into action. It is nevertheless still part of their behavioral repertoire. In some dog breeds, it may be seldom seen. If something is interesting enough, they will show behavior approximating a point.

Interestingly many wild predators such as lions, coyotes, hyenas, and wolves show the same behavior. They will stop, freeze, and focus when they see or hear something that could be prey.

What Is Pointing?

For clarity, it is necessary to describe what constitutes pointing. A dog that is pointing shows the following behavior in response to detecting game:

  1. The dog will stop or freeze in position.
  • The dog focuses its gaze on the prey animal.
  • The dog’s nose will point in the direction of the game.
  • Some dogs lift one paw, which is a further indication of the presence of the game and may indicate direction.
  • Some dogs hold their tail erect, and others keep their tail stiff and horizontal with their bodies. Other dogs may move their tail in a specific pattern. An observant owner can learn to understand what that movement is indicating. It could be a direction or type of game.

Can Any Breed Of Dog Be Trained To Point?

Theoretically, a good trainer can train any breed of dog to point. Some will show more aptitude for it, and it will be slow going with other dog breeds.

Daschunds, corgis, Yorkshire terriers, St Bernards, and golden retrievers are generally medium energy breeds. They can be taught to point and quickly learn the stop or freeze command.

High energy dogs such as Labradors, border collies, Jack Russell terriers, German Shepherds, and Boxers will easily focus on the prey. Their high energy needs extra work to teach them to hold the stop and freeze reliably.

Are There Dog Breeds That Would Be Hard To Train To Point?

Any dog that fits the description of a couch potato will be hard to train. Low energy dogs that are more interested in their comfort, with poor hunt drives, fall into the couch potato category. These would include breeds such as pugs, chihuahuas, and other lap dog breeds.

Some dogs with low energy, such as Great Danes, Basset hounds, and Bull Mastiffs, still have some prey drive, and they can be trained to point.

How Do You Train A Dog To Point?

Training a dog to point should always be done with positive reinforcement. Training methods that use punishment and harsh practices have been shown to slow down learning, are detrimental to the dog-human bond, and raise questions in welfare and ethics.

If you have never previously trained a dog to point, working with an experienced trainer would be helpful. If this option is unavailable, try to watch training videos, get advice from hunters that have trained their dogs, and read well-researched books or articles.

What Are the Steps In Training A Dog To Point? 

  • The first step is to teach the dog to stop. You can use a whistle or verbal command. If you intend to use a whistle when hunting, it will be best to introduce it at this stage.

Some people prefer to teach without gadgets. If you struggle with teaching the dog to stop, you can use a check cord. A check cord can be used in two ways.

  • It can attach to a harness.
  • It can attach to the dog’s collar, run along his side, go under his belly, up the other side, over the back, and be secured to itself. You can see a picture of this here.
  • Begin training the stop with a 15 – 20 second time where the dog sits still. Gradually increase the time that the dog must be still after stopping. This is training the freeze part of the point.

Practice the stop and freeze in quiet environments with few distractions. Increase the number of distractions and change locality to practice your dog’s ability to hold the stop. Take the dogs on a hunt or into the country and practice stopping and freezing.

You should also include dummy birds or “prey” to encourage the dog to focus on them. Dummies that can squeak or make noise are useful in getting the dog’s attention. Train the stop and freeze while the dog is focused on the dummy.  

Remember to praise your dog lavishly and reward it for its attempts.

  • Take your dog into the country and keep it very close to you. Observe the dog closely for any signs that it has spotted prey or something has caught its interest. Immediately give the command to stop and freeze. This is most commonly whoa in verbal commands, but it can be anything of your choosing.   
  • Phase-out the commands and watch for spontaneous held stops. Reward these. For some dogs, a release command can be a reward in itself as the dog is allowed to explore the prey that was so interesting.  
  • If your dog breaks his stop and runs off, chase after him and fetch him back to his original position. Go back to practicing the held stop while maintaining tight control, either with a check cord or leash. Once you have re-established the skills, try him again out in the country without a leash or cord.

Conclusion

Any dog can learn to point if given the proper training. Some are more naturally gifted, and the training is easy. You will have to work harder to train other dogs to point. Dogs with low energy and low prey drive are the hardest to teach. 

References

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