The AKC Pointer Standard

Pointer
General Appearance
The Pointer is bred primarily for sport afield; he should unmistakably
look and act the part. The ideal specimen gives the immediate impres-
sion of compact power and agile grace; the head noble, proudly
carried; the expression intelligent and alert; the muscular body
bespeaking both staying power and dash. Here is an animal whose
every movement shows him to be a wide awake, hard-driving hunting
dog possessing stamina, courage, and the desire to go. And in his
expression are the loyalty and devotion of a true friend of man.
Temperament
The Pointer’s even temperament and alert good sense make him a
congenial companion both in the field and in the home. He should be
dignified, yet show a responsive attitude at all times.
Balance and Size
Balance - over-all symmetry - is much more important in the Pointer than
size. It is just as vital in a dog bred for field work as it is in an athlete or
a racehorse, and for the same reasons: it indicates muscular co-ordina-
tion, endurance, and an equilibrium of power. Whether large or small,
a well put-together Pointer, “smooth all over”, is to be preferred to an
uneven one with contrasting good and bad points. Provided there is
balance, considerable variation in size and weight is permissible.
Coat and Colour
Coat short, dense, smooth with a sheen. Liver, lemon, black, orange;
either in combination with white or solid-coloured. A good Pointer
cannot be a bad colour. In the darker colours, the nose should be black
or brown; in the lighter shades it may be lighter or flesh-coloured.
Head
Skull long and proportionately wide, but indicating length rather than
width. Slight furrow between the eyes, cheeks cleanly chiseled. A
pronounced stop midway between nostrils and occiput. Muzzle long,
in the same plane as the skull. Nostrils large, spongy, widely open. Jaws
ending level and square, with scissors or even bite, the flews clean.
Eyes of medium size, rounded, pleasant in expression and the darker
the better. Ears set on at eye level. When hanging naturally, they should
be somewhat pointed at the tip - never round - and soft and thin in 

leather. They should reach below the lower jaw, close to the head, with
little or no folding.
Neck
Long, dry, muscular and slightly arched, springing cleanly from the
shoulders.
Forequarters
Shoulders long, thin, and sloping. The top of blades close together.
Elbows well down, directly under the withers and truly parallel, so as to
work just clear of the body. Forelegs straight and with oval bone. Knee
joint never to knuckle over. Pasterns of moderate length, perceptibly
finer in bone than the leg, and slightly slanting.
Body
Back strong and solid, with only a slight rise from croup to top of
shoulders. Chest, deep rather than wide, must not hinder free action
of the forelegs. The breastbone bold without being unduly prominent.
The ribs well sprung, descending as low as the elbow-point. Loin of
moderate length, powerful and slightly arched. Croup falling only
slightly to base of tail. Tuck-up should be apparent, but not exaggerated.
Hindquarters
Muscular and powerful, with great propelling leverage. Thighs long
and well developed. The hocks clean and parallel. Stifles wide and well
bent. Decided angulation is the mark of power and endurance. Feet
oval, with long, closely-set arched toes, well padded, and deep.
Tail
Heavier at the root, gradually tapering to a fine point. Length no
greater than to reach to the hock joint. Carried straight, ideally on a
level with the back.
Gait
Smooth and frictionless, with a powerful hindquarters’ drive. The
head should be carried high, the nostrils wide, the tail moving from
side to side rhythmically with the pace, giving the impression of a well-
balanced, strongly-built hunting dog capable of top speed combined
with great stamina.

Faults
1. General Appearance - Lack of true Pointer type, hound or terrier
characteristics.
2. Temperament - timid, unruly.
3. Head - Blocky or apple head. Short or snipey muzzle or frog face.
Bulging cheeks or pendulous flews. Lack of stop, down-faced, Ro-
man nose. Undershot or overshot. Small or dry nostrils.
4. Ears - Low set, round, heavy, folded, leathery or hound ears.
5. Eyes - Light, hard, almond, or staring eyes.
6. Neck - Ewe neck. Throatiness. Short, thick neck.
7. Shoulders - Loaded or bossy shoulders. Set wide apart at top.
Straight shoulder, no slope.
8. Front - Elbows turned either in or out. Forelegs knuckled over.
Straight pasterns, terrier-front. Bone of forelegs coarse, fine, or
round. Narrow chested, shallow, shelly, pigeon-breasted. Chest too
wide, resulting in elbows out. Ribs too flat or too barreled.
9. Back - Roach or sway back. Unbalanced length of body. Cobbi-
ness. Steep rise, or none at all, in topline. Sagging or long, thin
loin. Croup falling away too sharply.
10. Tail - Rat tail. Set on too high or too low. Carried between the legs,
or carried high, flag-pole tail.
11. Hindquarters - Straight or narrow stifles. Cow-hocks. Lack of an-
gulation or straight in stifle. Any suggestion of weakness in hind-
quarters.
12. Feet - Cat-foot. Thin or soft pads. Splayed feet. Flat toes.
13. Coat - Long hair or curl. Soft or silky coat.
14. Colour - Weak or washed-out colours. Light or flesh-coloured nose
in a dark-coloured dog. Butterfly nose.
15. Gait - Crossing-over, sprawling or side-tracking. Stepping too high
in front -- the hackney gait.

Scale of Points
Head ........................................................................................ 10
Ears ........................................................................................... 3
Eyes............................................................................................ 4
Neck .......................................................................................... 5
Shoulders ................................................................................... 8
Front .......................................................................................... 6
Back ........................................................................................... 4
Tail ............................................................................................. 5
Hindquarters ........................................................................... 15
Feet ............................................................................................ 9
Coat and colour ......................................................................... 5
Gait ............................................................................................ 6
Balance and true Pointer type ................................................. 20
TOTAL 100