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The Old Danish Pointer is a medium-sized
Old Danish Pointers (Danish: gammel dansk hønsehund, translated "Old Danish Fowl-Dog") are strongly built. One of the most charming features of the breed is the great difference between male and female. While the dog is powerful and substantial, the female is characterized by being lighter, more spirited, and capricious.
* Height at the
The Danish Pointer dates back to the 17th Century and descends from the Spanish Pointer.
breed
A breed is a specific group of breedable domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist seve ...
of dog
The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the gray wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it was selectively bred from a population of wolves during the Late Pleistocene by hunter-gatherers. ...
, white with brown markings, originally used as a pointing dog
Pointing dogs, sometimes called bird dogs, are a type of gundog typically used in finding game. Gundogs are traditionally divided into three classes: retrievers, flushing dogs, and pointing breeds. The name ''pointer'' comes from the dog's inst ...
in Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
.
Description
Appearance
Old Danish Pointers (Danish: gammel dansk hønsehund, translated "Old Danish Fowl-Dog") are strongly built. One of the most charming features of the breed is the great difference between male and female. While the dog is powerful and substantial, the female is characterized by being lighter, more spirited, and capricious.
* Height at the withers
Withers are the ridge between the shoulder blades of an animal, typically a quadruped. In many species, this ridge is the tallest point of the body. In horses and dogs, it is the standard place to measure the animal's height. In contrast, catt ...
:
** Male , above preferred.
** Female , above preferred.
* Weight:
** Male
** Female
Temperament
Conveys the impression of a quiet and stable dog showing determination and courage. During the hunt, the dog progresses rather slowly, always maintaining contact with the hunter and accomplishing its task as apointing dog
Pointing dogs, sometimes called bird dogs, are a type of gundog typically used in finding game. Gundogs are traditionally divided into three classes: retrievers, flushing dogs, and pointing breeds. The name ''pointer'' comes from the dog's inst ...
without creating unnecessary disturbance of the ground. The breed is suited for small as well as large hunting grounds.
The name has nothing to do with temperament, but refers to its ability to point out birds of the order Galliformes
Galliformes is an order (biology), order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds that includes turkey (bird), turkeys, chickens, Old World quail, quail, and other landfowl. Gallinaceous birds, as they are called, are important in their ecosystems ...
and specifically birds belonging to the family Phasianidae
Phasianidae is a family (biology), family of heavy, ground-living birds, which includes pheasants, grouse, partridges, junglefowl, chickens, Turkey bird, turkeys, Old World quail, and peafowl. The family includes many of the most popular Game (hu ...
. Commonly referred to in Danish as Hen birds/Chicken birds. The often used English name, "Old Danish Chicken Dog" is therefore incorrect or at best badly translated.
This is a friendly family dog, as long as it gets its exercise. It is fast and active outdoors and quiet indoors, but is not suitable for apartments or small yards.
History
The Danish Pointer dates back to the 17th Century and descends from the Spanish Pointer.
See also
* Dogs portal *List of dog breeds
This list of dog breeds includes both Neontology#Extant taxa versus extinct taxa, extant and extinct dog breeds, Designer breed, varieties and dog type, types. A research article on dog genomics published in Science/AAAS defines modern dog breeds ...
References
{{Danish dogs FCI breeds Gundogs Pointers Dog breeds originating in Denmark Rare dog breeds