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Pointer Origins

Pointer Beginnings

The German Shorthaired Pointer, or Jagdhund, is a breed of dog that has been established on the Continent of Europe for generations, with more or less the same conformation. They come from the same ancestors as all the other pointing dogs to be found in Europe, the English Pointer, the Weimaraner, the Hungarian Viszla, the French and Italian Pointers, and various "Braques". The thirteenth century provides the first authentic reference to a pointing dog. An Italian, Brunetto Latini, writing during his exile in France in 1260 writes as follows: "Others are brachs with falling ears, which know of beasts and birds by their scent, therefore they are useful for the hunting." Another contemporary reference appears in a book entitled De Animalibus, written some time before 1280 by Albertus Magnus, Bishop of Ratisbon. He writes:

"The dogs, however, that are used for birds seem to have these powers more from training than from sense of smell, though they derive them from both. They are taught in this manner: they are first led round some caught partridges pretty often, and at length, by threats, learn to go round and round them; but they get to find the partridge by scent, and thus at the beginning they point pretty often at the indications of the captive birds."

The Bishop was a native of Padua and it is likely that he saw the dogs working in that district rather than in Germany at such an early period. Even three centuries later it is clear that the Germans were using foreign dogs for small game. In 1570 Conrad Heresbach wrote as follows: "Spanish dogs, zealous for their masters and of commendable sagacity, are chiefly used for finding partridges and hares." Another German, called Gesner, writing in the year 1620 said as follows:

"We Germans and the French call these dogs quail-dogs, because their work is principally concerned with these birds. The Italians call them net-dogs, for they help them with the nets, in which they will even allow themselves to be enveloped, whence they derive another name with us, vorstehund."

 

Taken from Michael Meredith Hardy's book;

An Account of the Origins and History of the German Shorthaired Pointer.

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