Pointing dog breeds were originally bred as gundogs, typically used for finding game. When a pointing dog sniffs out game, they go “on point”, freezing in position, lifting a paw and aiming their nose towards the game.
The now-extinct Old Spanish Pointer is considered the ancestor of all pointing dog breeds, used for hunting in England and Spain around the 18th century. Over time, a variety of pointing breeds were selectively bred, and the American Kennel Club (AKC) now recognises 14 pointing breeds as part of their Sporting group.
