pointers (breed, dogs) en

Breed of dog that is of hound, spaniel, and setter ancestry. The pointer is used as an aid in hunting and derives its name from its assumption of a rigid posture in the direction of prey it has located. First recorded about 1650, in England, the pointer was originally used to point out hares for greyhounds to track down and was later trained as a bird dog in the 18th century. Pointers stand 23 to 28 inches (58 to 71 cm) and weigh 44 to 75 pounds (20 to 34 kg). It has a long muzzle, hanging ears, a tapered tail, and a short, smooth coat, usually white with black, liver-colored, yellowish brown, or reddish brown spots. In art, the pointer is often featured in sporting and hunting scenes.