Pointing dogs & setters
A pointing dog's job splits neatly in two: find birds you would have walked past, then do absolutely nothing about it. These seven breeds - the English Pointer, the three setters, the Brittany, Vizsla and Weimaraner - range out ahead, catch body scent on the wind and freeze, holding that point until you walk in and flush the bird yourself. They suit upland hunters who cover real ground on foot for quail, grouse, woodcock or wild pheasant, and who enjoy watching a dog work as much as the shot. The catch is the engine: a dog bred to run big country all day needs that outlet every week, hunting season or not, and a bored pointer makes a poor housemate.
Big-running upland specialist - huge range, a bold nose, and a rock-solid point on wild birds
English SetterStylish high-nosed upland pointer with drive, range and a gentler head than most bird dogs
Irish SetterWide-ranging red pointer with a big nose and even bigger drive for open-country upland birds
Gordon SetterClose-working black-and-tan bird dog with grit, a deep nose, and one-hunter loyalty
BrittanyCompact, biddable foot-hunter's pointer - close range, big nose, all-day upland drive
VizslaClose-working Hungarian pointer with a hot nose and a huge appetite for work
WeimaranerVersatile all-day gun dog - points, tracks, retrieves, and lives to be with the gun
← Back to all gun dogs · Other groups with their own page: Versatile (HPR) dogs · Hounds
A field-focused look at breeds as working partners - not a training manual and not a guide to raising or caring for a dog. Every dog is an individual, and drive, biddability and health vary hugely within any breed. Talk to reputable breeders, professional gun-dog trainers and your own veterinarian before you choose, train or hunt a dog, and always keep a working dog's safety and welfare first in heat, cold and water.
Gun-dog training gear
Links go to Amazon or a partner store (such as OpticsPlanet) and may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We link gear types, not sponsors' picks: you choose the exact product.