Hunting Dogs: Spanish Pointer or
Perdiguero de Burgos The Perdiguero de Burgos, or Spanish Pointer, is a large Pointer that has contributed greatly to the development of other Pointer breeds, particularly the larger ones, such as the Large French Pointer, but also to more medium sized ones as well. It has been around at least since the 1500s and is thought to be a descendent of the Perdiguero Navarro (Old Spanish Pointer) and Spain's scenthound breed, the Sabueso Espanol. It is not as heavily built as it looks. It has a lot of skin, because of its relationship with the Sabueso Espanol. It has muscular shoulders and a deep and broad chest. It has a large square shaped head and a moderately defined stop. The muzzle is long, very broad and square shaped. The ears are low-set and of moderate length. It has hanging flews and a dewlap. The coat is short and dense and the coloring is always liver and white, which can include or exclude patches. The Perdiguero de Burgos was used as a specialist on deer for most of its history. Today it is mainly used on quail, partridges, and hare. Its excellent nose could fairly qualify it as a scenthound and it is known for not giving up on a scent. It is a much faster and more athletic dog than it looks and is able to easily clamber over rough and hilly terrain and to master steep slopes. At the same time, like other gun dogs, this is a very obedient dog and easy to train. It swims well and works in the water. It is a very patient dog with children and other dogs and is very eager to please its master, as befits its gun dog status. Today the Perdiguero de Burgos is actually smaller and lighter built than it once was, because Spanish breeders have made great efforts to refine and hone its fine qualities as a bird-hunting dog. This breed was headed for extinction in the early part of this century, but today its popularity is growing rapidly in Spain and hunters are rediscovering its many positive qualities. Height: Dogs 60-67 cm. Bitches 56-62 cm.
Weight: 27-32 kg.
While the Perdiguero Navarro and Perdiguero de Burgos are older pointing breeds, probably no breed of pointer more closely resembles the scenthound ancestors of the gun dogs, than the Bracco Italiano, or Italian Pointer. This dog has been around since the times of the Renaissance. | 
