The Old Spanish Pointer is an extinct Spanish dog breed that is considered to be the ultimate ancestor of almost every pointing breeds. These large-sized dogs were used for hunting birds with nets.

The Old Spanish Pointer had a low and dry head, fine ears, broad chest, and dark shade eyes. They had large and round ribs along with strong, muscular legs.

Origin & History

The Old Spanish Pointer was firstly mentioned by the Roman writers in the first century. Ancient writers Sallustius and Pliny stated that these dogs were used in hunting birds. Later, centuries after the first mention of these dogs, Muslim Conquerors who arrived on the Iberian Peninsula found these dogs extremely useful.

Old Spanish Pointer were used to hunt birds with nets.

The Muslim Conquerors brought the new falconry technique of hunting with them. These dogs would locate the birds and stand motionless unless the hunters arrived with their trained birds. Then, the birds (falcons or vultures) would mark the position of the prey birds.

As the Old Spanish Pointers were really meant for hunting, they were often brought to England and other British nations in the 17th and 18th centuries. Thereafter, in the late 19th century, a pointer cinófilo scholar named Stonehengue, wrote that these dogs were bred by using lighter and faster specimens.

How Did The Old Spanish Pointer Become Extinct?

The Old Spanish Pointer became extinct in the 20th century after suffering the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. The civil war affected the population of these dogs by a huge margin.

Only a few dogs could survive the devastating three years of war. Breeders didn’t care about preserving these dogs as they served no purpose anymore. Hence, what was left of the breed, died out of old age.

Temperament, Behavior, & Personailty

The Old Spanish Pointer had an affectionate and loyal temperament. They were intelligent dogs and could pick up new tasks easily. In addition, they wouldn’t back down in defending their owner and their house against any kind of wild animals. Their giant body and suspicious personality also made them perfect guard dogs.

As the Old Spanish Pointer was a hunting dog, it needed high exercise and would get easily bored if not kept busy. Furthermore, they would easily suffer from anxiety if left alone at home and would act strangely.

Was Old Spanish Pointer A Child-Friendly Breed?

Yes, the Old Spanish Pointer was a child-friendly as it possessed an affectionate and loving nature. They loved gaining the attention of children and playing with them. Because they would get entertained by socializing with children, they wouldn’t mind playing fighting with them. However, their large body was something to keep eyes on.

Facts

  • The Old Spanish Pointer was also known as Perro de Punta Español and Braco Español.
  • Most of the modern pointing breeds are said to the successors of this breed.
  • In the 17th century, it was crossed with the Bloodhounds and German Hounds which resulted in the creation of the German Shorthaired Pointer.
  • The Spanish Pointer is thought to have descended from these dogs.
Old Spanish Pointer was also known as Perro de Punta Espanol.

Colors

The Old Spanish Pointer was found in the following three colors:

  • Black
  • White
  • Brown

Size

The height of the Old Spanish Pointer ranged somewhere between 22-26 inches (56-66 cm) whereas they weighed about 52-66 pounds (23.5-30 kg).

Puppies

On average, a mother Old Spanish Pointer dog gave birth to 4-6 puppies at a time.

Similar Dog Breeds

  • Pachón Navarro
  • Spanish Pointer

Visit Doglime if you want to know about other extinct breeds.

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