Ariege Pointer

Ariege is a province in France and this is where the dog was developed, back in the 19th century. A popular alternate name of the dog is Braque de L'Ariege. The special skills of this dog include hunting, pointing and retrieving. It makes a great hunting dog on the field, but it is also a loving and friendly dog for home use. For people with a penchant for rare breeds, this is yet another great choice. In fact, the breed was on the verge of extinction at one point. It is no longer endangered but is indeed still rare.

The Ariege Pointer has got great scenting abilities. The technique of hunting involves the Ariege Pointer pointing towards the prey by using its muzzle; thus the name pointer. The Ariege Pointer is also a gundog, that too a versatile gundog, a category that very few breeds fit into. It is capable of performing three tasks- hunt, point and retrieve. It is also a good swimmer and thus can retrieve the game even from water.

Like most other lone hunting dogs, the Ariege pointer has years of genetic imprinting that make it very independent. Thus, training has to be imparted with care in order to mould the dog to be obedient and have a friendly disposition. If this is not done, stubbornness and even aggressiveness can creep into its temperament. The fact that this dog is relatively easy to train makes the task easier and requires only enough hands-on care early on.

The dog has a slightly long and angular head. Its muzzle is straight, which helps with pointing accuracy. The nose is usually colored in a reddish tinge, depending on the color of the coat. It has eyes that match the color of the nose and the coat. The Ariege Pointer does not have pointy ears; instead its ears are really long, extending up to its muzzle if held up. Long ears are prone to bacterial and fungal infection and need to be checked and cleaned regularly, especially if the conditions are moist.

Since the dog is also a retriever, and a natural swimmer, it is possible that there is regular contact with water. It has a tail that is like most other dogs- broad at the base and thin towards the end. The tail is often clipped to less than half the length. Coat is light colored but variable between orange and brown. Regular brushing is recommended. The coat is short and so this shouldn’t be very difficult. A full grown Ariege Pointer stands at a height of 23 to 26 inches measured at the withers. It can weigh between 55 to 66 pounds. Females are typically shorter and lighter.

The dog is highly energetic and requires a daily dose of exercise. Long walks alone will not do it for this dog- there must be some amount of running. It can be great company during jogging/ trekking trips. Apartment living simply does not suit the dog. At least a large yard is required.