OLD DANISH POINTER

As my maternal great-grandparents came from Denmark I thought perhaps I'd include this beautiful dog in remembrance of them.  Neils Peter and Marie Christine Larsen, this one is for you.

The Old Danish Pointer is a medium-sized breed of dog, white with brown markings, originally used as a pointing dog in Denmark.

Old Danish Pointers (Danish: gammel dansh honsehund, translated "Old Danish Pointing Dog") are strongly built.  One of the most characteristic features of the breed is the great difference between male and female.  While the dog is powerful and substantial, the bitch is characterised by being lighter, more spirited and capricious.

The temperament conveys the impression of a quiet and stable dog showing determination and courage.  During the hunt, the dog progresses rather slowly, always maintaining contact with the hunter and accomplishing its task as a pointing dog without creating unnecessary disturbance of the ground.  The breed is suited for small as well as large hunting grounds.  The name has nothing to do with temperament, bur refers to its ability to point out birds of the order Galliformes and specifically birds belonging to the family Phasianidae.  Commonly referred to in Danish as 'hen birds/chicken birds'.  The often used English name, "Old Danish Chicken Dog" is therefore incorrect, or at best badly translated.

This is a friendly family dog, as long as it gets its exercise.  It is fast and active outdoors and

quiet indoors, but is not suited for apartments or small yards.

This is a Danish Pointing Dog circa 1915.

The origin of the breed can be traced back to about the year 1710 when a man named Mrten Bak, living in Glenstrup near the towns of Randers and Hobro, crossed gypsy dogs through 8 generations with local farm dogs and in this way establshed a pure breed of piebald white and brown dogs called Bakhounds or Old Danish Pointers.  The local farmers called their farm dogs Bloodhounds, but it seems more likely that these hounds were offspring from the Squire's scent hounds, which in turn were descended primarily from St. Hubert Hounds.  Likewise it is probable that the gypsy dogs generally descended from Spanish Pointing Dogs and other breeds of scent hounds, so in many ways St. Hubert Hounds have contributed to the Old Danish Pointer.