Our club works and supports the following HPR breeds.
German Shorthaired Pointer
The German Shorthaired Pointer, is the most popular HPR breed in the UK, it was first introduce to England during WWI, but soon died out until WWII when returning soldiers brought back with them, these fast all-purpose gundogs.
It is streamlined yet powerful with strong hindquarters that make it able to move rapidly and turn quickly. It has moderately long flop ears set high on the head. Its muzzle is long, broad, and strong, allowing it to retrieve even heavy game. They are prodominatly liver in colour,varing from solid to liver patches with white, either ticked/spotted/roan flecks but can also be found in black with the same variables.
They are a very affectionate breed, and make good family pets if enough free running can be obtained, certainly in the first 4 years. They are completely adabptable and easily trainable, with a desire to please, and can eaily turn their hand (paw) to in everything from Agility to working under birds of prey, to Deer Stalking or sledge dogs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_shorthaired_pointer
Brittany
Although the Brittany originally referred to as a spaniel, the breed’s working characteristics are more akin to a pointer or setter. Brittanies were developed in the Brittany province of France in the 1800s bred primarily for bird hunting.
A Brittany is typically quite athletic, compact, and solidly built without being heavy. Other characteristics include long legs, and their expressions are usually of intelligence, vigour, and alertness. Their gait is elastic, long, and free.
The Brittany was first recognized as a breed in 1907 when an orange and white male named “Boy” was registered in France. As a result, the first standards were outlined in the same year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany_Setter
Korthals Griffon
The Korthals Griffon or Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is Dutch in ancestry, but is regarded as a French breed because the breed’s development took place in France. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is particularly adapted for swampy country, where its harsh coat provides excellent protection.
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a superb swimmer and retriever and it loves to play in the water. They are known as intelligent, extremely eager to please, friendly dogs. They are also known for their slightly less excitable temperament when not in the field, which makes them a very comfortable dog when at home.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korthals_Griffon
Weimaraner
This breed was originally bred for hunting in the early 19th century. Early Weimaraners were used by royalty for hunting large game, such as boar, bears, deer, and foxes. As the popularity of large game hunting began to decline, Weimaraners were used for hunting smaller animals, like fowl, rabbits, and foxes.
The Weimaraner is an all purpose gun dog. The Weimaraner is loyal and loving to his family, an incredible hunter, and a fearless guardian of his family and territory. The name comes from the Grand Duke of Weimar, Karl August, whose court enjoyed hunting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weimaraner
German Wirehaired Pointer
The German Wirehaired Pointer is a well muscled, medium sized dog of distinctive appearance. Balanced in size and sturdily built, the breed’s most distinguishing characteristics are its weather resistant, wire-like coat and its facial furnishings. Typically Pointer in character and style, the German Wirehaired Pointer is an intelligent, energetic and determined hunter. Like all German Pointers, they have webbed feet.
The functional wiry coat is the breed’s most distinctive feature. A dog must have a correct coat to be of correct type. The coat is weather resistant and, to some extent, water-repellent. The undercoat is dense enough in winter to insulate against the cold but is so thin in summer as to be almost invisible. The distinctive outer coat is straight, harsh, wiry and flat lying, and is from one to two inches in length
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Wirehaired_Pointer
Pudelpointer
A Pudelpointer is a versatile hunting dog breed from Germany. They are a pointing breed that came from a cross between the German hunting poodle (pudel) and the English Pointer. The goal was to produce a dog that was willing and easy to train, intelligent, and loved water and retrieving, like the poodle, and add to that a great desire to hunt, a strong pointing instinct, and an excellent nose, like in the English Pointer, as well as being an excellent companion in the home.
The Poodle breed had much stronger genes, and so many more Pointers were used to achieve the balanced hunting dog that was desired. A mix of 11 Pudels and 80 Pointers were used during the first 30 years to achieve the desired traits and results.
As a pet, the Pudelpointer is warm and interactive, willing to please. They mature in about 2 years both physically and mentally and make good watchdogs possessing an intelligent approach situations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pudelpointer
Bracco Italiano
The Bracco – or Italian Pointer- should be athletic and powerful in appearance, most resembling a cross between a German Shorthaired Pointer and a Bloodhound, although it is nothing like them in character. It has pendulous upper lips and long ears that create a serious expression. It should be “almost square”, meaning that its height at the withers should be almost the same as the length of its body. It should not however be actually square as this would render its famous rear driving push off and front/rear extension to be compromised, thus losing much of its powerful grace.
The tail can be docked, mostly due to the strong possibility of injury in rough/dense terrain when hunting, however there has been a sea-change in Italy, with some now working the breed with full tail.
Braccos are very much a people-loving dog and thrive on human companionship. They are a particularly good family dog and get along well with other dogs and pets. Obedience training is a must for a Bracco, and the more is asked of them, the better they do.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracco_Italiano
German Longhaired Pointer
The GLP should be muscular, elegant, and athletic. It should not be bulky or cumbersome, and it should be able to move with great speed and freedom. It has moderate bone, but has substance, and must never look frail or weak. Its appearance should reflect its kind, calm temperament. The German Longhaired Pointer stared as a breed discard from the Large Munsterlander due to the coat colour, fortunatly some enthusiastic breeders liked the liver colour and the outcome is a seperate breed with lots of energy and speed, that is turning out to be very useful at Field trials.
The GLP is very trainable, and loves to work. Because of this, it needs large amounts of exercise daily, needing more than most pet owners can give. It is not well suited for urban life, as it thrives on having lots of room to run and swim. Its ideal setting would be in a rural area, with an active owner who hunts with the dog on a regular basis. GLPs need a moderate amount of grooming about once or twice a week. They are highly intelligent, athletic and very trainable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Longhaired_Pointer
Large Münsterländer
The Large Munsterlander should be athletic, intelligent, noble, and elegant in appearance. Its body should be the same length as its height at the withers. The dog should be muscular without being bulky. Its gait should be fluid and elastic. The Large Munsterlander is black and white with hair of medium length. This dog has been bred for many decades for hunting and not show. Hence coat color is highly variable, ranging from predominantly white to predominantly black. Markings occur as solid white patches, or ticked or roan regions. The coat is dense, but should be firm and sleek.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Munsterlander
Spinone Italiano
The Spinone Italiano’s original purpose was as a versatile gun dog, which the breed is still a master of today. The Spinone is a loyal, friendly and alert dog with a close lying, wiry coat. It is an ancient breed that can be traced back to approximately 500 BC. It is often used for hunting, pointing, and retrieving game (HPR), but the intelligent and strong Spinone can be used for practically anything ranging from companions to assistance dogs. The name of the breed is pronounced spee-no-neh (singular) and spee-no-nee for plural.
The Spinone has a square build (the length of the body is approximately equal to the height at the withers). It is a strong-boned, solidly built dog with a well-muscled body and limbs that are suited to almost any kind of terrain. The long head and pronounced occipital are unique to the breed. He has an expression that shows intelligence and understanding and is often described as having human-like eyes. The tail of the Spinone is customarily docked at half its length.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Spinone
Hungarian Vizsla
The Hungarian or Magyar Vizsla are elite sporting dogs and loyal companions. The Vizsla’s medium size is one of the breed’s most appealing characteristics as a hunter of fowl and upland game, and through the centuries the Vizsla has held a unique position for a sporting dog – that of household companion and family dog.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Vizsla
Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla
Wirehaired Vizslas are known as excellent hunting dogs, and also have a level personality making them suited for families. The Wirehaired Vizsla is a versatile, natural hunter endowed with an excellent nose and an above average trainability. Although they are lively, gentle mannered, demonstrably affectionate and sensitive, they are also fearless and possessed of a well-developed protective instinct. The breed has a firmness on point, is an excellent retriever, and has the determination to remain on the scent even when swimming. The overall appearance embodies the qualities of a multi-purpose pointing dog, endurance, working ability and an easily satisfied nature. This is a breed that is a useful gundog, yet is a tractable and affectionate companion in the home.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Wirehaired_Vizsla
Slovakian Rough-Haired Pointer
The breed was established by crossing German Wirehaired Pointers, Weimaraners, and the Cesky Fousek (also known as the Bohemian Wirehaired Pointing Griffon). The SRHP breed has had slight input from the German Wirehaired Pointer and Pudelpointer as well.[1] The developer, Koloman Slimak, wanted a dog with great stamina which would track, point, retrieve in water or land, and be suitable for a range of prey from birds, hares and other small animals, and large game up to the size of deer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovakian_Rough-haired_Pointer
The Norfolk and Suffolk HPR Field Trial Club are kindly sponsored by Skinners Petfoods