Pointer Bay -- German Shorthaired Pointer X Chesapeake Bay Retriever

		Pointer Bay
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Germany <> U.S.A. -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Pointer Bay

The Pointer Bay is a specific cross between two exceptional and well-known hunting dogs, the durable Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the versatile German Shorthaired Pointer. This cross generally excels in all aspects of hunting, including stalking birds and other game, pointing to indicate target position and retrieving carcasses. They are active dogs in both mind and body, and need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to keep them from becoming anxious or destructive. While these dogs make excellent hunting dogs and companions for active adults and older children, some individuals can be too lively for toddlers and very young children, and they are generally too large and active to be comfortable in an apartment.

History of the Pointer Bay

The Pointer Bay is a hybrid dog, a cross between two exceptional hunting dogs, the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

	A little of the German Shorthaired Pointer
	Although a version of the German Shorthaired Pointer has existed since the 18th century, the modern version of the German Shorthaired Pointer was not developed until the late 19th century, and improvements continued into the early 20th century. The German Shorthaired Pointer was designed to be a versatile hunting dog, capable of tracking, pointing and retrieving just about any type of game in any environment. Records of the breed's development are scarce, but some of the breeds that would have contributed to the final product include the Spanish Pointers, the French Braque, the French Gascon and several types of “blood-scented dogs” such as the Hanoverian Bloodhound or the Weimar Braque. The overall result has been an outstanding success, as the modern German Shorthaired Pointer is well suited to tracking anything from quail to deer and retrieving birds from land and water.

	Standard of the German Shorthaired Pointer


	A little of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever
	The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a little older than the German Shorthaired Pointer, but it's also a relatively new breed of dog, developed in the early 19th century in the Chesapeake Bay region of the United States of America. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed can trace its lineage back to two very specific St. John's Newfoundland dogs, a black female named Canton and a red male named Sailor. These two dogs were rescued together from a shipwreck off the coast of Maryland, and each went to different owners. Although the two dogs were not related, they both had the same intense desire to recover and became famous for their prowess in the icy waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Because of these qualities, puppies from these two dogs were in high demand and they were bred extensively, sometimes with other Newfoundland dogs and other times with flat-coated and curly-coated Retrievers. Although these two dogs were never bred to each other, their collective offspring were the basis of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed, a breed of well-built dogs that are generally brown in color, with short to medium-sized waterproof coats that are thick and wavy, and with the same intense desire to retrieve as Canton and Sailor, returning to the icy water again and again, sometimes retrieving up to a hundred birds a day.

	Standard of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Appearance of the Pointer Bay

The Pointer Bay is a medium to large dog with long, powerfully built legs and a deep chest. They have a medium-sized head with a muzzle long enough to allow the dog to retrieve game without damaging it. Their ears hang down, framing their faces, but some will have the longer, lower ears of the German Shorthaired Pointer while others will have shorter ears that hang much higher on the skull, and their almond-shaped eyes can be either the dark brown of the German Shorthaired Pointer or the amber or honey color characteristic of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Interestingly, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and their offspring are often born with blue eyes that change color as they grow, and may have webbed paws. The Pointer Bay's coat will certainly be water-resistant, but beyond that, it can vary somewhat from dog to dog, as these hybrids can take on traits of either the short, thick, single-layered coat of the German Shorthaired Pointer, or the double-layered coat. of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, consisting of a thick, dense undercoat sheltered beneath an abundant layer of short, wavy, coarse-textured fur.

Temperament of the Pointer Bay

This crossbreed is generally good-natured with most people, although there may be slight personality differences between the dogs due to the different personalities of the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. This crossbreed is generally tolerant of children of all ages, and their boundless energy makes them loyal and entertaining companions for older children, but interactions must be closely supervised as the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is often unaware of its own strength, and the German Shorthaired Pointer can be too noisy for young children. The Pointer Bay is a thinking animal with the quick thinking ability of the German Shorthaired Pointer and the exceptionally long memory of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Whether or not this thinking animal is particularly trainable will depend on the individual. Dogs that inherit the quick wit and eager nature of the German Shorthaired Pointer and the long memory and enduring temperament of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever should be extremely easy to train. On the other hand, dogs that inherit the stubborn, independent nature of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the absent-mindedness of the German Shorthaired Pointer can present a significant training challenge.

Needs and activities of the Pointer Bay

The Pointer Bay is a very active, athletic dog that needs plenty of exercise to stay happy and healthy. Activities such as walking, running, tracking, agility classes, rally sports, competitive Frisbee and, of course, water sports are all wonderful outlets for this dog's seemingly endless energy, and although they're usually content with an hour and a half of vigorous exercise and activity a day, they're even happier if they can do two hours or more. It's important to remember that this breed's mind is as active as its body, and must receive plenty of mental stimulation throughout the day to prevent malicious or destructive behavior from surfacing. This crossbreed is generally too large and active to make a good apartment dweller and is much happier in a larger home, preferably with a fenced yard.

Maintenance of the Pointer Bay

As a pet, this dog's grooming requirements are fairly straightforward. A bath is necessary a few times a year to keep the coat clean and fresh, and weekly brushing, using either a smooth brush or grooming glove for the German Shorthaired Pointer's coat, or a pincushion brush and comb for the thicker coat of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, is suitable for managing loose hair and properly distributing oils over the coat. Dogs that are employed in the field will generally need bathing more often as they are likely to move around in areas that can be muddy, and should be carefully groomed and examined for wounds, skin irritations and parasites each time they return from home.