There are fifteen separate pointer breeds, and the way Pointers shed varies a lot due to coat density, length, texture, and shedding behavior vary between the breeds.
Pointers Dogs
The Pointers are a family of dogs bred specifically as gundogs or “bird dogs.”
What sets the pointers apart from other hunting breeds is the unique way they “point” out prey with their muzzle.
Many pointers are also known for how they lift a single paw off the ground and stick their tail out horizontally to the floor when they catch the scent of prey, but not all pointer breeds do this.
The pointer family has fifteen distinct breeds, all excellent hunting dogs.
These breeds include:
- English Setter
- Italian Spinone
- Hungarian Pointer
- Brittany
- Gordon Setter
- English Pointer
- Irish Setter
- Irish Red and White Setter
- Weimaraner
- German Wirehaired Pointer
- German Shorthaired Pointer
- German Longhaired Pointer
- Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
- Small Munsterlander
- Pudelpointer
English Setter
The English Setter is divided into two groups, the field English Setter and the Show English Setter.
The Field English Setter has a thinner coat and fewer feathers on the legs and tail.
The show English Setter is larger and has more coat and feathering.
The English Setter weighs between 45 and 80 pounds and stands between 23 to 27 inches tall.
This pointer breed has a flat double coat. The wooly undercoat keeps the dog warm, and the silky top provides waterproof protection.
The English Setter Pointer sheds in a moderate way.
Italian Spinone
The Italian Spinone or Spinone Italiano has a thicker coat and thicker skin, but it does not have a double coat like some other pointer breeds.
The Spinone coat needs regular brushing and grooming to remove dead hair.
The Italian Spinone weighs between 64 and 86 pounds and stands between 23 to 28 inches tall.
The way this Pointer shed is minimal, and most hair mats into the coat rather than fall to the ground.
Hungarian Pointer
There are two types of Hungarian Pointer or Magyar Vizsla – a smooth coated Hungarian Pointer and a Wirehaired Hungarian Pointer.
The Hungarian Pointer weighs between 40 and 66 pounds and stands between 21 to 25 inches tall.
The smooth-coated Hungarian Pointer has a short, dense coat.
The wirehaired Hungarian Pointer has a thick and close-lying coat.
Both the smooth and the wirehaired Hungarian Pointers are minimal shedders.
Brittany
The Brittany has a thick double coat that can be wavy or flat, allowing hunting dogs to work in the field without getting waterlogged or caked in the dirt!
This pointer breed has a flat double coat with slight feathering on the legs.
The wooly undercoat keeps the dog warm, and the silky top provides waterproof protection.
The Brittany weighs between 30 and 40 pounds and stands between 18 to 20 inches tall.
The Brittany is a minimal shedder.
Gordon Setter
The Gordon Setter has a double coat with a shiny topcoat composed of fine short hair on the head, legs, and ears and thicker long, feathered hair on the body.
The Gordon Setter weighs between 45 and 80 pounds and stands between 23 to 27 inches tall.
The Gordon Setter is a moderate shedder.
English Pointer
The English Pointer has a dense, short, smooth double-layered coat that lies flat against the body.
The English Pointer weighs between 45 and 75 pounds and stands between 23 to 28 inches tall.
The English Pointer is a moderate shedder.
Irish Setter
The Irish Setter has a topcoat of long fine hair that feathers around the chest, tails, ears, and legs.
This dog also has a protective undercoat that thickens in the winter.
The Irish Setter weighs between 53 and 71 pounds and stands between 25 to 27 inches tall.
Irish Red And White Setter
The Red and White Irish Setter has a topcoat of long fine hair that feathers around the chest, tails, ears, and legs and a protective undercoat that thickens in the winter.
The Irish Red and White Setter weighs between 53 and 71 pounds and stands between 25 to 27 inches tall.
The Red and White Irish Setter is a moderate shedder.
Weimaraner
The Weimaraner has a short, smooth single-layer coat that is silver-gray.
The Weimaraner weighs between 55 and 72 pounds and stands between 23 to 27 inches tall.
The Weimaraner is a moderate shedder year-round.
German Wirehaired Pointer
The German Wirehaired Pointer has a double coat that protects the body as it moves through the wetlands.
The undercoat is dense in the winter, and the topcoat is waterproof and wiry.
The German Wirehaired Pointer weighs between 60 and 71 pounds and stands between 22 to 26 inches tall.
The German Wirehaired Pointer sheds minimally year-round.
German Shorthaired Pointer
The German short-haired Pointer has a short double coat with a dense undercoat and a rough protective outer jacket.
The German short-haired Pointer weighs between 45 and 70 pounds and stands between 23 to 25 inches tall.
German Longhaired Pointer
The German longhaired pointer has a double coat, a dense undercoat that protects the skin, and a shiny, firm-to-the-touch topcoat.
The German longhaired pointer weighs between 60 and 71 pounds and stands between 23 to 28 inches tall.
The German longhaired pointer sheds lightly during the year and a little more heavily with the Spring and Fall seasons.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
The wirehaired pointing griffon has a double coat with a thick, downy undercoat and a straight but wiry topcoat.
The wirehaired Pointing Griffon weighs between 51 and 60 pounds and stands between 20 to 24 inches tall.
The wirehaired pointing griffon sheds lightly throughout the year.
Small Munsterlander
The Small Munsterlander has a thick double coat, a thick, flat outer coat, and a soft and smooth undercoat that insulates.
The Small Munsterlander weighs between 40 and 60 pounds and stands between 19 to 22 inches tall.
The Small Munsterlander is a moderate shedder year-round but sheds most heavily during the fall and spring.
Pudelpointer
The Pudelpointer has a double-layered medium-length coat made up of a short undercoat and a longer overcoat.
The coat’s texture, density, and softness vary from dog to dog.
The Pudelpointer weighs between 44 and 66 pounds and stands between 21 to 26 inches tall.
The Pudelpointer is a moderate shedder year-round and sheds more heavily during Fall and Spring.
Conclusion / Summary
There are fifteen pointer breeds, and their shedding patterns vary from breed to breed, but whether you are looking for a low-shedder or not, there is a pointer breed for you!
