The Perdiguero de Burgos has a lot of
skin and is not as heavily built as it looks. The extra skin comes from is
close relationship with the Sabueso Espanol. It has muscular shoulders and a
deep and broad chest. It has a large square shaped head and a moderately
defined stop. The muzzle is long, very broad and square shaped. The long,
wide, high-set, soft ears hang down in folds. It has hanging flews and a dewlap. The coat
is short and dense and the coloring is always liver and white, which can
include or exclude patches and ticking. Most Perdigueros de Burgos have very
heavy ticking, giving an almost grizzled appearance.
Temperament
The Perdiguero de Burgos was used to
hunt deer for most of its history. Today it is mainly used as a pointer and
retriever of small, fast game such as hare, quail and partridge. Its
excellent nose could fairly qualify it as a scenthound and it is known for
not giving up on a scent. It is a much faster and more athletic dog than it
looks and is able to easily clamber over rough and hilly terrain and to
master steep slopes. At the same time, like other gun dogs, this is a very
obedient animal if it has a firm, but calm, confident and consistent pack leader who provides the proper amount of mental and physical exercise and who sets the rules of the home and sticks to them. Easy to train. It swims well and works in the water. It is
a very patient dog with children and other dogs and is very eager to please
its master, as befits its gun dog status.
These dogs are not recommended for
apartment life. They are moderately active indoors and do best with acreage.
Exercise
Exercise is of paramount importance
for these tireless energetic animals. They are more than a match for even the
most active family and they should not be taken on as family pets unless they
can be guaranteed plenty of vigorous exercise, including a
daily, brisk, long walk or
jog. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human.If under- exercised, this breed
can become restless and destructive.
Life
Expectancy
About 12-14 years
Grooming
The smooth coat of the Perdiguero de Burgos is very
easy to groom. Just brush regularly with a firm bristle brush and bathe only
when necessary. A rub with a piece of toweling or chamois will leave the coat
gleaming. Check the feet also, especially after the dog has been exercising or
working. Dry the dog thoroughly after hunting to prevent chilling. Examine
the ears regularly. This breed is an average shedder.
Origin
The Iberian Peninsula is the likely
place of origin for many of Europe's pointing breeds. The Perdiguero de
Burgos, or Spanish Pointer, is a large Pointer that has contributed greatly
to the development of other Pointer breeds, particularly the larger ones,
such as the Large French Pointer, but also to more medium sized ones as
well. It has been around at least since the 1500s and is thought to be a
descendent of the Perdiguero Navarro (Old Spanish Pointer) and Spain's
scenthound breed, the Sabueso Espanol. Today the Perdiguero de Burgos is
actually smaller and lighter built than it once was, because Spanish
breeders have made great efforts to refine and hone its fine qualities as a
bird-hunting dog. This breed was headed for extinction in the early part of
this century, but today its popularity is growing rapidly in Spain and
hunters are rediscovering its many positive qualities.
