Portuguese Pointer vs Old English Bulldog - Breed Comparison

This is an extinct dog breed. It is believed that the dog came from ancient dogs such as the old Mastiff. The Old English Bulldog was the original English Bulldog but quite different from the modern variety, with longer legs as well as a longer muzzle and more aggressive.

It is believed that the Old English Bulldog was the ancestor to many breeds and there have been efforts to recreate the Old English Bulldog, bringing about quite a few new Bulldog breeds. Records are actually unclear as to its origins and when you read up on its ancestry, you see that a lot of the information is conflicting.

A number of breeders have attempted to recreate this extinct breed with some success, but it must be borne in mind that these recreations aren’t the Old English Bulldog, as the genetics of it are extinct.

The Portuguese Pointer comes from Portugal where the dog was developed as a gun dog. It is believed that the dog is descended from the Spanish Pointer and developed to point out game.

The dog was was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1996.

The dog was introduced to England in the 18th century and the modern type of the Portuguese Pointer became established in the early 1900’s when the breed had become endangered. A group of breeders re-established its numbers.

Today it is both working- and companion dog. The UK Kennel Club recognised it as a breed in 2014.

This dog is extinct but he used to be a fairly broadly set, muscular dog, taller than the bulldog of today.

The average height of this dog was 36 – 40cm, weighing in at about 18 to 22kg. One of the dog’s more noticeable characteristics was his lower jaw that projected quite a bit in front of the upper jaw. The dog was deep-chested, the head broad and the nose and muzzle short.

The breed was developed for bull baiting, but in England, with the adoption of the Act of cruelty to animals, there was a decline in the interest for the dog, leading to it becoming extinct. There are old paintings from the 1800s and one such painting, Crib and Rosa, gives an idea of the form and size of the Old English Bulldog.

Temperament:

The regular English Bulldog today is often confused with the Old English Bulldog but it is a far sweeter breed than the Old English Bulldog. It is believed that the Old English Bulldog was an aggressive dog, bred to be this way because of his role in bull baiting.

As a pet though, brought up as a companion, he no doubt would have made a loving, loyal pet.

Originating from Portugal, the attractive, almost Boxer-like looking dog is a medium sized purebred dog that stands at between 48 and 60cm in height and weighs roughly 16 to 27kg.

The Portuguese Pointer has a coat that is light brown, tan or yellow. The dog has a short, easy to maintain coat. He has a fairly square face, much like the Boxer, floppy ears with a long tail. The tail is usually docked. The eyes are brown and he a bright, alert, kind expression.

Temperament:

The Portuguese Pointer is a dog with strong hunting instincts, but who still has time to make a splendid companion for his human family. He is gentle and loyal to his human family, being somewhat reserved with strangers. This is a good thing really as this makes him a good watchdog.

He is good with other pets in the home as well as with children. He badly wants to please his family, and because he is intelligent and a fast learner, you won’t have any trouble with training and socialization.

He is a sociable dog, loving to be close to its owner. He is active and will require quite a bit of exercise, loving to join in with games with the children. He gets on well with children in the home as well as with animals.

Not much information is available on this extinct dog. Perhaps because of his history of being used for bull baiting, he wouldn’t have made a good family pet as he was too aggressive. He wouldn't have been a good choice for a first time dog owner and he wouldn't have been a good choice of pet for children.

He was possibly owned by a single person who made money from him. Small wonder then that he became extinct when he was no longer required for this role.

The gorgeous Portuguese Pointer makes such a loyal and loving pet. He is always looking out for his human family, making sure that they are safe and protected under his watch.

He is an excellent watch dog too, proudly running around outside and making sure that there are no intruders around. They are good with kids too if the kids are gentle and kind with animals.

He loves a good game too and is always ready to take part in any activities you’re taking part in. The Portuguese Pointer is truly an awesome pet and companion.

This dog, although extinct would have battled with common dog illnesses that can still be seen in the modern bulldog today.

Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome:

Brachycephalic airway syndrome is all about upper airway abnormalities and can be quite a problem in your Old English Bulldog because of the shortened muzzle of these breeds. These particular dogs have a smaller upper jaw and an overcrowding of of teeth and you will see that effort is required to inhale. They breathe more easily through the mouth then the nose. They have noisy breathing, particularly during exercise and in hot weather.

Cherry Eye:

Dogs have 3 eyelids, and cherry eye is the term used for prolapsed nictitating membrane, or the 3rd eyelid, when the eyelid comes out of place and you get a pink mass. It is a common condition found in Bulldogs, a genetic problem where surgical intervention or medicine may be recommended.

Your robust Portuguese Pointer isn’t known to be a dog to suffer with too many breed related health problems. With good care he can reach 14 years of age.Portuguese Pointers are a healthy breed, but some health issues can crop up -

Cancer:

Cancer is a leading cause of death in dogs young and old. Luckily, if caught early, cancer is curable. Some of the cancers found in dogs are malignant lymphoma – a tumor of the lymph nodes.

Skin cancer is also fairly common. The warning signs of cancer in dogs can be a new lump or a wound that won’t heal. While these are classic signs, sometimes there are no signs. If your dog isn’t feeling well, it’s time to get him to the veterinarian.

Liver Disease:

The liver is one of the vital body organs but it is susceptible to a wide variety of problems. It detoxifies the blood, stores vitamins and assists with digestion among other things.

One of the most common symptoms of liver disease is jaundice. When the liver isn’t functioning properly, bilirubin builds up in the blood and leads to the yellowish appearance of the dog.

Other common symptoms of liver disease include vomiting, weight loss and diarrhea. Veterinary attention will be required.

If the Old English Bulldog were still around today, you would have cared for him like you would most other dogs -

Feed your Old English Bulldog puppy 4 times a day with high quality puppy food.

At 6 months of age you can be giving your young dog 2 meals a day.

Commercially manufactured food is fine if its a high quality one. Always check out the top 5 ingredients on the packaging – the first 2 should be protein or meat. Follow a simple, consistent diet to minimize symptoms. Your adult dog can have kibble and sometimes you can add in chopped boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. A little bit of raw meat can also be added to the kibble once in a while. Never leave your dog without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Even though the dog is extinct, dog owners of that time would have had to watch their dogs for ticks and fleas and any of the common dog illnesses of that time.

The dog would have had some kind of grooming – a brush down a couple of times and he would have been checked for ear and eye infections.

Exercise:

The Portuguese Pointer has been a working dog and doesn’t enjoy lying around with nothing to do. Apart from a walk every day which he loves, he’ll want other activities that stimulate him mentally and physically.

Grooming:

His short coat means that he won’t require any special grooming. He does shed constantly, like many other dogs, and a good brush twice a week will keep his short coat vibrant and shiny.

Diet:

Your canine friend will require protein in his diet as well as all the vitamins ad minerals for health. The very best commercially manufactured dog foods will be required for his health.

The dry kibble can be a wonderful convenient way to feed your pet. The best commercial foods meet the requirements for a dog’s diet. Give him some delicious home made food too. Boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach can be cooked in bulk and then chopped up and small portions mixed into the dry kibble twice a week as a treat.

It provides your pet with an alternative to the dry kibble, it is healthy, easy to digest and your pet will love it. Dogs thrive on simple consistency. Once in a while you can also give him some raw meat. Never leave him without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.