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Pointer Great Dane Mix: Boar Hunter And Companion Meets Bird Dog

Pointer Great Dane Mix

The Pointer Great Dane mix is not a frequent sight among dog owners, but they are striking with their noble good looks and lithe physiques.

If you ever thought this was a cross you could consider owning, you may have experienced understandable wariness.

If the mix’s size alone does not deter you from an immediate purchase, you likely have questions about the combination of personalities.

Although it does not strictly fit the parameters of a designer dog, the Pointer Great Dane mix has promise as a family watchdog and a decent hunting companion.

It is a large-sized dog that is most often white and black or liver and black with a spotted pattern somewhere on its body.

The hybrid is loyal and affectionate with a tendency to attach to a favorite person. It is a cross that does well with older kids and larger dogs.

Should you get a Pointer Great Dane Mix?

Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Get a Pointer Great Dane Mix

Many times people end up with a dog they cannot handle. The pointer Great Dane mix requires careful consideration because it presents several challenges.

  • Large and powerful
  • Can be stubborn and independent
  • Can have serious issues associated with a large-breed dog that may shorten its life
  • Needs a significant exercise commitment
  • Can be hyperactive

Reasons Why You Should Get a Pointer Great Dane Mix

Your Pointer Great Dane mix is not likely to make either a spectacular wild hog hunter or a proficient bird dog. However, she will make a fabulous family companion and perhaps a great hunting partner.

You will find numerous reasons to get a Pointer Great Dane cross.

  • Suited for outdoors activities
  • Athletic
  • Elegant, good looks
  • Loyal
  • Easy to groom
  • Friendly if somewhat reserved with strangers

Pointer Great Dane Mix Puppies for Sale

It may not be important for you, but Pointer Great Dane puppies for sale can involve a few Pointer breeds. Pointers are hunting dogs that differ from retrievers, spaniels, and setters in their coats and hunting styles.

As its name suggests, a retriever retrieves fallen game while spaniels locate and flush.

Setters and pointers are both pointing dogs that freeze when they locate quarry. Setters often assume a crouch or will lay down, originally developed to work out of the way of nets.

Pointers remain upright and lift a foreleg. Both types orient the entire body towards the hidden area of the prey animal.

All four groups of sporting dogs commonly hunt birds. Be aware that when you are searching for Pointer Great Dane pups, a breeder could be using setters or pointers.

Here, we will focus specifically on Pointers, of which there are four major breeds.

  • English Pointer (usually simply a Pointer)
  • German Shorthaired Pointer
  • German Wirehaired Pointer
  • German Longhaired Pointer – not commonly used as it is just in the early stages of AKC recognition (foundation stock class); unlike a typical Pointer, this breed has long hair like a setter

As with any puppy, choose an outgoing individual with bright and alert eyes and no evidence of nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing, or diarrhea.

Many owners find puppies in the middle of the pack to have the least complicated personalities. They are neither too shy and sensitive nor excessively pushy and aggressive.

Appearance, Personality, Coat and Colors, and Traits of a Pointer Great Dane Mix

Appearance

Pointer Great Dane crosses have a consistent look relative to many other hybrids. The head is a moderate rectangle compared to the Great Dane.

You will notice the muzzle of the Pointer cross is not as long, deep, or square as the Dane. Nevertheless, the snout is the same length as the back skull.

A Pointer Great Dane hybrid has medium-length triangular ears that are high-set and come away from the face slightly as they hang down. The eyes are deep-set and rather round and the stop gradually sloping but pronounced.

The neck is long and arched and the shoulders high and powerful. Your impression of a Pointer Dane should be of a strong but lean dog.

The body is almost square with a level topline and a slightly sloping croup. Like both foundation breeds, Pointer Dane crosses have a deep, moderately broad chest.

The tail is long and tapering and rises naturally from the croup. Your dog will likely carry its tail low with a curve at the end.

This mix is approximately 25 to 30 inches tall and weighs 75 to 120 pounds.

Coat

A Pointer has a dense and water-resistant, short double coat. It is glossy, rather rough, and of uniform length throughout the body. Great Danes also have short coats but without a significant undercoat.

Your Pointer Great Dane mix is likely to have a short coat with a light to moderate soft undercoat. She will shed the entire year with a slight increase in hair loss in the spring and fall.

Colors

Your Pointer mix’s coat coloration will depend not only on the genes of the Great Dane parent but also on the Pointer variety. The overwhelming majority of dogs of this mix will be several varieties of black and white.

  • Black – substantial white markings on the chest, legs, and the tip of the tail; can also be a mantle, like a Great Dane or Boston Terrier, with more restricted areas of white in a stereotypical pattern
  • White – large black patches and a blackhead (may have a white blaze down the face); German Shorthair Pointer offspring often have a solid black head and significant speckles, roaning, or speckles outside of large black patches; can also have Dalmatian-like patterns (harlequin dogs have torn black patches or spots against a white base)
  • White & liver – rarer, but black areas listed above are replaced with liver

Pointer Great Dane crosses can also be white with brindle or red patches. Brindle areas will be tan with dark striping.

Personality

Your Pointer Great Dane will be a fearless and dignified dog, although goofy and rambunctious as an adolescent. The mix does not lack affection.

Despite its independent nature, the Pointer Great Dane prefers to be by your side most of the time. It makes an excellent watchdog with a formidable bark.

Pointer Great Dane Mix and Families

Pointer Great Dane mixes can take after their Pointer parents and bond more strongly with one family member than others in the household. You may have to work at making your dog more well-rounded.

They do get along well with children if they receive thorough socialization and plenty of exercises. As with any large-sized dog, use caution with toddlers and children under 10 to 12 years old. Mature dogs are much more careful around kids than they are as puppies.

Pointer Great Danes are not aggressive and are generally friendly and accepting of strangers after a short warm-up period.

Many individuals remain reserved or slightly aloof with people who are not family members. Unsocialized dogs will be either shy or snappy.

Pointer Great Dane Mix and other pets

A Pointer Great Dane mix is usually a good fit with other dogs that weigh 40 pounds or more.

Cats can pose a problem because of their small size. However, Pointer Great Danes tend to be fine with pets they grow up with.

You should not trust your dogs with birds or rabbits. Moreover, she is unlikely to form any meaningful or trustworthy bonds with lizards and snakes.

Watch your Pointer cross with small breeds at the dog park or cats in your neighborhood.

Traits

  • Decent hunting dog – moderately high prey drive, cooperative nature, independent thinking, and working
  • Protective – effective watchdog, can be a guard dog with formal training
  • Athletic – fast running speed and excellent stamina
  • Intelligent
  • May have a high working drive

Grooming Your Pointer Great Dane Mix

Since your pet will have a short coat that is not very susceptible to soiling, it only requires a light daily brushing.

You can use a pin brush or rubber curry. Increased loose hairs in the spring and autumn may require brushing every couple of days.

Other grooming needs include a nail trim and bath every four to eight weeks, teeth brushing every one or two days, and ear cleaning every couple of weeks.

Since your dog will have a pronounced dip in her face, you should wipe around the eyes and muzzle daily with a soft damp cloth.

Pointer Great Dane Mix Health

Lifespan

A Pointer Great Dane mix reaps the benefits of being a hybrid and is significantly smaller than a purebred Great Dane. Moreover, a Pointers has a potentially long lifespan of 12 to 17 years. As a result, the average lifespan of a Pointer-Great Dane is between 11 and 13 years.

Health Problems

The mix has the full range of health problems suffered by both the Pointer and Dane albeit it may suffer less frequently from many of the ailments.

Pointer Common Problems

  • Entropion – eyelids roll inward, causing fur to rub against the eyes
  • Hypothyroidism – low thyroid hormones
  • Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) – a common genetic problem in dogs
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Lymphedema – part of the lymphatic system is missing or obstructed; caused tissue swelling
  • Tail injuries
  • Epilepsy – unexplained possibly hereditary seizures
  • GDV or stomach swelling and torsion
  • Allergies

Top Great Dane Challenges

  • Bloat (GDV)
  • Hip and elbow dysplasia
  • Wobbler’s syndrome – instability in the vertebrae of the neck; leads to various neurologic deficits
  • Dilatative cardiomyopathy – left-sided heart enlargement; can suffer arrhythmias or congestive heart failure
  • Ectropion – eyelids droop outward
  • Allergies
  • Unsightly skin growths
  • Epilepsy
  • Cataracts
  • Bone cancer
  • Von Willebrand’s disease – a clotting factor is missing

Pointer Dane Major Health Concerns

  • Bloat (GDV)
  • Allergies
  • Cataracts
  • Progressive retinal atrophy
  • Hip and elbow dysplasia
  • Epilepsy
  • Eyelid abnormalities

Pointer Great Dane Mix Food Requirements

Food requirements are similar among different breeds. Your most important considerations are age, weight, and activity levels because these determine the energy requirements of a specific dog.

Puppies require two to three times the amount of food as an adult because of the nutritional consumption of growth.

However, more calories do not translate to a disproportionately large share of vitamins and minerals, and this is where some dog foods can fail your large-breed pup.

As your pup grows, feed a diet specifically for puppies that will reach more than 70 pounds at maturity. Do not supplement calcium and other minerals without instruction from a veterinarian.

Animal proteins should make up the majority of your dog’s intake. The other required macronutrient is fat. Carbohydrates, such as grains or potatoes, always spark a heated debate among dog owners, but your pet is equipped to gain limited energy from them.

Whether you feed carbs to your dog should be based on research and an assessment of your pet as an individual.

For example, one dog may be allergic to wheat or corn, and another may not be able to maintain an appropriate weight without grains or potatoes.

Your dog requires 27 to 32 calories per pound per day as the Pointer will increase the Great Dane’s metabolism.

Puppies need 54 to 96 calories per pound each day and may require this until they are a year and a half old. Working and breeding dogs potentially need even more food than puppies.

You should feed your puppy three to six times daily and your adult at least twice a day to help avoid issues with bloat.

Pointer Great Dane Mix Exercise Requirements

Pointers are more intense and have greater exercise requirements than the Great Dane. Your mix will need 60 to 90 minutes of exercise every day split into two sessions. At least 20 to 30 minutes should be strenuous and another 15 to 25 minutes must include training.

Puppies under 12 to 14 months should not get more than 30 minutes of organized exercise twice a day.

An excellent rule for young puppies is five minutes of physical activity per month of age. Pups require more training and socialization than traditional exercises.

Pointer Great Dane Mix Training

Pointers are among the top 20 dogs in working intelligence, placing them in renowned psychologist Stanley Coren’s above-average group for training. This is compared to the Great Dane’s No. 88, reflecting its stubbornness and resistance to rote instruction.

Pointer Great Danes can be challenging to train because of their size and due to the Pointer’s tendency to become easily distracted. Therefore, Pointer-Great Danes are not generally the best choice for beginners.

Hiring a professional trainer, even if only on an as-needed basis, can work wonders. Otherwise, Pointer Great Dane mixes need the same approach to training as other breeds.

  • Consistency
  • Patience
  • Repetition without becoming tedious
  • Praise
  • Tangible rewards – food, playtime, affection

Example

It is unclear how old this dog is, but it does have the expected appearance of many Pointer Great Dane hybrids.

The mix is not an exceedingly large dog but has substance. Many of them, like this one, are lean and powerful-looking but usually have a more refined head. Note this dog’s white base color with brindle patches.