Dogs that 'point'

[shivvy]

Are there many breeds of dog that regularly do that pointing thing with their paw when running around in fields etc - apart from pointers obviously?! Which other dogs are known for doing it?

A have a little rescue mutt whose ancestry is very unclear but she does do alot of pointing and I wondered if it might give a clue to what the hell she might be made up from!!

Thanks.

[ELVIS68]

I`m miffed why dogs do that "wheelspin" thingy after they`ve done their doo doos, it`s not as if they cover it, they aim at wherever you`re standing

[Ice.Maiden]

Many working dogs (gun dogs) do this, as they've been taught to hunt, point and retrieve, but dogs specifically used for this seem to've adopted an in-born habit, so some breeds are easier to bring on than others. Examples are, as you say, pointers, retrievers and spaniels, but other types can be taught how to do this, so perhaps your little dog has some of this in her background. Also make sure that she's walking and running about OK, as she could have something lodged in a pad, or to let your vet have a quick look.

[shivvy]

Thanks Ice.Maiden. If someone has a lab for example and they do something typically labrador-ish you know where it is coming from. With my little bitsa, Bella, I often wonder which of her (no doubt many) ancestors her different traits come from. They must be clues.
The vet always has a giggle when I ask her to guess at her parentage! Although I love her just as she is, it would be interesting to know how many parts of which kind of dogs she is made up from!
I have often thought of putting a seperate question with her photo on here to see what people think she might be made of but here are a couple of photos for you to guess her mix if you fancy!

<img src="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn146/shivvy_photos/Bella074.jpg" border="0" alt="Bandana belle">

<img src="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn146/shivvy_photos/BogginBellaAug081.jpg" border="0" alt="Boggin' belle">

[ELVIS68]

****** father and Terrier bitch

[ELVIS68]

Sh!tzu

[snow.maiden]

Well without seeing her, I wouldn't like to say, but I'd guess at terrier and SOMEthing. I think you can have genetic tests done, but it'd be very expensive - and there's no point really, no pun intended! Labradors can point as well, so....it's anyone's guess really.
Remember, many pedigree breeds once came from a mixture of cross-breeding, like Staffies and so on, so really, it doesn't matter at all. She sounds lovely anyway.

[snow.maiden]

Mwhahaha!!! Lovely!

[frankiecat]

I have to agree with Terrier - a Cute little Terrier maybe?

She is lovely.

[shivvy]

Thanks everyone.
Can't believe that AB bleeped out your fist answer Elvis!
She is definatley cute - but then I am biased!
When I first got her she was very scrawny but since she has filled out a bit and grown a bit more hair, some people have suggested that she looks like a wheaten terrier.

[Twinkle17]

Oh Shivvy she is absolutely gorgeous!!!!!

I have the same with my rescue dog, I ask people all the time what breed they think he is made up from and get different answers each time... He is so funny, long body, short legs, rotty bum, doberman colours, big floppy ears, long nose and a white streak down his chest. He is certainly one of a kind ha ha....oh and he does the pointing thing with his front paw.....I might put a pic on here too and see what everybody thinks.......

Dont you just love them!!?

x

[brenda]

shivvy---don't know what breed , but they are both beautiful.
Thank you.x

[shivvy]

Thanks twink and brenda.
I'd love to see a picture of your little mutley twinkle!

[fredpuli47]

Pointing or paw thing? Lots of dogs do the crooked paw.They do it when they are intrigued by something. It's as though they are forming a question mark with it " What is that I've just heard?'. Not so many do the full pointer 'point' where they stretch their nose out and stand rigid, leaning forward, front paw crooked, as though pointing towards the game. But , as said, the gundogs tend to that action.

Dogs spinning round when defecating is a whole new story. That's an individual trait. There's a bitch here who goes through a little dance, spinning round and round, before defecating. Afterwards she simply walks away.None of her sisters or aunts, nor her dam or grand dam do any such thing. Weird!

[Schutzengel]

She is absolutely gorgeous. Looks like she has some Wirehaired English Terrier in her make-up.

[blackcat77]

Definitely terrier and something - I think that she looks a lovely little dog - but what had she been foraging in in the second picture?