ENCl, Ente Nazionale Cinofilia Italiana, Breed Standard
- Brief Historical Summary
This dog of ancient Italian origin used for bird hunting has developed over the ages; from the hunting by
nets, to hunting with guns. Frescoes from the 14th century are proof of the indisputable timelessness of
the Italian pointer over the centuries, regarding the morphology and aptitudes in hunting as a pointer.
- General Appearance
Of strong and harmonious construction, powerful appearance. The preferred subjects are those with
lean limbs, well developed muscles, well defined lines with a markedly sculpted head and a very obvious
lower orbital chiseling, elements which all contribute to give distinction to this breed.
- Important Proportions
Length of the body is the same or a little more than the height at the withers. Length of head is equal to
4/10 of the height at the withers, its width, measured at the level of the zygomatic arches, is less than
half its length. Skull and muzzle are of equal length.
- Behavior & Temperament
Tough and adapted to all types of hunting, reliable, endowed with an excellent ability to understand,
docile and easy to train.
- Head
Angular and narrow at the level of the zygomatic arches, its length corresponds to 4/10 of the height at
the withers: the middle of its length is at the level of a line which unites the inner angles of both eyes:
the upper longitudinal axes of the skull ad muzzle are divergent, i.e. if extended the top line of the
muzzle, emerges in front of the occipital protuberance, ideally at mid-length of the skull.
- Skull Region
Seen in profile, the skull shape is a very open arch. Seen from the top, it forms lengthwise an elongated
ellipse. The width of the skull, measured at the level of the zygomatic arches should not exceed half of
the length of the head. Cheeks are lean, the bugle of the forehead and the supraorbital ridges are
perceptible, whereas the stop is not pronounced. The frontal groove is visible and ends at mid-length of
the skull. The interparietal crest is short and not very prominent. The occipital protuberance is
pronounced.
- Racial Region
Nose - Voluminous, with large well opened nostrils, protrudes slightly over the lips with which it forms
an angle. Color: brown or from pale pink to more or less deep fleshy red depending on the color of the
coat. Muzzle - Foreface either straight or slightly arched. Its length is equal to half of the length of the
head and its depth measures 4/5 of its length. Seen from the front, the lateral sides of the muzzle
converge slightly, still presenting a foreface of good width. The chin not very apparent. Lips - Upper lips
well developed, thin and floppy without being flaccid, covering the jaw; seen in profile, they overlap the
lower jaw slightly, seen from the front, they form an inverted "V" below the nose; the corner of the lips
must be marked without being droopy. Teeth - Dental arches well adapted, with the teeth square to the
jaw; scissor bite - pincer bite is also acceptable. Eyes - Semi-lateral position with a soft and submissive
expression neither deep set nor prominent. Eyes fairly large, y lids oval shaped and close fitting (no
entropion or ectropion). The iris is of a more or less dark ochre or brown color depending on the coat
color. Ears-Well developed, in length they should, without being stretched, reach the tip of the nose.
Their width is at least equal to half their length; raised only very slightly; base rather narrow, set rather
backwards at level of zygomatic arches: a supple ear with a front rim well-turned inwards and really
close to the cheek is appreciated; the lower extremity of the ear ends in a slightly rounded tip.
- Neck
Powerful, in truncated cone shape, length not less than 2/3 of the length of the head, well detached
from the nape. The throat shows a soft double dewlap.
- Body
Topline - The upper profile of the back is made up of two lines: one, almost straight, slopes from the
withers to the 11th dorsal vertebra; the other is slightly arched, joining with the line of the rump.
Withers - Well defined, with the points of the shoulder blades well separated. Loin - Wide lumbar
region, muscled, short and slightly convex. Rump - Long (about 1/3 of the height at the withers), broad
and well-muscled; the pelvic angulation (angle formed by the pelvic girdle with a horizontal line) is 30f.
Pelvis wide. Chest - Broad, deep and well down to level of elbows, without forming a heel, with well
sprung ribs, particularly in their lower part, and sloping. Underline - lower profile almost horizontal in its
ribcage part, rising slightly in its abdominal part. Tail - Thick at the base, stra ight, with a slight tendency
to taper, hair short. When the dog is in action and especially when questing, is carried horizontally or
nearly. Should be docked at 15 - 25 cm from the root.
- Limbs - Forequarters
Shoulder strong, well-muscled, long and sloping, very free in its movement; the upper arm sloping,
fitting to the ribcage; forearm strong, straight, with strong and well-marked sinews; the point of the
elbows should be on a perpendicular line from the rear point of the shoulder blade to the ground;
metacarpus (pasterns) well proportioned, lean, of good length and slightly sloping; feet strong, slightly
oval shaped, well arched and closed toes with strong nails well curved towards the ground. Color of nails
is white, yellow or brown, of a more or less dark shade depending on the color of the coat: pads elastic
and lean.
- limbs - Hindquarters
Thigh long, parallel, muscular, with a rear edge almost straight; strong limbs; hocks wide, metatarsals
relatively short and lean. The feet with all the characteristics of the front feet, have dewclaws, the
absence of which is not a fault. Double dewclaw is tolerated.
- Gait/Movement
Extended and fast trot, with powerful impulsion from the hindquarters; head ra ised, nose held high in
such a way that, when hunting, the nose is higher than the top line.
- Skin
Tough but elastic: fine on the head, the throat, inside the elbows and on lower part of the body. The
visible mucous membranes must be a corresponding color with the coat, but never show black spots.
The mucous membranes of the mouth are pink; in the roans or white and chestnut colored dogs they
sometimes show brown or light chestnut spotting.
- Coat
Type of hair - Short, dense and glossy, fine and shorter on the head, the ears, front part of the legs and
feet. Color of coat - White; white with marking of varied size of an orange or more or less dark amber
color, white with more or less large chestnut marking; white with pale orange (speckled); white mottled
with chestnut (roan-chestnut); in this last combination, a metallic sheen is appreciated, and a warm
shade of chestnut is preferred, recalling the color of a monk's tunic. A symmetrical fa cial mask is
preferred but the absence of a mask is tolerated.
- Size & Weight
Height at the withers between 55-67 cm. preferred size for males: (58-67 cm) - (22.83-26.37in).
Preferred size for females: (55-62 cm), (21.65-24.4 in). Weight between (25 and 40 kg)-(55-88 lbs.)
depending on height.
- Faults
Any departure from the foregoing constitutes a fault which when judging must be penalized according
to its seriousness and its extension.
- Faults - Elimination
Accentuated prognathism. Size 2 cm. above or below limits indicated in the standard.
- Faults - Disqualifying
Split nose; convergence of cranial-facial axes; wall eye; upper prognatism; absence of pigmentation
(albinism); black coat; white and black; tricolor; fawn, hazel, unicolor, with tan markings, mucous
membranes, skin and annexes with traces of black.
- N.B.
Males should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
AA WINGFOOT KENNEL