In the 14th century, this dog lived in royal and aristocratic kennels and worked in falconry. It was then called “Podengo de Mostra”, later “Perdigueiro”, from “perdiz”, Portuguese for partridge. The Portuguese Pointing Dog (Perdigueiro Português) still has a distinctive look, with its short yellow coat and square head with hanging lips.
| FCI | Group 7 (Pointing Dogs), Section 1.1 Continental Pointing Dogs, Braque type, Standard No. 187, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Portugal |
| Size (height at the withers) | Males 56 cm, females 52 cm, each with 4 cm tolerance above and below |
| Weight | Males 20 to 27 kg, females 16 to 22 kg |
| Life expectancy | at birth 9,2 years according to Portugal’s pet registry, 2.560 dogs (Geraz et al. 2024) |
| Coat | short, firm, close-fitting, harsh and dense, without undercoat; finer and velvety on head and ears |
| Colours in the standard | yellow in light, medium or dark shades, solid or with white patches on head, neck, chest, lower legs and tail tip |
Documented since the 12th century
According to the FCI standard, the breed comes from the Iberian Peninsula and descends from the old pointing dog of that region, also considered an ancestor of other pointers. Its presence can be traced to the 12th century. In the first quarter of the 20th century, a group of breeders and hunters began describing its traits and spreading the breed. A Spanish relative is the Burgos Pointer.
Friendly, sociable and a little proud
The standard describes it as extremely friendly and affectionate, robust, enduring and devoted. It is calm and very sociable, though somewhat haughty towards other dogs. Naturally curious, it works persistently and briskly, staying in close contact with the hunter. This closeness helps training but does not replace work.
Square build, rhythmic trot
The body is square or nearly square; the head looks somewhat heavy and larger than it is. Skull and muzzle have a ratio of 6 to 4. In the field, it alternates a ground-covering gallop with a light, rhythmic trot. Plan long daily walks with off-lead time, search games and retrieving.
Short yellow hair without undercoat
The hair is short, harsh and dense, without undercoat; on the ears it feels velvety. A rubber curry brush and checks of ears and pads suffice. White patches are allowed only in certain places; elsewhere they are serious faults. Albinism, congenital blindness and deafness lead to disqualification under the standard.
Figures from Portugal’s registry
McMillan and colleagues’ British study does not analyse the breed. A study of Portugal’s pet registry covering 278.116 deceased dogs found life expectancy at birth of 9,2 years for 2.560 Portuguese Pointing Dogs, compared with around 8,9 years across all dogs (Geraz et al. 2024). These values rely on registry reports, where deaths are often recorded late, and cannot be directly compared with British medians. No reliable study of individual inherited diseases in the breed was found.
Who it suits
People who hunt or offer comparable scent work, spend plenty of time outdoors and appreciate a closely bonded, friendly dog.
When to keep looking
If your daily life allows little exercise, you want a dog for parks full of unfamiliar dogs or have never handled a hunting dog, this is not a good choice. It remains a partridge dog, even when resting its head on your knee in the evening.
The breed quiz helps you decide in minutes which breed really fits your life; our book explores more thoroughly: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For starting life with a puppy, the Puppy Starter Pack is available free. If your yellow Perdigueiro is already family, find it among our dog portraits, for example as a poster in a wooden frame.
Further reading
- Weimaraner: the beautiful hunting dog that never clocks off
- An older dog, new rules: giving your senior their best years
- Housetraining your puppy: a plan for the first 4 weeks
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 187 Perdigueiro Português (Portugiesischer Vorstehhund) (fci.be, German version dated 11.08.2016, English dated 30.03.2009, valid original standard dated 04.11.2008); Geraz H et al., Investigating the Life Expectancy at Birth of Companion Dogs in Portugal Using Official National Registry Data, Animals 2024; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (breed listed but not analysed).
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