Slovak Rough-haired Pointer Dog Breed

The Slovak Rough-haired Pointer is a hunting dog that is very well suited as a versatile, all-purpose gundog. They make great family companions but may not get along with pets that can be confused as prey. They are not for first-time dog owners. They require a lot of room, preferably a large home in a rural setting.

Here are some things you should know about the Slovak Rough-haired Pointer if you intend to get one of these fine dogs:

PROS

• Elegant
• Loves water
• Hypoallergenic
• Very fast runner
• Sheds very little
• Loves family life
• Few health concerns
• Fine with other dogs
• Excellent hunting dog
• Great for active people
• Highly tolerant of cold weather
• Easy to train for the right person

CONS

• Very rare
• Needs a lot of space
• Requires a lot of grooming
• Not good with non-canine pets
• Expensive to acquire and maintain
• Goes by a great number of other names

The Slovak Rough-haired Pointer (SRHP) is a dog bred for a specific purpose. They were developed to track and point and then retrieve a wide range of fallen prey, from birds to small game, to large animals such as deer. They were also meant to be companion animals who fit in well with a family and kids.

Intelligence is key to a successful hunting dog breed, and these dogs are not lacking in that respect. They are bred to hunt, and they are fairly easy to train for that as well as for obedience and agility. Like any very smart breed, they are keenly sensitive and their intelligence must be carefully managed by non-harsh methods and behavior.

The SRHP has sharp hearing and can run very fast. They work well on land and in water, and they have great stamina. They are also very social dogs who will enjoy a restful evening. They have an extremely strong prey drive, however, so they may not live well with cats and other small, non-canine pets.

These dogs require at least a fair amount of significant exercise every day. They love to be active, and they need a job if they are not deployed as a hunting dog. They are wonderful dogs for very active people, and if you are a hunter, they will love you. If you can tire out these dogs, they will be happy indeed.

The Slovak Rough-haired Pointer temperament was essentially designed much like the rest of this fine gundog's genetic foundation: to be fluidly compatible at home even after a rough day in the woods hunting game of all sizes. They make great family companions, are laid-back at home and will be fine with kids of most ages. They may be slightly aloof to other dogs but won't be aggressive.

They do need to be socialized, and they will look forward to being an integral part of your family. These graceful dogs tend to carry themselves with an elegance that is made all the more attractive by their distinct, wiry coat. They are friendly dogs that will be comfortable around new people so long as they are accepted by the family.

As a loving, loyal and devoted dog, they are eager to be trained. These dogs are becoming well-known for their excellence in field trials as well as obedience and agility competitions.

The health profile for the Slovak Rough-haired Pointer is still being built. The breed is believed to be a rather healthy one, but there are some concerns. Most of the issues that have been reported tend to be but one or two cases, but the rarity of this breed as well as it is a modern breed of just a few decades old tends to make even a couple cases highly significant.

Some of the health problems that have been noted among the SRPH are:

• Cancer
• Overbite
• Westie Jaw
• Eye Problems
• Malocclusion
• Coat problems
• Undershot jaw
• Missing teeth
• Hip dysplasia
• Skin conditions
• Discospondylitis
• Immunity disorders
• Idiopathic epilepsy
• Metaphyseal osteopathy
• Steroid Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis (SRMA)

Slovak Rough-haired Pointers have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years.