Appearance of the Pointollie
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| The Pointollie is a fairly lean, medium to large-sized dog, measuring around 61 centimeters high at the shoulder and weighing between 22.5 and 34 kilos. The two parent breeds differ considerably in structure and appearance, so Pointollie hybrids can also differ considerably from one dog to another, even within the same litter. Although both parent breeds have well-proportioned heads, the wedge-shaped skull and tapering muzzle of the Longhaired Collie are generally much narrower than those of the English Pointer, with almond-shaped rather than rounded eyes, and although they are generally brown, Longhaired Collie genetics can also produce dogs with merle or glass-colored eyes. Ears can range from the small, straight, triangular ears of the Longhaired Collie to the longer, dangling ears of the English Pointer, although medium-length ears that sit fairly high on the head and fold forward or to the sides seem to be common. Both the English Pointer and the smooth variety of the Longhaired Collie have short, hard, dense, flat coats, although the Longhaired Collie has a copious undercoat, but this cross may also inherit the longer, rougher coat that is often associated with the Longhaired Collie dog. |
Temperament of the Pointollie
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| The Pointollie is typically a sensitive dog that tends to behave with an air of dignity. Both parent breeds tend to be gentle by nature, and the Pointollie is likely to acquire this same gentle nature, meaning that socialization is of particular importance to prevent the development of shy or anxious behaviors. This dog is quite intelligent and doesn't like to be confined or left alone for too long, and may respond to these triggers with excessive vocalizations or destructive chewing and digging. Neither the Collie Rough nor the English Pointer are naturally demonstrative or aggressive towards strangers or other animals, generally displaying a reserved but polite quality. Some of these dogs get on quite well with children of all ages, but others may inherit a nervous, hypersensitive nature from the Collie side and others may exhibit overly noisy English Pointer behaviors that can inadvertently knock over smaller children, so all interactions must be carefully monitored. This cross may also have a slight stubborn streak from both parent breeds, however, they generally respond well to patient, calm obedience training and are usually highly food motivated. |
Needs and activities of the Pointollie
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| This is an active, athletic crossbreed, and although the contribution of the Collie Rough breed can relax activity requirements somewhat, this dog should always receive at least one hour of vigorous activity a day to stay fit and healthy. Exercise for these dogs is often most effective when broken down into several smaller sessions, and many Pointollie dogs may also enjoy participating in tracking or breeding events, as well as long walks or jogs. This hybrid is far from active for the small space of an apartment and will be much more manageable in a larger home with a yard for running and playing. |
Maintenance of the Pointollie
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| In many cases, this dog will have a fairly simple grooming routine, baths are only necessary a few times a year unless the dog gets into something particularly smelly or messy, and brushing is a breeze for dogs that inherit the short, smooth coat of the English Pointer or the smooth Collie Rough variety. Some dogs will inherit the rough Collie coat, increasing the time needed for brushing and grooming. Dogs with this longer coat, or even a medium-length coat with the thick undercoat of the Collie Rough, will need daily brushing not only to control shedding, but also to remove tangles and mats from the coat. Particular attention should be paid to the undercoat, as heavy matting in the undercoat can damage the underlying skin. |
English (United Kingdom)