One of my favorite breeds of dog is the Pointer. They have a very placid temperament and get along with people and other dogs. The English Pointer dog was bred as a gun dog and is very efficient in the field. They are known for their alertness.

They’ll work any sort of game and game birds, including woodcock, grouse and pheasant. Regular exercise is vital and the coat just needs a quick brush with a soft brush.

The breed normally lives between twelve and seventeen years old. Any medical problems tend to be with arthritis, allergies or seizures. The recognized colors for an English Pointer dog are black, orange, liver or lemon. These can be presented as speckles and patches.

They have been in England from the mid 1600s and were brought to America in the late 1800s, where they are very popular in the southern states. They are used there as a hunting dog too, and the locals call them the bird dog.

The best of the breed was exemplified by the extraordinary story of a World War II heroine called Judy. Judy was an English Pointer dog who lived on a Royal Navy ship. Before the crew could hear the coming of enemy Japanese aircraft, Judy would warn them.

This was invaluable and saved the lives of the sailors on countless occasions. However, the ship was sunk in one battle and the crew were made prisoners of war.

The next part of the story unfolds, as someone managed to get Judy into the camp. The conditions of the camp were awful. The prisoners were half starved and were expected to work all day, building a railway. Again, Judy the English Pointer dog came to the rescue by helping to find scraps of food for the prisoners. The prison guards didn’t like Judy and they tried to shoot her.

She was befriended by a Royal Air Force serviceman called Frank Williams, who persuaded the camp commander to register Judy as an official prisoner of war.

After the liberation, Frank Williams smuggled Judy back to England with him. She was awarded the Dickin Medal in 1946 which is the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. Judy was cited for her courage on board ship and in the camp.

Other animals to receive the medal include a ship’s cat, messenger pigeons and other dogs but Judy is the only English Pointer dog to receive one. She remained a cherished family dog to the Williams family until she passed away.