Spanish Pointer vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison

Spanish Pointer is originated from Spain but Hawaiian Poi Dog is originated from Indonesia. Spanish Pointer may grow 29 cm / 12 inches higher than Hawaiian Poi Dog. Spanish Pointer may weigh 15 kg / 34 pounds more than Hawaiian Poi Dog. Spanish Pointer may live 7 years more than Hawaiian Poi Dog. Both Spanish Pointer and Hawaiian Poi Dog has almost same litter size. Both Spanish Pointer and Hawaiian Poi Dog requires Low maintenance.

History

spanish pointer - historyThe Spanish Pointer is a large hunting breed. The dog hails from Spain and it is believed that the dog was used to develop other pointing breeds.

It is popular in Spain but fairly unknown beyond Spanish borders. Known as the Burgos Pointer, the official name for the dog is Perdiguero de Burgos.

It is thought that the dog comes from mixing the Pachon Navarra and the Sabueso Espanol. The dog was developed to point out game so they have the typical longish head with the pointing tail.

The Hawaiian Poi Dog was a descendent of the dogs brought to the Islands by the Polynesian. These Polynesian dogs were themselves descendants of the kuri dog of New Zealand. These kuri dogs were originally from Indonesia. The Hawaiian Poi dog is now extinct but at one time was considered the spiritual protector of Hawaiian children and also used as food by hungry Native Hawaiians.

The dog was called poi which was the word for a food staple mad from the root of Taro and used to put weight on the dogs before they were eaten. Meat was not fed to the dogs because it was too scarce. There was no large mammals to hunt and so the breed was never given a standard. The Poi dog seen by European explorers were short legged, pot bellied canines that lived with the hogs in the towns. Because of what they ate, the dogs were not highly intelligent but were stubborn and hard to train. Because the dogs were not suited for much beyond food and a spiritual charm, they became extinct when the traditional religion was no longer practiced and eating dogs was no longer acceptable. The breed pretty much disappeared by the early 20th century. Very few images of the dogs remain except for ancient petroglyphs.

There was an attempt by the Honolulu Zoo in the late 1960’s to redevelop the breed using local dogs to determine a standard. Then the local dogs were bred as close to the standard as possible. In the third generation one dog was born with the traits of a Poi dog. There was not much more success with this and then the Polynesian ship travel between Tahiti and Hawaii was recreated and a dog taken along.

Today’s mixed breed dogs in Hawaii are called Poi dogs but also have the stubbornness, unique appearance and ability to eat anything it is given like the original Poi. The dogs are small, and should not be confused with the original Poi dogs.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Companion dog
Origin:
Spain
Indonesia
Height Male:
62 - 67 cm
24 - 27 inches
36 - 38 cm
14 - 15 inches
Height Female:
62 - 67 cm
24 - 27 inches
34 - 36 cm
13 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
7 - 15 kg
15 - 34 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
6 - 13 kg
13 - 29 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
5 - 8 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 6
3 - 5
Size:
Large dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Burgos Pointer
Native Hawaiian Dog, and Hawaiian Islanders’ Dog., Poi Dog, Ilio, Hawaiian Dog
Colors Available:
White with liver or brown patches
any color with white markings, brown mostly
Coat:
Short and smooth
short and fine
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Playful, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Hard
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

spanish pointer puppy - descriptionThe body of this dog is true to the Pointer type of dog with the body being muscular and lean.

He stands at between 62 to 67cm in height and weighs about 25 to 30kg. The ears are quite long and floppy and the tail is usually docked to a third of its length.

The coat which is mostly short can be whitish with tan or brown markings with freckling or it can be a brownish shade with darker brown markings.

Temperament:

The Spanish Pointer is a quiet, calm, gentle dog and not at all aggressive. They’re able to get on well with children and other pets.

They’re dogs that love the great outdoors and aren’t suited to city living. They’re dogs that need a good deal of exercise too. Being intelligent the pointer dog will benefit from training and socialization.

As previously mentioned the Poi dog is somewhat unusual in size and shape due to what they ate. They looked somewhat like the native dogs of Polynesia and New Zealand. They have short legs, long bodies, somewhat obese and a very flat head. He had a short smooth coat, in any color or any pattern. They were however mostly brown and they might or might not have white markings.

Characteristics

spanish pointer dog - characteristicsYour attractive Spanish Pointer is such an amicable dog that it is a pleasure to have him around you.

He makes such a splendid pet, but only if their intense exercise needs are catered to. He can’t possibly be expected to spend days in a tiny yard with nothing to do. It would be cruel.

Their top priority is to be out in the fields hunting. Nonetheless he gets on well with children and other dogs, and with the right home and environment you’ll be so glad you chose one of these beautiful dogs as your friend.

Children friendliness

The Hawaiian Poi dog was very friendly and good with children

Special talents

The Poi was considered a good luck charm and a spiritual protector of children

Adaptability

Given what they faced in life, the Poi dog was very adaptable, living anywhere on the islands and eating anything it could find.

Learning ability

Due to their poor diet, the Hawaiian Poi dog was seriously lacking in intelligence and learning ability.

Health Problems

spanish pointer puppies - health problemsThe Spanish Pointer is a healthy dog breed that can live to be as old as 15 if he gets the right care.

Like other dogs, they can develop certain health problems, and you want to be aware of cherry eye, ear infections, hip dysplasia and allergies.

Ear Infections:

These dogs just love to swim, and it can be difficult to keep the inside of his ears from moisture.

Unfortunately wax, dirt and moisture can all cause an ear infection. Ear infections can be extremely painful. You’ll see your dog shaking his head and pawing at his ears. There will be redness inside the ear and possibly a discharge too. He will need to see the vet.

Probably due to its diet, the Poi dog had several problems to their health. Their poor diet led to a sluggishness both in movement and intelligence. Its development was hampered by a lack of protein. Malnutrition and serious over inbreeding caused a weakness and poor oral hygiene. Due to this lack of teeth and chewing the bones in the dogs heads became flat. The Poi had breathing issues and overall lethargy.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

spanish pointer dogs - caringAs a hunting dog, the Spanish Pointer has always been used to a lot of exercise. If you don’t use him for hunting, you will need to take him on long walks. They just love sniffing around and following a scent. Ball and frisbee games where you get him running will be excellent for him.

Diet:

The Spanish Pointer is a large hunting dog, so when you choose commercially manufactured dog food, make sure it’s for large breed dogs. Also make sure the food is for active dogs too.

The manufacturers of these dog foods know what vitamins and minerals to include for active dogs like these. Read the packaging carefully and avoid the inferior dog foods as they are full of ingredients that can make your dog sick.

Try and feed your Spanish Pointer some home-made food too. Make sure it isn’t spicy, exotic foods as these can cause digestive problems.

Food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots are superb, simple food choices for your canine friend. You can chop it up and add some of this to the dry kibble twice a week as a treat for your pet.

Try and add some raw meat to the diet occasionally as this can be helpful in preventing skin infections.

Never leave your dog without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

The coat of your dog is short so a good brush twice a week will keep it in tip top condition. If he is super active, with a mitt or damp cloth you can wipe down his fur if it has mud stuck to it. It’s your time to check him over for ticks and fleas as well.

Feeding the puppy

With meat being rare in Hawaii, none was available for the dogs. They were fed Poi – from the Taro plant roots. Puppies were fed 2-3 times a day.

Feeding the adult

The adult dog was fed once or twice a day the same as Poi puppies were fed.

Points for Good Health

The Hawaiian Poi dog basically has not good health points.

Games and Exercises

The Poi dog did not need and did not get much exercise, leading to its demise.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Spanish Pointer vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  2. Spanish Pointer vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  3. Spanish Pointer vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  4. Spanish Pointer vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  5. Spanish Pointer vs Portuguese Pointer - Breed Comparison
  6. Spanish Pointer vs Perdiguero de Burgos - Breed Comparison
  7. Spanish Pointer vs Irish Red and White Setter - Breed Comparison
  8. Spanish Pointer vs Pachon Navarro - Breed Comparison
  9. Spanish Pointer vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  10. Spanish Pointer vs Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  11. Spanish Pointer vs Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac - Breed Comparison
  12. Spanish Pointer vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  13. Spanish Pointer vs Longhaired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  14. Spanish Pointer vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  15. Spinone Italiano vs Spanish Pointer - Breed Comparison
  16. Talbot vs Spanish Pointer - Breed Comparison
  17. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Spanish Pointer - Breed Comparison
  18. Weimaraner vs Spanish Pointer - Breed Comparison
  19. Spanish Pointer vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  20. Spanish Pointer vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  21. Spanish Pointer vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  22. Spanish Pointer vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  23. Spanish Pointer vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  24. Spanish Pointer vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  25. Mal-Shi vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  26. Malti-Pom vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  27. PekePoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  28. Schipperke vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  29. Schweenie vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  30. Lhasapoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  31. Meliteo Kinidio vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  32. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison
  33. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Alaskan Klee Kai - Breed Comparison
  34. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Coton De Tulear - Breed Comparison
  35. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Japanese Spitz - Breed Comparison
  36. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Fruggle - Breed Comparison
  37. Prazsky Krysarik vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  38. Pugalier vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  39. Kyi-Leo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  40. Tsvetnaya Bolonka vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  41. Muggin vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  42. Pomeranian vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  43. Maltese vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  44. Pug vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  45. Maltipoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  46. Miniature Schnauzer vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Papillon vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  48. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds