According to the most credible hypothesis, the Pointer was developed two centuries ago by crossing among the Italian Pointer, the Foxhound, the Bloodhound, the Greyhound, the Newfoundland, the Setter, and the Bulldog. This is an almost unbelievable mix, but it certainly has produced an outstanding result. The modern Pointer has existed for about eighty years. The Pointer is named for the motionless stance the dog assumes once he has found game. The direction of the point tells the hunter where the game is hiding. The first recorded mentions of the Pointer in England date from around 1650, when the Pointer was used to find hare for the Greyhound to hunt. By the early 1700's the Pointer became the dog of choice. The Pointer is renowned for his scenting prowess. He works very quickly, covering a lot of ground. The Pointer is particularly good on upland birds, but adapts well to other game. The breed has excellent endurance in warm weather, but is not suited to very cold conditions. Working best on land he is not very comfortable in water. He has a legendary tracking and pointing skills, but is not usually expected to retrieve game. A competitive dog, the Pointer still dominates Pointing Field Trials over all other pointing breeds. Today, the Pointer is a family hunting dog and companion.