Charlotte Foster
The Pudelpointer was the world’s first “Doodle” project. The deliberate mating of Poodles and English Pointers has produced a new breed of hunting dog that has been officially recognized for a number of years and follows a set breed standard. The pointer’s seriousness and hunting skills coupled with the poodle’s liveliness and willingness to cooperate resulted in a versatile hunting dog with a close bond with his family.
More than a mongrel
Anyone who thinks that creating new breeds by crossing them with the poodle is a modern idea is wrong. The first deliberate matings of Poodles and English Pointers took place more than 140 years ago. The goal was to breed a versatile, light, and very easy-to-train pointer that would be a perfect match for the modernized hunt. It took over 100 years for a new breed to emerge from breeding efforts.
In the first 30 years, only 11 poodles but 80 pointers were involved in breeding because the poodle genes are so dominant. Today, the Pudelpointer is a rare breed, but popular with hunters, with excellent qualities – in the hunt and at home.
Nature of the Pudelpointer
Both breeds have left their genetic imprint in the Pudelpointer. The poodle contributed its intelligence, love of water, excellent retrieval traits, willingness to cooperate, and ease of training. The English Pointer brought to the mix his intense passion for hunting, excellent nose, endurance, and foraging instincts. While the pointer tends to be calm and balanced in nature, the poodle is considered to be alert and highly active.
The Pudelpointer is a calm dog that “ignites” in a few seconds and fulfills its tasks with great enthusiasm. In dealing with humans, the poodle’s contribution has taken away a little of the pointer’s aloofness. Today’s puppies show great consistency in terms of ability and character. They are considered to be extraordinarily intelligent, friendly, and capable of learning.
Education and keeping of the Pudelpointer
As stipulated in the breed standard, the Pudelpointer is a versatile gun dog. He brings the necessary equipment with him for all work in the field, forest, and water – be it rummaging, pointing, searching, or retrieving. He is neither sensitive to shots nor afraid, shy or aggressive. A long period of upbringing and training is necessary before he can actively fulfill his hunting dog duties. Good socialization lays the foundation for a well-mannered, people-friendly hunting and companion dog.
Pudelpointers are best-taken care of in the experienced hands of a hunter. Anyone who keeps a dog of this breed as a non-hunter should offer him other tasks to keep him busy. Hunting-oriented activities such as dummy work, mantrailing, or hidden object games are recommended. Depending on the strength of the hunting instinct and the reliability of the recall, you can exercise your Pudelpointer on a bicycle or as a riding companion dog.
Care of the Pudelpointer
The poodle pointer has a rough, longer topcoat and a dense, soft undercoat. Regular grooming is essential if you want to avoid excessive shedding around the house. The dogs have a small beards and longer hair on their foreheads and backs. It is important to brush them regularly, as well as to check their claws, ears, and teeth.
Peculiarities of the Pudelpointer
The Pudelpointer is considered to be a very robust breed that is burdened by a few hereditary diseases. Be sure to buy your puppy from a reputable breeder from tested parents.
With good care, the poodle pointer can live up to 14 years.