Let's talk Pudelpointers
A bearded bundle of energy, the Pudelpointer, as both their name and look suggest, was first bred by crossing a Pudel (or Poodle in English) with a Pointer. With a Poodle’s willingness to please and the Pointer’s drive for adventure, this sporting dog makes a beloved family pet, yet remains fairly uncommon, both in and outside of their birth country Germany. They’re the perfect companion if you’re able to fit a range of outdoor activities into your free time, preferably involving water, which they love. Known for being affectionate, they’ll be devoted to you all the more for it!
Official name: Pudelpointer
Origins: Germany
| Drooling tendencies |  |
Warm weather? |  |
| Shedding level | |
Suited to apartment living? |  |
| *Energy level (high, low, moderate)*: | moderate | Family pet? | |
| Compatibility with other pets | |
*Can stay alone? | |
*We advise against leaving pets alone for long stretches.
Companionship can prevent emotional distress and destructive behaviour. Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations.
Every pet is different, even within a breed; this snapshot of this breed’s specifics should be taken as an indication.
For a happy, healthy and well-behaved pet, we recommend educating and socialising your pet as well as covering their basic welfare, social and behavioural needs.
Pets should never be left unsupervised with a child.
Contact your breeder or veterinarian for further advice.
Male
60 - 68 cm
Height
20 - 31 kg
Weight
Female
55 - 63 cm
Height
20 - 31 kg
Weight
| Baby age: | Birth to 2 months |
| Puppy age: | 2 to 15 months |
| Adult age: | 15 months to 5 years |
| Mature age: | 5 to 8 years |
| Senior age: | From 8 years |
1/7
Get to know the Pudelpointer
All you need to know about the breed
Gentle as a Poodle, alert as a Pointer, step aside for the bounding Pudelpointer. One look at their whiskered, wiry-haired adorableness and it’s hard to believe the Pudelpointer was last crossed with the Poodle more than a century ago.
With the first half of their namesake visible in their Poodle-like wavy coat, the second half, the Pointer, is apparent in their strong-boned stature and gallop. And the same goes for their temperament. They’re as intelligent and keen to please you as a Poodle, with the keen nose and prey drive of a pointer breed.
Originally bred to be a hunting dog as successful in water as on land, the Pudelpointer is still used as a working dog in all kinds of environments. Yet for an active household, after training, they also make a great family companion, especially if your typical days out involve hiking and water adventures. It’s advisable to wait until children are older, however, to introduce them to a Pudelpointer, as younger kids can be mistakenly bowled over by the overfriendliness of this large active dog. If your family already has other furry members, it’s also worth considering whether the Pudelpointer, with their strong prey drive, will make the most harmonious addition to family life. A Pudelpointer will thrive if they are the centre of your affection!
2/7
2 facts about Pudelpointers
1. A beard full of food
Although it’s one of their most adorable features, your Pudelpointer’s beard is not always practical. In fact, you might find food gets caught in their facial hair. Wiping their face after they eat doubles up as a chance for them to lap up your affection.
2. What’s a Pudel to a Pointer?
When efforts first began to create the Pudelpointer in Germany, at first the Poodle’s genes dominated over those of the Pointer. Creating the Pudelpointer we know today ultimately involved more than 80 Pointers, compared to just 11 Poodles.
3/7
History of the breed
The Pudelpointer, as their name states, originated from two breeds - the Poodle and the English Pointer - towards the close of the 19th century in Germany. The ambition was to create a new breed of hunting dog for land and for water that would combine the best of the abilities of these two working dogs—the Poodle's easy trainability, their affinity for water and protective coat mixed with the Pointer's prey drive, sharp nose and endurance. For more than 30 years the breed’s founder, the Baron von Zedlitz, sought to achieve the perfect match.
The breed was registered in 1892 and Germany’s first Pudelpointer club founded in 1897. Today, most Pudelpointers are bred in their native Germany or the United States, where the breed was first introduced in 1956. The United Kennel Club recognised the breed in 2006.
4/7
From head to tail
Physical characteristics of Pudelpointers
1. Colouring
Solid brown, dead leaf (a lighter brown) or black coat.
2. Head
Beard and a tuft of hair above the forehead.
3. Coat
Harsh, wiry medium-length coat, with thick undercoat.
5/7
Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your Pudelpointer
6/7
Caring for your Pudelpointer
Grooming, training and exercise tips
With their weather-resistant coat, your Pudelpointer needs only an occasional bath, although if they’re in and out of water, you may want to bathe them more often (and clean and thoroughly dry their ears to help prevent infection). Their medium-length fur sheds in moderation so a weekly brush down will suffice. Their beards and the adorable tuft of hair above their eyes can tangle, so gently include them in the weekly brush. Nails should be clipped and teeth brushed regularly to ward off periodontal disease. As a traditional working dog, your Pudelpointer needs between one and three hours a day of exercise. Because they thrive in water, a splash-around retrieving sticks and balls is a perfect way to let off some energy. With their athleticism and large size, they’re better suited to a home with enclosed outdoor space, or who knows where their prey drive could lead them. Eager to please and intelligent, training your Pudelpointer puppy should be straightforward. As always, early socialisation is advised. To keep their active form, take any training rewards out of their daily kibble allowance.7/7
All about Pudelpointers
After training, your Pudelpointer will make a friendly yet buoyant addition to the household. With their deeply-affectionate nature and high energy, beware they can forget their own strength around smaller family members in their rush to greet you!
The affectionate Pudelpointer is described as an “occasional” barker. Since they’re both a highly alert and loyal breed, they’ll likely bark at newcomers, only to obediently quieten down as soon as you say the word.
translations.feature.breeds.otherbreeds
Read more on this topic
How your dog's nutrition needs change with age
How to adopt a dog
Things to consider before getting a dog
Sources
1 - Veterinary Centers of America https://vcahospitals.com/
2 - Royal Canin Dog Encyclopaedia. Ed 2010 and 2020
3 - Banfield Pet Hospital https://www.banfield.com/
4 - Royal Canin BHN Product Book
5 - American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/