Pudelpointer: German Water Poodle & British Pointer Mix

Pudelpointer: German Water Poodle & British Pointer Mix

While a Pudelpointer might sound like yet another modern designer crossbreed, the idea of mating German water poodles with British pointers is actually over 100 years old. Baron von Zedlitz, a popular sportswriter in 1880s Germany, encouraged German hunters to breed native Pudels with English imports and create an unparalleled hunting dog.

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Borrowing genes from 11 different Pudels and more than 80 pointers, von Zedlitz and his friends eventually achieved their goal, and the Pudelpointer was born. Today, Pudelpointers are still gun dogs, bred for their hunting ability — but also deeply loving, eager-to-please house dogs.

They’re rare in the United States, and not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club, but a small, devoted following will sing their praises. If you’re ready to make friends with this dedicated, loyal, and adventurous German pup, read on and check out our guide to all things Pudelpointer.

What is a Pudelpointer?

Looking at the Pudelpointer, you might not guess that he is a relative of the German Poodle because he has the characteristics of a Pointer. This breed was developed for tracking, pointing, and retrieving but his gentle and affectionate nature gives him potential as a family pet. If you are looking for an intelligent, trainable, hunting breed with a unique appearance, give the Pudelpointer a try.

The Pudelpointer was developed for tracking, pointing, and retrieving.

Origin

The Pudelpointer is a fairly new breed, having only been developed in the late 1800s. German breeder Baron von Zedlitz is credited for developing the breed, using the German hunting poodle (Pudel) and English Pointers to create what he believed to be the ideal pointing, tracking, and retrieving gun dog that was suitable for work on both water and land. Using 7 specific pudels and over 100 different pointers, Baron von Zedlitz achieved his goal over the course of 30 years of selective breeding. The Pudelpointer was first introduced in America in 1956 and while it has yet to be recognized by the AKC, it was admitted into the Foundation Stock Service in 2016.

Pedigree

The Pudelpointer is the result of a cross between the German hunting poodle (Pudel) and the English Pointer.

How easy are Pudelpointer to train?

Pudelpointers are eager to please and incredibly intelligent due to their Poodle bloodlines. Use positive reinforcement and offer consistent rewards and commands to keep the training session fun. Starting early, especially with socialization, will ensure that your Pudelpointer reaches their fullest potential.

Leash training is essential because the Pudelpointer has been known to pull at the leash and chase smaller animals that they see as prey. If you do let them off the leash on walks for any reason, ensure that you’re in a safe, secure area and that you’ve worked on several obedience commands.

Diet and Nutrition

You can feed your Pudelpointer on commercial or homemade, high-quality dog food, provided that you ensure that it meets their recommended dietary requirements. Your Pudelpointer will eat 3–4 cups of food a day, preferably split over two meals.

Take into account how much activity your Pudelpointer does, whether they’re a family pet or a hunting companion, and adjust their diet accordingly. Your veterinarian will be able to help you monitor and control your Pudelpointer’s diet to make sure they eat balanced meals and maintain a healthy weight.

How would you describe the temperament of Pudelpointer?

The Pudelpointer is a very intelligent and trainable breed that was developed specifically for hunting. This being the case, you should not expect your dog to act the same as the American poodles you may be used to. These dogs are enthusiastic and hard-working in the field and they can make pleasant companions at home, though hunting is their primary purpose. This breed is friendly and curious, as well as being easy to train and eager to please. They get along well with children and have a natural desire for affection so, as long as you have the time to spend with your dog, the Pudelpointer can make a good family pet.

Weight

The Pudelpointer is a medium- to large-sized dog, standing between 21 and 26 inches tall and weighing between 44 and 66 pounds at maturity.

How healthy are Pudelpointer?

Bred for hardiness and intelligence instead of uniform appearance, Pudelpointers are one of the healthiest pure breeds you’ll ever find. They have long lives and will remain active the whole time. The only ailments they suffer from are those common to all large dogs.

Epilepsy: Some Pudelpointers in the past have been genetically prone to seizures. Pudelpointer breeders are diligent about spotting the epilepsy gene and removing it from the pool, but there’s no such thing as total certainty.

Allergies: Just as serious in dogs as they are in humans. If your Pudelpointer has a severe allergy to anything, they could be hurt or killed. Usually, it’s not hard to adjust their lifestyle to keep them away from the allergen.

Bloat: A potentially fatal symptom in deep-chested dogs that occurs when they eat too fast. Bloat causes a gas buildup to twist a dog’s stomach over itself. To reduce the risk of bloat, use a slow feeder, or train your Pudelpointer to eat carefully.

Eye Issues: Pudelpointers’ eyesight can sometimes degenerate when they get older.

Ear Infections: If not regularly cleaned, Pudelpointers can develop itchy, painful ear infections.

Hip Dysplasia: Many larger dogs, including Pudelpointers, inherit genes that form their hip joints wrong. Breeders are still working to remove hip dysplasia from the gene pool.

How active are Pudelpointer?

Hunting dogs require a great deal of exercise, and the Pudelpointer is no different. They’re a dog breed with high energy levels, and although they’ll calm down once the hunt is over, they do better in active families than sedate ones.

If you don’t use your Pudelpointer for hunting purposes, they’ll be more than happy to put their energy into playing fetch in a large yard or learning new tricks. Indoor activities, such as hide-and-seek, can help, along with at least two walks a day. You can also use agility and obedience competitions to focus your Pudelpointer’s intelligence and energy.

Not meeting a Pudelpointer’s exercise requirements can lead to boredom and destructive tendencies. They’re also prone to gaining weight if not kept active.

How long will Pudelpointer live?

The average lifespan for the Pudelpointer is thought to be about 11 to 14 years which is about average for a breed of its size. To maximize your dog’s lifespan, be sure to feed him a healthy, high-quality diet formulated for large-breed dogs or a formula for active breeds.

Recognized Clubs

The Pudelpointer is not currently recognized by the AKC but he is part of the Foundation Stock Service (FSS) and is recognized by the FCI and the United Kennel Club. The FCI classifies him in Group 7 as a Continental Pointing Dog and the United Kennel Club as a Gundog.

Coat

Coat quality varies between Pudelpointers, as does shedding rate, though it’s never all that bad. Give your Pudelpointer a firm brushing 1-2 times per week, depending on the length of their fur. With their love of water, bathing is easy, so give them the occasional bath when they need it.

Pudelpointers’ nails grow fast, so make sure to trim them when they get too long. Brush their teeth 2-3 times every week. When you brush their fur, check for wax in their ears, and clean it out if too much seems to be building up — otherwise, it can lead to uncomfortable infections.

Puppies

The average litter size for the Pudelpointer is 3 to 8 puppies, though larger litters are not uncommon for the breed. Because these dogs grow to more than 50 pounds at maturity, you should feed your puppy a large-breed puppy formula until he reaches about 80% of his expected adult size. At that point, switch to a large-breed adult or working breed formula to prevent him from growing too quickly. You should also start your Pudelpointer as early as possible with both socialization and training – these dogs tend to learn very quickly, so they can start from a young age.

Related Questions

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

After a long day out hunting, Pudelpointers enjoy nothing more than curling up with their families and spending a quiet evening at home. They’re playful and friendly and make great companions for active families and children.

Playtimes with younger children should be supervised. Pudelpointers are protective and gentle, but their energy and hyperactivity can accidentally hurt smaller children.

While this dog is not known for biting, it’s still a good idea to properly socialize your Pudelpointer. Their loyalty to their family members and their intelligence make them alert watchdogs, and they’ll often bark at strangers.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Pudelpointers are bred specifically for their high prey drive, and as a result, they tend to chase animals smaller than they are. While they’ll get along well with other dogs of the same size or larger, especially if they’re brought up around their fellow canines, cats and other smaller pets aren’t a good match.

While proper socialization can help control the Pudelpointer’s desire to chase, they are born to hunt first and foremost. A cat might trigger their hunting instinct too much for them to be suitable companions.

What’s the Price of Pudelpointer Puppies?

As they’re not yet officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), Pudelpointers is an uncommon breed in the U.S.A. Due to this, the average price for Pudelpointer puppies ranges anywhere between $1,000 and $1,500.

While this covers the breeder’s costs, it doesn’t include the ongoing expenditure required to properly care for your four-legged family member. Annual costs that include pet insurance, veterinary visits, food, and other canine essentials can cost up to $1500.

Final Thoughts

Originally bred in 1881 by Baron von Zedlitz, the Pudelpointer is a breed designed purely for hunting. They combine the intelligence and easy trainability of the German Hunting Poodle with the tracking skills of the English Pointer, along with various genetic traits from other Pointer breeds.

Although they’re part of the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service, most breeders of Pudelpointers have avoided taking the steps to get the breed officially recognized. This is due to the desire to keep the variety in appearance instead of making another show or working dog. The Pudelpointer breed therefore maintains their exemplary skill at hunting and is often not bred at all unless they meet particular requirements through field tests.

Whether you’re interested in a Pudelpointer as a hunting companion or a family pet, they’re loyal and friendly. Eager to please, they’ll happily trek through the wilderness with you and curl up at your feet after a long day.