Breeds / Medium
Pont-Audemer Spaniel puppies
Friendly, gentle and biddable, a quiet French water spaniel that is tireless in the field and settled and undemanding at home.
The facts
- Size class Medium
- Country of origin France
- Adult weight 15 to 21.8 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 33 to 48 lb
- Adult height 51 to 58 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Short
- Shedding Moderate
- Typical lifespan 12 to 14 years
- Good with children Usually good
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
About the Pont-Audemer Spaniel
The Pont-Audemer Spaniel is a rare French gundog from Normandy, bred to work marshland and retrieve from cold water. They stand 51 to 58 cm and weigh 15 to 21.8 kg, with a curly brown coat and a loose topknot of curls over the head that gives them an unmistakable outline. The breed nearly disappeared in the twentieth century and numbers are still small. In character they are friendly, biddable and notably quiet, keen in the field and calm in the house.
Daily exercise matters more than the form it takes: swimming, retrieving, a long walk or a training session all suit. The curls want a weekly brush with attention to mats behind the ears, and over shampooing softens the coat. This is one of the quietest gundogs and rarely barks. A secure garden helps, since the nose leads. They live well with other dogs and, with supervision and socialisation, with children. Finding a puppy is the real difficulty, so expect a long wait.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Pont-Audemer Spaniel puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed for
- Ear infections, likely in a long eared water dog and caught by checking and drying the ears weekly
- Eye disorders, found by an ophthalmologist evaluation of breeding stock
Your Pont-Audemer Spaniel puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Pont-Audemer Spaniel.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 15 to 21.8 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 21.8 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other medium breeds
American Cocker Spaniel
American Pit Bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
American Water Spaniel
Aussiedoodle
Australian Cattle Dog
More on the Pont-Audemer Spaniel
Previous: Pomsky · Next: Poochon
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Pont-Audemer Spaniel breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pont-audemer-spaniel/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.