Pudelpointer puppies

About the Pudelpointer

The Pudelpointer was created in Germany in the late nineteenth century by crossing Poodles with English Pointers, aiming for a versatile gundog that would point, retrieve on land and in water, and track wounded game. This is a solid, workmanlike dog of 20.4 to 31.8 kg standing 56 to 66 cm, with a harsh rough coat over a dense undercoat and a typical lifespan of around 14 years. The temperament is calm, co-operative and closely bonded, with little interest in strangers.

This is a hunting breed first, and they need hard daily exercise plus a task: retrieving, water work, tracking or field training. The coat is easy, a weekly brush, though it sheds seasonally. Training is straightforward because the dog is eager and quick, but a Pudelpointer left without work becomes restless and noisy. They suit shooting and outdoor households rather than town flats. New owners most often buy the easy coat and miss the size of the exercise commitment.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Pudelpointer 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 large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. 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
• Epilepsy, which German breeding programmes screen against by tracking affected lines
• Ear infections, caught by checking and drying the drop ears each week

Your Pudelpointer puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Pudelpointer.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 20.4 to 31.8 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 31.8 kg; chew toys made for large 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

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other large breeds

Previous: Presa Canario · Next: Pug

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 Pudelpointer breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pudelpointer/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Sciencia58, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.