Pudelpointer Breed: Your Complete Guide

The pudelpointer is a hunting breed that was originally developed in Germany. Pudel is the German word for poodle, which makes sense because the breed was created by crossing poodles with pointing dogs.

This breed is quite affectionate and can be a great family pet, but only if you’re active enough to keep up! Pudelpointers are incredibly high energy since they were bred to spend long hours hunting.

Think this breed might be right for you? We’ll help you figure it out. We’ll explain everything you need to know about pudelpointers. We dig into the breed’s history, size, temperament, intelligence level, energy level, grooming needs, health problems, feeding requirements, and more.

Quick Look at the Pudelpointer

We know this is a long article, so here’s a quick overview of the pudelpointer! From here, you may be able to determine if this breed is worth learning more about.

What Is the History of Pudelpointers?

The history of the pudelpointer is well-documented– the breed was created by mixing poodles and pointers. The goal was to create a dog that had the intelligence, trainability, retrieving instincts, love of water, and protective coat of the poodle while also having the pointing instincts, birdiness, nose, and endurance of a pointer.

Simply put, this breed was meant to be the ultimate hunting dog. The first cross between a poodle and a pointer took place in 1881 in Germany (hence the breed is called pudelpointer rather than poodlepointer).

Surprisingly, the poodle’s genes were so dominant that the following generations were bred with more pointers than poodles. According to the AKC, in the first 30 years of breeding, only 11 poodles were used compared to over 80 pointers. After this, pointers needed only occasionally be reintroduced to the bloodline.

Many breeds saw a decrease in number due to WWI and WWII, and the pudelpointer was one of them. After the wars, the pudelpointer’s breeding stock needed to be rebuilt, and pointers were once again bred into the line in greater numbers than poodles.

In 1956, the first pudelpointers were brought to North America. In 1977, the Pudelpointer Club of North America was founded in Canada.

What Do Pudelpointers Look Like?

Pudelpointers are medium to large-sized dogs that range from light brown to black in color. They can look a bit scruffy because they have furnishings — a beard and bushy eyebrows! They also tend to have fringes on their ears.

The hair on their bodies can be somewhat scruffy or lie flat. These dogs typically have amber-colored eyes. In the US where tail-docking is legal, the tail is typically docked to be about two-thirds the original length.

The only standard colors for this breed are black and liver (a chocolatey red-brown). However, they can have white markings, such as a patch on the chest.

What Size Is a Pudelpointer?

Pudelpointers are medium to large breed dogs. They weigh between 45 and 70 lbs and are 22 to 26 inches tall. The females tend to be smaller than the males.

What Is a Pudelpointer’s Coat Type and Length?

Pudelpointers have an outer coat that can be wire-haired, smooth/short, or rough. Wire coats are .75 to 1.5 inches long with the fur on the ears, legs, and parts of the head being a bit longer than the rest of the body. This type of coat may feel more coarse and is great for field dogs.

Smooth/short coats are considered unusable for breeding stock, but they aren’t uncommon and are ideal for field dogs and hot climates. This type of coat is typically no longer than .75 inches. Unlike the wire coat, the short coat remains the same length on all parts of the dog’s body, except for the stomach. Smooth-coated pudelpointers may lack hair on the stomach.

Rough coats are the longest and are typically 1.5 to 2.5 inches long. These pudelpointers look the scruffiest, often having a bit of a mop head as the hair on their head, ears, and snout grows quite long. Rough coats are considered to be ideal for hunting waterfowl and in colder climates.

Whether wired, smooth, or rough, the top coat is meant to protect pudelpointers from both injuries and weather. Regardless of the outer coat type, all pudelpointers have a dense undercoat which further protects them from the elements.

What Is a Pudelpointer’s Temperament?

Pudelpointers are known for being calm, affectionate, intelligent, and eager to please. They have a very strong hunting drive and thus can be quite adventurous as well. Despite being calm, they are still a high-energy breed.

Are Pudelpointers Good With Kids?

Pudelpointers tend to be very friendly and tolerant toward children and can make great family dogs. However, they have an incredibly high prey drive and could knock young children over should they become excited by another animal. In some cases, they may simply be disinterested in children as they’d rather follow their noses.

Pudelpointers can sometimes get riled up when playing with children and play too roughly. Though a pudelpointer can be a fantastic family pet, you must always supervise play between children and dogs and make sure it stays gentle and safe. Pudelpointers will be perfectly happy to play a game of fetch or go swimming with the kids — play does not have to be rough.

Are Pudelpointers Good With Other Animals?

As we’ve explained, pudelpointers were created to hunt. As such, they have an incredibly high prey drive and will absolutely get excited by (or even chase) animals such as squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, and birds, especially larger birds like doves, pheasants, ducks, quails, etc.

This is something you should be aware of if you are interested in having any other pets in the house, such as cats. Some pudelpointers get along fine with cats whereas others see cats as just another prey animal.

It is not impossible to keep a pudelpointer alongside a prey animal like a rabbit, but it is easier to do so if you socialize the pudelpointer with these other animals during puppyhood. Furthermore, you should always make sure that small pets are kept away from the pudelpointer when you are not around to supervise.

Pudelpointers tend to get along just fine with other dogs, especially because hunting dogs often have to work alongside one another. However, it is still important to socialize pudelpointer puppies with other dogs.

Are Pudelpointers Aggressive?

Pudelpointers are not known to display any kind of aggression. Of course, any dog could become aggressive if they are treated poorly or if they were never properly socialized. Like all dogs, pudelpointer puppies need to be exposed to a variety of sights, sounds, people, animals, and experiences in order to grow up confident and friendly.

Do Pudelpointers Bark?

Pudelpointers are moderate barkers, meaning they don’t constantly bark at everything, but they aren’t considered an especially quiet breed, either. Pudelpointers are likely to bark when someone returns home or comes to visit. They may also bark at animals they see outside.

If you live in an apartment with noise restrictions and you want a pudelpointer, then you’ll need to be prepared to teach them to be quiet as there may be times when they get riled up.

Are Pudelpointers Affectionate?

Pudelpointers are a very loving breed of dog, at least while indoors. When a pudelpointer is outside, they’re often too interested in the scents of wild animals to be keen on pets or cuddles.

However, at home, they absolutely enjoy snuggling up with their humans. Some people have even described this breed as “clingy.” Most pudelpointers are too big to be lapdogs, but some will still try. Pudelpointers tend to warm up quickly to strangers, though they may not be quite as enthusiastic toward strangers as the average golden retriever.

Are Pudelpointers Intelligent?

Poodles are known to be among the smartest dog breeds, and pointers are no slouches themselves. Thus, the pudelpointer will have above-average intelligence. They are quite alert in terms of how much they focus on their humans, and this is because they love to learn and are eager to please.

Are Pudelpointers Energetic?

Pudelpointers are a high-energy breed. After all, they were bred to have enough endurance to hunt for hours. As such, the amount of energy they have can be tough for many families to keep up with.

They need several walks a day, or you can play fetch with them, take them swimming, take them hiking, or train them for dog sports such as agility, obedience, or rally. You will need to spend at least an hour exercising a pudelpointer every day, but many will require even more exercise than that.

Because they have so much energy and are so intelligent, physical exercise alone isn’t enough for a pudelpointer. They also need mental stimulation. You can provide this by playing games like hide and seek, offering puzzle toys or Kongs, or through training.

Are Pudelpointers Easy to Train?

Pudelpointers are known for being easy to train. They are eager to please so positive reinforcement works really well with this breed. Because they are smart and athletic, they can learn a variety of skills, including complex tricks and sports like agility.

Are Pudelpointers Good Watchdogs?

Pudelpointers will bark to alert you to the presence of a stranger (or friend) on your property. In this sense, they can make good watchdogs. However, they aren’t known for being especially protective and tend to be friendly toward strangers.

Are Pudelpointers Good Service Dogs?

Whether or not a pudelpointer can be a good service dog is entirely up to the individual dog. However, pudelpointers do have some qualities that could make them great service dogs.

First of all, they are calm, smart, and highly trainable. Second of all, they have incredible noses, which could help them excel as medical alert dogs. That said, a pudelpointer could become any kind of service dog, including a psychiatric service dog.

Similarly, pudelpointers would be good candidates for therapy dogs or emotional support animals because they are good with strangers and kids and lovey-dovey with their families. The pudelpointer’s high energy is a double-edged sword for assistance work.

On the one hand, they could easily get through a long workday without getting tired. On the other, if the person they are working for lives a quiet, sedentary lifestyle, the pudelpointer may lose focus or become a nuisance if their physical and mental stimulation needs are not met.

How to Care for a Pudelpointer?

Pudelpointers are easy to care for. They do not require professional grooming and only need a quick brushing once per week. Baths can be given as needed. Teeth should be brushed daily, nails trimmed regularly, and ears cleaned whenever they begin to have a buildup of wax.

Do You Need to Groom a Pudelpointer?

For the most part, pudelpointers are quite low-maintenance in terms of grooming. A quick brushing once a week is enough. Be sure to pay particular attention to the groin area, especially on pudelpointers with longer fur, as they are more likely to get mats here.

Otherwise, pudelpointers only need to be bathed occasionally. Like all other dogs, their teeth should be brushed daily and their nails trimmed regularly. You should also make sure to check their ears for build-up and clean them when needed to prevent infection.

Some pudelpointer owners prefer to do something called hand stripping. This is more common among pudelpointers with wirehaired or rough coats. Hand stripping is a grooming technique in which you essentially pluck hairs out of your dog with your fingers.

It sounds painful, but it is meant to help remove dead hairs that are already loose. You should not be ripping them out or pulling too hard. The method also involves pulling the skin taut and working in the direction of the hair growth to prevent the feeling of having the hair yanked out.

Most pudelpointer owners who hand strip do so in the spring as the winter coat begins to shed out. Some owners do it to help remove old, dead coat, whereas others do it for cosmetic reasons. For example, some owners prefer to strip the fringes from the ears for a more sleek look.

Another benefit to stripping is that some areas, like the ears, may be less prone to getting burs tangled in them. Hand stripping can be a time-consuming practice, which is why some prefer to have groomers do it, but it is not technically necessary for pudelpointers, and again, is usually only done in the spring.

For those who prefer to keep things low-maintenance, brushing a pudelpointer once a week is fine.

Do Pudelpointers Shed?

Despite being bred from poodles, pudelpointers are not hypoallergenic. Instead, they are moderate shedders. They don’t shed very much throughout the year (though you will find some fur here and there), but they do shed out their coats seasonally.

What Health Problems Do Pudelpointers Have?

Unfortunately, any dog could suffer from a health problem. You should only purchase a pudelpointer from a reputable breeder who health tests their dogs.

Health tests ensure that the parent animals are healthy and are not passing any known issues onto their offspring. Though health tests are not all-inclusive, they do increase your chances of receiving a healthy puppy.

The pudelpointer is considered to be a relatively healthy breed, with their main health concern being hip dysplasia. However, other, less common health problems are possible as well. These include seizures, cancer, diabetes, allergies, and eye issues like entropion.

How Long Do Pudelpointers Live?

Pudelpointers live for about 14 years.

What Should a Pudelpointer Eat?

If you plan to take your pudelpointer hunting, then you may want to feed a higher-calorie diet during hunting season than you would during the off-season. Along with this, you may prefer a diet that is higher in fat and protein during hunting season, though technically any dog food that follows AAFCO guidelines should be sufficient.

How much an individual pudelpointer should eat will depend on their size as well as a few other factors such as their age, activity level, and whether or not they are intact. You can calculate your dog’s daily calorie requirements yourself, or you can follow the guidelines on the back of your preferred dog food.

You should feed your pup the highest quality food you can afford that is appropriate for their age and weight. The best dog foods are formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists, undergo feeding trials, and follow AAFCO guidelines.

Is a Pudelpointer the Right Dog for Me?

Pudelpointers are a great fit for anyone who plans to use them for hunting or field trials. This is what pudelpointers were born for and what they love to do. This breed is perfect for someone who wants an affectionate companion at home but a driven worker in the field.

If you’re not keen on hunting but you’re very active and need a dog to hike, jog, swim, or bike with, then the pudelpointer could be a wonderful companion.  This breed is very high-energy and needs lots of exercise and mental stimulation.

Pudelpointers are not a good fit for a busy family that doesn’t have much time to dedicate to their dog’s exercise needs.