If you can’t get enough of the great outdoors, it makes sense to get a dog that feels the same way. That’s the Pudelpointer in a nutshell, an amazing outdoor hunting dog that enjoys the water and just about everything else nature can throw at them.

They’re also incredibly loving and make great family dogs, earning them high marks for an active family that enjoys spending their time outside.

Breed Overview

Originally a cross between a German Poodle and an English Hunting Dog, the Pudelpointer is one of the most intelligent hunting dogs in the world. They won’t give away your cover and are quick to pick up things you’re training them, so it’s no wonder many hunters fall in love with this pup and never look back!

Pudelpointer Characteristics

Pudelpointer Breed Puppies

While a Pudelpointer is far from the most popular dog breed across the country, they are among the most popular bird-hunting dogs. So, finding a reputable breeder is all about looking in the right place.

You won’t find too many breeders in the city, but once you head out on a few country roads, finding a Pudelpointer breeder isn’t all that challenging. The Pudelpointer originates in Germany, so it’s possible to find breeders throughout Europe as well as the United States.

It’s also common for breeders to double as hunting trainers, which raises the cost of the dog initially but ensures you’re getting a well-trained pup ready to start hunting as soon as they form a bond with you!

No matter where you live, ensure you’re tracking down a reputable breeder who offers health guarantees and references to help reduce the likelihood of you accidentally supporting a puppy mill. Not only does this help you keep a clean conscience, but it also helps ensure you’ll get a better hunting dog with fewer health problems, saving you money in the long run even if you’re paying a little more for a puppy upfront.

Pudelpointer Breed Origin & History

While many modern hunting dogs originate in the southern US states, that’s not the case with the Pudelpointer. They’re originally a cross between the Pudel and an English Pointer, with the first pup emerging in Germany in 1881.

Breeders wanted to combine the intelligence, retrieving instinct, and water-loving traits of the Pudel with the strong hunting drive of the English Pointer. It took them a while to find the perfect combination, but through years of persistence, the modern-day Pudelpointer emerged, and it’s a water-loving, eager-to-please, bird-hunting expert!

Temperament & Intelligence of the Pudelpointer 🧠

As classic hunting dogs, these pups are extremely loving and eager to please, which is essential during the training process. They don’t always hunt in a pack, but they can with proper socialization and training.

Keep in mind that while the Pudelpointer is exceptionally loving and sweet, they only retain this temperament if you’re meeting their daily exercise needs. Otherwise, their pent-up energy can turn into destructive and sometimes aggressive boredom behaviors.

This is often the cause of an unearned reputation for aggressiveness, as the owners don’t take the time to meet their dog’s needs.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

While the Pudelpointer isn’t the ideal pup for every family, they’re a great family dog for the right family. They’re hunting dogs through and through, and while you don’t need to hunt to keep them happy, you do need to keep them moving.

If you’re planning on bringing a Pudelpointer into your home it’s essential to meet all their exercise needs and socialize them early on; otherwise, it’s possible that you could run into a few problems with these pups and your kids.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽 

If you’re considering getting another dog with a Pudelpointer, you shouldn’t have too many problems as long as you socialize your pets properly and meet all their exercise needs.

However, if you have smaller pets, you might not want to get a Pudelpointer. They have a strong prey drive, so it’s possible they could go after the smaller pets in your home.

Things to Know When Owning a Pudelpointer

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Pudelpointer can thrive on a wide array of high-quality diets. As long as you find a complete and balanced diet that meets all their nutritional needs, you don’t need to be too picky. They’ll typically need between 2.5 and 3.5 cups of kibble daily, but the exact amount will vary depending on the size of your pup and the brand of food you go with.

You’ll also want to pick up some high-quality treats to train them with, but be careful not to overdo it, as too many can lead to obesity.

Exercise 🐕

If you’re looking for a dog that will happily lounge around on the couch all day, the Pudelpointer isn’t it. They thrive on activity, and while hunting is their preferred way of getting it, they’ll happily take running around a large fenced-in yard.

They need plenty of time to run around, and they’ll still need some daily walks for you to meet their needs. Aim for two daily walks, each lasting at least 30 minutes.

Training 🦮

While you can train these dogs to complete a wide range of tasks, you’ll have the most success if you follow their natural hunting instincts and train them to do things like retrieval.

You’ll need to stay persistent and teach them basic commands first, but before long, they’ll be able to retrieve game birds like a pro and listen to basic recall commands. But once they master these commands, you’ll want to keep up with training, as this helps meet their intellectual needs.

Grooming ✂️

These pups don’t have a ton of grooming requirements and usually only require weekly brushing. However, their undercoat does shed seasonally, and during these periods, you might need to brush them more frequently. You don’t need to bathe them often unless they get into a mess, but occasional baths with a specialized dog shampoo are necessary.

In addition to brushing their coats, you’ll need to keep up with oral hygiene. Finally, while frequent exercise should keep their nails in check, you’ll still want to keep an eye on them and trim them as needed.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Overall, this is one of the healthier dog breeds, as strict breeding standards have kept their overall health in account. But to help ensure your pup doesn’t develop any severe medical conditions, you’ll want to get a health guarantee from the breeder and check in with the references they give you.

Male vs. Female

While you’ll hear all sorts of people claim that one gender can be feistier or more aggressive than the other, there’s far from a consensus on this. Instead, your pup’s personality tends to play a much more significant role, which will involve getting to know your specific pet.

With that in mind, one area that’s not in question about the difference between male and female Pudelpointers is their size. Males tend to stand a few inches higher and have a few extra pounds on females, but this usually doesn’t have much of an impact when retrieving birds.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Pudelpointer

1. The American Kennel Club (AKC) Recently Admitted the Pudelpointer

While the Pudelpointer might seem like commonplace in some circles, they’re newer to North America, and the AKC only officially recognized the breed in 2016. They’re one of the newer additions, but they’re slowly growing in popularity.

2. They Love the Water

Bird hunters know that the Pudelpointer loves the water, but many people who keep these pups as family companions don’t have the same knowledge. However, they are dogs that can’t get enough of it!

3. They Can Be Calm and Goofy

If you’re not meeting their exercise needs, these dogs can turn into a handful, but if you are, they’re usually pretty calm and have a pretty silly demeanor at home. They’re great family pets, it’s just up to you to meet their physical and mental needs.

Final Thoughts

As long as you plan on spending some time outside and you have plenty of space for them to run around, the Pudelpointer can be the perfect pup for you to bring into your home. They’re certainly not for everyone, but if your personality matches theirs, you won’t find a better outdoor companion for you and your family.

Know what you’re getting yourself into, and if it all matches up, consider getting the perfect outdoor companion with a Pudelpointer!

Featured Image Credit: Chamois-huntress, Shutterstock