Pont-Audemer Spaniel

The Pont-Audemer Spaniel is a dog with a balanced character and friendly disposition. The pet is completely devoted to its owner. The dog gets along well with family members. Especially affectionate children love to play with them. To congeners treats with jealousy, wary.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The Pont-Audemer Spaniel was bred in France in the 17th century. The breed was named after the town of Pont-Audemer in Normandy. The dog’s ancestors are considered to be Irish and Old English water spaniels, as well as poodles and barbets.

The French also call the spaniel “the little marsh clown” because it was bred to hunt water game. It is a rather rare breed whose numbers were greatly reduced due to wars in the 20th century. It was recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1953, and the breed standard was approved 11 years later.

Appearance

The Pont-Audemer Spaniel is a dry dog with a skinny body. The back is straight or convex, with a strong loin. The chest is deep and broad, and the abdomen is taut. The neck is convex and muscular. The head is pointed, with a pronounced occipital tubercle. The muzzle is long, with a well-defined transition from the forehead. The nasal bridge is pointed, brown.

The eyes are small, brown, or dark yellow. Ears floppy, medium length, set low. The limbs are muscular with round feet. The tail is medium length, densely covered with dense hair. The dog carries it parallel to the ground. The coat is very dense, thick, curly. The color of the dog is chestnut or peignut.

Character

The Pont-Audemer Spaniel is a dog with a balanced character and friendly disposition. The pet is completely devoted to its owner. The dog gets along well with family members. Especially affectionate children love to play with them. To congeners treats with jealousy, wary. At work, the dog is very hardy and persistent. It is a strong and energetic dog. It will be indispensable for hunting or hiking. The family pet responsibly performs its duties when it comes to hunting.

Care

You can keep the Pont-Audemer Spaniel in the apartment if you want, but the main condition will be walking in the fresh air. This dog requires constant physical activity, just like other hunting breeds. Therefore, the best option for keeping a pet will be a country house.

A coarse coat needs weekly combing. Inspect your dog’s eyes and ears and remove dirt on time. Bathe your dog infrequently, only when necessary. Frequent bathing destroys the protective coating on the coat.

Training

The Pont-Audemer Spaniel is a brilliant dog that is easy to train. The pet is obedient and intelligent, grasps all the commands on the fly. Remember that the Pont-Audemer Spaniel is a gentle and kind dog that requires reverent and affectionate treatment. Under no circumstances should you be rude or use force towards your pet. Replace punishments with praise and rewards in the form of treats. It will be an excellent incentive for the dog to perform commands even harder and better.

Training should include plenty of physical activity. The dog has a lot of energy, which should be put in the right direction. Walking or jogging in the woods would be ideal. Also, the spaniel loves to swim.

Common Diseases

The Pont-Audemer Spaniel has a generally strong immune system. The following ailments are characteristic of members of this breed:

• hip dysplasia;
• hyperfunction of the thyroid gland;
• diseases of the eyes and ears.

Thyroid hyperfunction is a hereditary endocrine disorder caused by the breed’s narrow gene pool. This disease manifests itself by baldness in the ear and nose area at a fairly early age. Hanging ears must be kept dry and clean at all times to avoid infections.

Nutrition

The diet of the Pont-Audemer Spaniel should be balanced. It is based on quality proteins and carbohydrates, as well as some fats. Meat and dairy dishes will be just right. Also, do not forget about fruits and vegetables, from which the spaniel will get all the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Older dogs need fewer carbohydrates in their diets. But dogs that are engaged in intensive hunting require even more protein products. Don’t forget to replenish your dog’s water balance. The amount of water he needs depends on his level of activity. On average, 40 ml of water per kilogram of pet weight is required.