History of the Pudelpointer

From a single 1881 crossing of Pointer and Pudel to today's North American lines.

History of the Pudelpointer

The name tells the story: the Pudelpointer comes from the English Pointer crossed with the Standard Poodle — more precisely the German Pudel, not the French variety. Back home, the Pudel earned its keep as a working dog that loved the water and had strong retrieving instincts.

Pudelpointer standing in a field
Pointer drive meets Pudel trainability in the Pudelpointer
Pudelpointer portrait showing wiry coat and whiskered muzzle
A whiskered muzzle and pronounced eyebrows mark the breed

The breed's tale begins around 1881, when a German Hunting Pudel bitch was bred to an English Pointer male. That match produced the first line of dogs, created to blend the Pointer's drive with the Pudel's affectionate, biddable temperament. When breeding stock was lost during the two world wars, some back crosses to Pointers became necessary.

North America saw its first Pudelpointer in 1956, brought over by Sigbot Winterhelt and H.D. Hume. Numerous dogs have followed since, and a careful breeding program has kept the breed's quality high.

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About the Breed

A medium-sized dog, the Pudelpointer stands 22 to 25 inches at the shoulder and weighs 45 to 70 pounds.

  • Color: usually brown, from liver to black, with white markings permitted on the chest and feet
  • Coat: ideally harsh, wiry and dense, though it varies — some dogs are smooth-coated, others long and wooly
  • Distinctive features: every Pudelpointer has pronounced eyebrows and a whiskered muzzle
  • Tail: docked to roughly two-thirds of its natural length
  • Upkeep: clean dogs that shed very little and need only minimal maintenance

Frequently Asked Questions

Which two breeds were combined to create the Pudelpointer?
The English Pointer was bred with the German Pudel — the German breed, not the French one, known at home as the Pudel — a water-loving working dog with very strong retrieving instincts.
When did the Pudelpointer breed begin?
The breed traces back to about 1881, when a German Hunting Pudel bitch was bred to an English Pointer male, producing the first line of dogs.
Why were back crosses to Pointers necessary?
Back crosses to Pointers became necessary because breeding stock was depleted during the two world wars.
When did the first Pudelpointer arrive in North America?
The first dog arrived in 1956, imported by Sigbot Winterhelt and H.D. Hume. Many more have followed, and a careful breeding program keeps the breed's quality high.
What does a Pudelpointer look like?
It is a medium-sized dog, 22 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder and 45 to 70 pounds. Most are brown, from liver to black, with white markings allowed on the chest and feet. The ideal coat is harsh, wiry and dense, and every Pudelpointer has pronounced eyebrows and a whiskered muzzle.
Do Pudelpointers shed much?
They are clean dogs that shed very little and need only minimal maintenance.

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Whether you are researching the breed for the first time or comparing lines, understanding where the Pudelpointer came from helps explain its versatile hunting instincts and easygoing temperament. Explore our photo gallery and available dogs to see these traits in person.