Pont-Audemer Spaniel
About the Pont-Audemer Spaniel
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Medium (25-50 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 20-23" |
| Weight | 40-53 lbs |
| Coat Type | Curly |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,000-$2,000 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,300/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Pont-Audemer Spaniels may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Apartment Living
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Pont-Audemer Spaniel
The story behind the Pont-Audemer Spaniel
The breed takes its name from the town of Pont-Audemer in Normandy and developed in the marshes and river valleys of northern France, where hunters needed a spaniel that would work reeds and cold water for wildfowl. It is generally understood to have formed during the nineteenth century from local French spaniel stock crossed with curly-coated water dogs, including English water spaniel types, which accounts for the characteristic coat. Never numerous, it declined sharply during the twentieth century, and the population was so reduced after the Second World War that French breeders introduced Irish Water Spaniel blood to rebuild it. The breed club later merged with that of the Picardy spaniels. It is recognised internationally but remains one of France's scarcest gundogs, maintained by a small circle of hunters and enthusiasts almost entirely within the country.
Originally bred for: Wildfowl retriever, marshland gundog, water spaniel. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Pont-Audemer Spaniel
A complete diet with solid protein and moderate fat supports a muscular water-working build; increase portions during cold-weather hunting when swimming burns energy fast. Feed two meals and allow settling time before heavy exercise, and keep pets trim since the coat conceals condition.
Watch for: No breed-typical food intolerance is documented for this scarce breed. Recurrent ear problems in water-working spaniels usually trace to moisture rather than diet. If skin or ear inflammation persists despite good drying and cleaning, a vet can advise whether food is worth investigating.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Pont-Audemer Spaniel
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.