Pont-Audemer Spaniel

Also known as: Epagneul Pont-Audemer

The Pont-Audemer Spaniel comes from Normandy in France, named after a small town where the breed took shape in the 19th century for work in marshy terrain. Its most striking feature is the curly coat topped with a tall, tousled topknot on the head, which earned it the nickname the prince's dog. Males weigh around 25 kilograms, with an agile build suited to working both water and thick cover. The breed is extremely rare today, even in France it's seen less often than most other native spaniels. The coat needs regular brushing to keep the curls from matting. Temperament runs lively and friendly, and it suits an active family well. Life expectancy runs 12 to 14 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Pont-Audemer Spaniel: how old in human years?

50–58 cmHeight
20–25 kgWeight
12–14 yrsLife expectancy

Labrador Retriever

FCI group: Pointing Dogs
FCI section: Section 1.2: Continental Pointing Dogs, Type Spaniel
FCI: 114
Country of origin: France

Energy level

4/5
Trainability

4/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

4/5

At a glance

Height

Males 52–58 cm

Females 50–56 cm

Weight

Males 20–25 kg

Females not specified

Life expectancy

12–14 yrs

Coat

long, curly, topknot (long)

Temperament & Family Life

Pont-Audemer Spaniel's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 4/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 3/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 4/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Pont-Audemer Spaniel's energy and exercise needs are moderate.

Energy level 4/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 4/5
Hunting instinct 4/5

Guarding & Alertness

Pont-Audemer Spaniel's guarding and alertness traits are low.

Guarding instinct 2/5
Watchfulness 2/5
Barking level 2/5

Grooming & Care

Pont-Audemer Spaniel's grooming needs are moderate.

Shedding 3/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 4/5

Living with the Pont-Audemer Spaniel

The first question of your morning walk won't be "where to?" but "will there be water?". The Pont-Audemer Spaniel is a Normandy gundog, bred to find and retrieve birds in marshes and along riverbanks, so it treats a puddle as an invitation and a lake as a place of worship. Its prey drive and hunting instinct are strong, so start recall training early, particularly anywhere ducks are about.

It needs a lot of exercise: long walks, swimming, retrieving and search games. It learns willingly and quickly, and its clownish streak turns training into play; harshness gets you nowhere, while praise and treats get you everything. A flat is too cramped for it, and long hours alone too dull.

At home it is a cheerful, gentle and affectionate member of the family, good with children. It usually gets on with other dogs, greets strangers in a friendly but calm way, and doesn't bark for the sake of it. This is a very rare breed, so you may have to wait for a puppy; the reward is a companion as much at home in the field as by the fire.

Grooming and coat

A Pont-Audemer Spaniel looks as if it climbed out of a marsh wearing a wig: the long, curly coat and the topknot of curls on its head make it impossible to forget. That hairdo takes work. A few times a week, comb the coat right down to the skin, especially behind the ears, in the armpits and on the legs, where curls love to knot into mats. It sheds moderately, so keep the brush and comb somewhere handy.

This dog loves water, so after a swim or a rainy walk dry the coat and comb it through before the damp curls tighten up. Lift the long, hanging ears every week and look inside, and dry the outer part after swimming; redness, discharge or a bad smell is a reason to see a vet. Trim the hair between the toes and the nails now and then, or book a groomer every few months if you'd rather not do it yourself.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (25 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 305 g of dry food a day, from €16,70 a month For a neutered, normally active 22,5 kg dog. Calculate for your dog