Pont-Audemer Spaniel
pon-oh-de-MAIR SPAN-yul
France· Pont-Audemer, Normandy
The Pont-Audemer Spaniel is a curly-coated water and marsh gundog, one of the rarest of the French spaniel breeds, developed specifically for the wetlands of Normandy.
At a glance
Quick facts
Size
Medium
Exercise needs
1-2 hours per day
Home size suited to
Medium or larger
Grooming frequency
Weekly brush, regular attention to curls
Coat length
Medium, curly
Sheds
Low
Lifespan
12-14 years
Town or country
Country preferred, access to water valued
Garden size needed
Medium or larger
Where it comes from
Origins of the Pont-Audemer Spaniel
Bred around the marshes of Pont-Audemer in Normandy, this spaniel was developed by crossing local water-working spaniels with Irish Water Spaniel blood to cope with the boggy river valleys, resulting in a curly-coated dog with the distinctive topknot associated with true water spaniels.
- Region
- Pont-Audemer, Normandy
- Climate it was bred for
- Cool, damp lowland marsh and river valley
- Original job
- Pointing and retrieving waterfowl in marshland
The long read
About the breed
Its marshland work required a curly, waterproof coat, a bold water-loving temperament and enough drive to push through reeds and cold water for hours, producing a distinctive, characterful dog topped with a curly forelock.
At home it is lively, affectionate and somewhat clownish, forming close bonds with its family; it needs regular exercise, ideally including swimming, and does not suit a purely urban lifestyle.
Numbers remain extremely low even in France, and the breed is considered one of the rarest gundogs in Europe, kept almost exclusively by dedicated enthusiasts and a small number of hunters.
Living with one
Temperament & needs
Our own ratings, based on the breed standard and how these dogs behave in ordinary homes.
Friendliness
3/5
How openly the Pont-Audemer Spaniel greets people it does not know.
Trainability
3/5
How readily the breed takes to training in an ordinary home.
Energy
3/5
How much daily exercise and stimulation the breed expects.
Barking
3/5
How vocal the breed tends to be day to day.
Grooming
3/5
How much coat work the breed needs to stay comfortable.
Suits a first-time owner
3/5
How forgiving the Pont-Audemer Spaniel is for someone taking on their first dog.
Illustrated breed standard
The points of the breed
Hover or tap a numbered point to read what the standard asks for.
Point 1
Skull
The Pont-Audemer Spaniel's skull is judged on balance rather than size — proportionate to the body, with a clean cheek and a stop typical of the breed. Coarseness or an over-refined head are both faulted.
Timeline
History & development
1800s
Local marsh spaniels
Water-working spaniels were kept around the marshes of the Risle valley near Pont-Audemer.
1870s
Irish Water Spaniel influence
Crosses with Irish Water Spaniels introduced the curly coat and topknot.
1930s
Standard formalised
A breed standard was drawn up to define the Pont-Audemer type.
1949
FCI recognition
The breed received formal recognition from the FCI.
1990s
Conservation status
The breed was recognised as critically rare, with dedicated French breeders working to sustain the population.
Reference
Breed standard summary
- body
- Compact and well muscled with a level back.
- coat
- Curly throughout, longer on ears, chest and legs, with a characteristic topknot.
- ears
- Set low, covered in long curly hair, flat against the head.
- eyes
- Amber to brown, lively and expressive.
- head
- Domed skull with a topknot of curly hair, moderate stop and square muzzle.
- size
- Dogs 55-58cm, bitches 53-56cm
- colour
- Brown and white, often roaned, sometimes with tan markings.
- temperament
- Lively, affectionate and somewhat comical, keen for water work.
- general appearance
- A medium-sized, curly-coated spaniel with a lively, characterful bearing and distinctive topknot.
Health
What to screen for
Green means little to worry about, amber means ask the breeder for test results, red means manage it actively.
General information only — always speak to your vet about your own dog.
From real owners
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Made for the Pont-Audemer Spaniel
The book, plus prints, hoodies and mugs using our own Pont-Audemer Spaniel illustration — and one everyday accessory that suits any dog.
The book
Pawpoint: The Complete Dog Breed Book
Every officially recognised breed plus the unofficial ones nobody else documents. 400+ pages, hardback, printed and shipped from the UK.
Own stock — shipped by us
Framed poster
Pont-Audemer Spaniel Framed Poster
Museum-weight print of our Pont-Audemer Spaniel illustration, framed or unframed.
Printed to order
Hoodie
Pont-Audemer Spaniel Hoodie
Heavyweight hoodie carrying the Pont-Audemer Spaniel illustration on the chest.
Printed to order
Mug
Pont-Audemer Spaniel Mug
Ceramic mug with the Pont-Audemer Spaniel illustration wrapped around it.
Printed to order
Accessory
Standard Lead
Padded-handle 1.2m lead in Pawpoint tan.
Fits any dog
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