Pinpointing the “Best All Around Bird Hunting Dog” may inspire lively debate among the owners of pointers, flushers, retrievers, spaniels, and versatile breeds (isn’t that how dog shows got started in the first place?) but in 2013, the on-line publication, American Hunter, took on the challenge. It looked for the one breed that came closest to handling all aspects of waterfowl/bird dog hunting: Finding, pointing, flushing, trailing, chasing, and fetching. After extensive research, author, Ron Spomer, reported his top choices in each of the aforementioned categories, and concluded with his overall winner. That winner might surprise some of you who’ve never heard of the breed before – the Pudelpointer. Spomer wrote, “A Pudelpointer is equally effective in uplands or wetlands. It nearly matches the Lab in water and comes close to the pointing breeds in the uplands. It hasn’t the class and style of a setter or pointer, hasn’t the flash of a springer, hasn’t the power of a big Lab but comes close to all. It’s intelligent, easily trained, affectionate and loyal. The right German Wirehair could bump off the best Pudelpointer, but so could the right shorthair or Lab. It’s a close call, but if versatility is your need, the Pudelpointer is your champion.”
To see how other breeds fared in Spomer’s list, read here.
Photo of “Jettie” by Andy Kuehn
My brother loves his! He’s hunted with English Setters, Brittanies, and German Shorthair Pointers over the years but I think he loves this one the best. On land for Quail or diving in cold water for Ducks he’s been a great dog.
These are some fine looking dogs, Cathy!! How did he come to hear of such a rare breed?
Hi, that is a picture of my dog Jettie. Where did you get this photo?
Just saw you found it on Pinterest…lots more @andykuehn
Andy, we’re happy to remove the picture if you’d like us to, though it’s a lovely picture we’d like to keep with the post. We’ll give full credit now that we know, and in the meantime, if you’d like us to remove it, say the word.
Have one myself she is amazing!!
For 11 years Blitz has been the best companion anyone could ask for. . Everyone is always asking about what breed he is and definitely gets a lot of attention when we go out. Super sweet and affectionate and very intelligent.
As a pudelpointer (PP) owner, this type of broad publicity can be very bad for the breed. Higher demand can lead to lowering of breeder standards. PP should only be sold to families that hunt and agree to provided test data back to the breeder. Pups should only come from reputable breeders with a full testing program. These are not dogs for the show ring and never should be.
The following is a portion of a letter to “Pointing Dog Journal” Nov/Dec 2013 written by Sigbot “Bodo” Winterhelt (the man who brought the PP to North America with 70+ years working with PPs):
“A recent piece in “The American Hunter” identified the pudelpointer as one of the most capable versatile breeds. In my experience, it is very dangerous for a dog breed to become popular. Because of the vanity of owning an “in” dog, and because of pure greed, unscrupulous and ignorant breeders will mass-produce dogs that have not been tested through NAGHDA or a breed club. This will result in the breed going downhill.
The purpose of this letter is to encourage hunters interested in the pudelpointer to do their homework and consider only tested dogs from an established breeder.”
There is a typo in the letter. NAGHDA should be NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association)
Thanks, James!
Doing one’s homework is essential before adding any dog to a family, James, we concur, and the more this is reinforced, the better.
Sorry for the late reply, James. We’re delighted to have the input of an experienced Pudelpointer owner on what is still a rare breed in the states. We admire the rigorous standards in the breed, and wholehearted support the insistence that pups come only from reputable breeders with a full testing program. We’re less inclined to agree that a show presence is tantamount to doom for a breed – we know of too many Versatility titled dogs, and dogs that leave a show ring and successfully compete in field trials. That said, we would underline and bold highlight his portion of your note: Those interested in the pudelpointer should do their homework and consider only tested dogs from an established breeder.