For years, we at Cabin Creek Gundogs have specialized in breeding the best quality of pudelpointers possible. We’ve worked hard at importing the best pudelpointer bloodlines to give our customers the best hunting, best behaved, most versatile gun dog possible.
We have imported elite pudelpointer bloodlines from Germany, the Czech Republic and parts of Canada. Even today, pudelpointers are not very common among hunting circles when compared to other breeds of pointing dogs. But we’re continuing to spread the word and show people, one pudelpointer puppy at a time, the quality of our pudelpointer bloodlines.
What we love most about pudelpointers is their drive and versatility in the field and their calm demeanor when at home or on the road, something we’ve not seen in any other breeds of versatile gun dogs.
Where did Pudelpointers come from?
In the late 1800s Germany aggressively promoted hunting within their country, along with other pastimes of the era for their nation in recovery. The development of dogs to be used in hunting was also encouraged, and this is when the English pointer was crossed with pudels (the German spelling of poodle) or what was widely known as water dogs. The water dogs varied in coat color and length, but they all did have long hair, usually curly, and worked diligently in water and cold conditions, largely as herding dogs. These water dogs were known for their drive and intelligence.
While short and long haired dogs had been previously crossed, this was the first known attempt to cross two very well established dog breeds-the English pointer and a water dog-with the intent of creating a single breed that carried the best qualities of both breeds being crossed.
During this time in history, English pointers were very popular throughout much of Europe, which added to the interest of a new possible breed. English pointers were known for their speed and drive to work hard in the field. Breeders of the time crossed various water dogs with prized English pointers. Eventually, desired hair types and behaviors were achieved, and ultimately, pudelpointers were born.
In the 1890s pudelpointers became a registered breed, meaning pudelpointers could be bred with other pudelpointers. The goal of early lovers of pudelpointers was to produce a rough-coated dog with a wide range of hunting abilities to be utilized in a vast array of habitats and conditions for multiple species of birds and small game.
How did Pudelpointers come to North America?
Sigbot “Bodo” Winterhelt was credited with bringing the pudelpointer breed from Germany to North America in the 1950s. Winterhelt, one of the NAVHDA founders, eventually settled in Oregon, the home state of Cabin Creek Gundogs. As you would expect, Oregon has a very active, dedicated group of pudelpointer owners and hunters who love the pudelpointer breed, something we’re proud to be a part of.
Oregon is one of the most diverse states in the country and our pudelpointers have been used to hunt from the Pacific Coast to the Cascades and throughout all of eastern Oregon. Be it forest grouse and quail in the Coast Range or Cascade Mountains, diving duck hunting on the coast, duck and goose hunting in the valleys, or hunting chukar in the rugged mountains of eastern Oregon and chasing pheasants in the grasslands, the pudelpointer can handle it all. Pudelpointers are excellent when it comes to shed hunting for deer and elk antlers, and they love their squirrel hunting. As with any versatile gun dog breed, the individual behavior of a pudelpointer can vary from dog do dog, as can their coat length, from slick to wavy.
But one thing you can rest assured of, all pudelpointers are well known and appreciated for their drive to hunt and perform in the field. It’s the protective coat of pudelpointers that makes them a popular choice of bird hunters who enjoy waterfowling, especially in rivers, lakes and ponds. Many people who have gotten pudelpointers from us at Cabin Creek Gundogs hunt over 100 days every waterfowl season with their pudelpointers. Pudelpointers love water and will sit at a duck blind all day, and their ability to spot approaching ducks is impressive. Pudelpointers love hunting and retrieving geese, too.
What are Pudelpointers like?
Pudelpointers are a sensitive breed, largely due to their innate level of intelligence. For this reason, pudelpointers should not be raised and trained with a heavy hand. Pudelpointers are friendly, usually inquisitive, versatile gun dogs that get along with other dogs. It’s the playful personalities and ability to “turn it off” that attract many owners to pudelpointers. These dogs will hunt hard all day, want to play with the kids when you get home, and curl up at your feet, wherever you are. Pudelpointers love human attention and affection and they thrive on eye-contact. Pudelpointers are very smart and easy to train.
Some folks claim that pudelpointers do not shed. Let us say, pudelpointers do shed, but ever so slightly in comparison to other hunting dogs. We think it’s safe to say pudelpointers generally shed about 90-95%% less than Labs.
Pudelpointers rarely groom themselves. If pudelpointers spend time licking their feet, inspect them for injuries or grass seeds. Pudelpointers rarely drool, except when staring at food, so that often lies on the owner. Long coated pudelpointers or pudelpointers with facial furnishings, particularly a beard, will drip water after getting a drink from their bowl, but that’s a small price to pay for such a specialized, enjoyable, gun dog with an adorable demeanor.
Pudelpointers can be very shy to strangers, and if taken by surprise, may bark, which is quite uncharacteristic of the breed. Female pudelpointers, more than males, seem to get into skirmishes with other dogs. As with all hunting dogs, be aware of your pudelpointer and its surroundings at all times, and have it on a leash in public areas. Pudelpointers actually make good watchdogs, as they are very observant of their surroundings and take notice of strangers and unfamiliar noises.
One of the greatest qualities of pudelpointers is their ability to adapt to where they are and what’s happening around them. As long as they’re with their owners, pudelpointers will adapt to any new situation, be it a hotel room or unfamiliar hunting ground, a long car ride, or hanging out at a friend’s house.
Pudelpointers will look to their master for direction, comfort and confirmation that all is okay, and will move forward, accordingly. When pudelpointer puppies develop a relationship with everyone in your family, the breed will listen to everyone, not just one master.
Pudelpointers are well known for their loving personalities. Unlike some high-strung breeds of gun dogs, pudelpointers are content laying around the house. At home and when traveling, the energy of a pudelpointer is low; on the hunt they are intense and won’t stop until you say it’s time. Keep in mind, pudelpointers are bred to hunt, and they are most happy when living in a hunting family and when hunting as much as possible. Pudelpointers are happiest when living where there’s a place to roam, not confined in an apartment or house with a small yard.
A top quality that dog owners love about pudelpointers is that the dogs are not barkers. Pudelpointers will bark to alert you of dangers or concerns, and sometimes offer a warm, bubbly bark to say they love you, but largely, pudelpointers are very quiet. This is just one of the many reasons people are seeking pudelpointers as hunting dogs and family pets.
Pudelpointers come with short, slick hair, or with long hair. Thin coated pudelpointers are usually sought by hunters who frequent areas with grass and weed seeds. Thicker coated pudelpointers are very popular among waterfowl hunters, where sitting in wet, cold conditions all day long is the norm. Long haired pudelpointers can be groomed a few times a year to achieve a shorter coat.
At Cabin Creek Gundogs we do not breed mass numbers of pudelpointers. We pride ourselves on breeding a few quality pudelpointer litters a year, making sure our pudelpointer pups are of utmost excellence.
Finding ideal hunting homes for our pudelpointer pups is a top priority. When it comes time to buy a pudelpointer puppy from Cabin Creek Gundogs, we’ll likely ask you as many questions as you’ll ask us. This is all in an effort to find the best home possible for our pudelpointer pups, as we truly love each one of these very special, versatile gun dogs and want to make sure they go to the best home, possible.
