The Pont-Audemer Spaniel (Epagneul de Pont-Audemer) wears a wig, and the FCI standard says so. It means the long, strongly curled ears, whose silky hair merges into a curly topknot on the skull. Together they frame the head while leaving the forehead clear. Beneath is a stocky, powerful pointing dog.
| FCI | Group 7 (Pointing Dogs), Section 1.2 Continental Pointing Dogs, Spaniel type, Standard No. 114, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | France |
| Size (height at the withers) | 52 to 58 cm (the standard does not distinguish sexes) |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | curly and slightly felted; curly topknot on the skull, long ears with strongly curled silky hair, fringes on tail and rear pasterns, long hair between the toes |
| Colours in the standard | chestnut brown, preferably chestnut mixed with grey, with the sheen of dead leaves; black, black and white and tan patches are faulty |
A standard with gaps
Anyone looking for a history in the standard will find none. The FCI names France as the country of origin, pointing dog as the purpose and requires a working trial; definitive recognition dates from December 1954. The German version from September 2023 has no chapter on origins or temperament. Accounts of how the breed developed therefore cannot be confirmed from this source.
Low-built, but no Cocker
The legs should be quite short, making the dog stand rather low, but expressly not like a Cocker Spaniel. The chest is long and broad, reaching the elbows; the loins are short and muscular, the muzzle long and slightly arched. The eyes are dark amber or hazel, with an open, good-natured expression.
What can be said about temperament
The standard gives no temperament description, only excluding aggressive or excessively fearful dogs from breeding. Expect what the working trial tests: a hunting dog with a nose and pointing instinct, needing tasks in the field. With such a rare breed, meeting the parents is essential; ask about their daily lives and whether they work in hunting.
Curls needing care
Curly, slightly felted hair collects leaves, burrs and mud. Comb ears, topknot and fringes regularly before mats form, and check the long curls between the toes. Dry the heavy ears after water work. According to the standard, the tail is generally shortened to one third; undocked, it is medium length and slightly curved. In Germany, tail docking is generally prohibited under § 6 of the Animal Welfare Act, so the tail you encounter here is undocked.
A genetic finding from a small sample
No lifespan figures are available; McMillan and colleagues’ UK study lists the breed but does not analyse it (McMillan et al. 2024). A large genetic screening study of almost 7000 dogs from around 230 breeds found the variant for hyperuricosuria in one of only four Pont-Audemer Spaniels tested; it had not previously been described in this breed (Donner et al. 2016). Dogs with two copies excrete more uric acid and may develop urinary stones. Four dogs reveal nothing about prevalence, but testing breeding dogs establishes whether they can pass on the variant.
Who they suit
Hunters seeking a compact pointer who also works in water, and experienced owners willing to invest time finding a breeder for a rare breed.
Less so if
you want an easy-care dog, dislike waiting or expect a family dog without a hunting instinct. The limited knowledge of this breed is also a disadvantage for beginners.
The breed quiz helps you weigh up a rare hunting spaniel against a more common breed; our book “Which Dog REALLY Suits You?” (book in German) explores the question thoroughly. For the first weeks with a puppy, the free Puppy Starter Pack is ready. A similarly curly relative is the Picardy Spaniel. Capture your curly companion through our dog portraits from your own photo or choose a poster in a wooden frame.
Further reading
- Cocker Spaniel: cheerful, led by the nose and troubled by ears
- Puppy checklist: essentials and the first 3 days
- Autumn shedding in dogs and cats: what is normal and when it is not
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI Standard No. 114 Epagneul de Pont-Audemer (Pont-Audemer Spaniel) (fci.be, German version dated 05.09.2023, valid standard published on 01.08.2023); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024; Donner J et al., Genetic Panel Screening of Nearly 100 Mutations Reveals New Insights into the Breed Distribution of Risk Variants for Canine Hereditary Disorders, PLOS ONE 2016.
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