The Épagneul Pont-Audemer is a standing breed, which gives its best in environments where water reigns like swamps, ponds and rice fields. Very affectionate and courageous dog, the Épagneul Pont-Audemer is a little known breed, for which great efforts are being made for its conservation.
The Épagneul Pont-Audemer is a breed originating in France and, according to the FCI classification, belongs to group 7 - pointing dogs.
The Épagneul Pont-Audemer is the result of the cross between the ancient “Chien D'oysel” and the “Norman Epagneul”, both breeds now disappeared. The crosses that gave rise to the current breed were undertaken in the nineteenth century, starting with the mating of a "French Spaniel" with the "Irish Water Spaniel", which according to some dog experts, handed down the skills to work in water.
The breed is experiencing extinction, as it is now not very widespread in its original French region, located between the Eure and the Seine-Maritime. Few people know that it is a breed with excellent hunting qualities, having always been selected for this purpose. In our country, many do not even know that the Épagneul Pont-Audemer breed exists.
In detail, it is a medium-sized dog, mesomorph mesocephalus, morphologically classified as a Braccoid type. The Épagneul Pont-Audemer is distinguished by a kind of wig on the head, consisting of a tuft on the skull and ears covered with curly hair. The coat is made up of thick, slightly oily and curly hair. This breed is water-loving, to the point that natural selection and evolution led them to develop webbed feet for better swimming, a typical Newfoundland feature. Fairly well proportioned and solidly built, he is a stocky and sturdy dog.
As we said, he is an excellent swimmer and his working method is similar to that of the "Èpagneul", with the exception of the "Breton". Many consider him a real specialist in hunting wild game. He knows how to move with extreme ease and naturalness in swampy environments and where there is water in general, doing the job he is called to do properly, without showing fatigue and trouble. The breed needs constant attention and care for the coat and for general cleaning. His attachment to people is immeasurable, always showing sweetness and love towards his master and his family. It can be said that he is a likeable dog both for his appearance and for his always cheerful temperament.
The height is between 52 and 58 cm at the withers. The thorax is deep, broad, down to the junction of the elbow, while the ribs are long and protruding, with the last one close to the hip. The back is straight or slightly convex. The loins are quite short, broad, solid and muscular, while the hips are protruding, at the height of the back. The hips are flat and slightly recessed.
The skull is oval and well developed at the top, the occipital crest prominent, the lateral walls rather round, joined to the muzzle by a light but marked stop. The nose is long, with a prominence in the middle; the lips are fine and not very deep, making the muzzle rather pointed.
The nose is brown in color and rather pointed, protruding significantly in front of the lip.
The set of teeth is very strong and complete in number. The neck is slightly arched, muscular, with a beautiful line that joins it finely to the head and solidly to the shoulders.
The ears have a medium thickness, are flat and set low so as not to clutter the cheeks; they are also long and trimmed with very curly long hair, joined to the tuft to form a beautiful curly wig that frames the head well.
The eyes are dark amber or hazel, rather small, well inserted in the socket, giving the Épagneul Pont-Audemer a frank and good look.
The limbs are muscular and strong, with straight and descended thighs. The tarsi are rather short, embellished with a curly fringe. The thigh is well rounded, made up of a fur "braghetta". The gait of this breed is quite fast and free, with the tail set close to the line of the loins and carried quite straight. The hair, the characteristic of Épagneul Pont-Audemer, is curly and slightly rough. The colors allowed by the standard are the following: brown, brown and mottled gray, with dead leaf reflections.
The Épagneul Pont-Audemer shows all its strength and ability in environments where water reigns, therefore swamps, rice fields, lakes and the like. It is a very courageous dog and does not fear fatigue and work. Unfortunately, its low diffusion is creating a lot of problems for the conservation of the breed, but we hope that, after this article, our readers (and not only hunters) will be able to learn even more about the abilities of this breed and try it in the field.