The Pont-Audemer Spaniel or Epagneul Pont-Audemer is a rare breed of French gundog. It originated in the nineteenth century from different breeds of water spaniels, and took more of a setter role in hunting than that of a traditional spaniel. Following the Second World War, the breed's numbers dropped so low that the breed club decided to allow cross breeding with other breeds because of fears of the existing stock becoming overly inbred. In 1980, the breed club was merged with that of the Picardy Spaniel.
Originally developed in wetland and marsh areas in France, particularly suited to hunting waterfowl.
The Pont-Audemer Spaniel is a rare French gundog, originally developed in the 19th century. It is known for its excellent hunting abilities, particularly in wetland environments. This breed is sometimes referred to as 'le petit clown des marais' (the little clown of the marshes) due to its unique appearance and lively personality. The breed's numbers declined significantly after World War II, prompting controlled crossbreeding to ensure genetic diversity.
A Pont-Audemer Spaniel, 1915
Head of a Pont-Audemer Spaniel
Trainability
Responsiveness to training: —/5