Pont-Audemer Spaniel
| Pont-Audemer Spaniel | |||||||||||||
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| Other names | Epagneul Pont-Audemer Setter of Pont-Audemer | ||||||||||||
| Origin | France | ||||||||||||
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| Dog(domestic dog) | |||||||||||||
ThePont-Audemer SpanielorEpagneul Pont-Audemeris a rare breed of Frenchgundog.It originated in the nineteenth century from different breeds of water spaniels, and took more of asetterrole in hunting than that of a traditionalspaniel.Following theSecond 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 thePicardy Spaniel.
History
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The breed is alleged to have been developed in thePont-Audemerregion of France in the nineteenth century. While the exact origin of the breed isn't known, it is thought that stock from both theEnglish Water SpanielandIrish Water Spanielsmay have played a part in the breed's original makeup.[1]In the early 20th century, outside France, they were considered more useful as asetterthan doing typicalspanieltype work.[2]
The breed's numbers were never large, and so few examples existed afterWorld War IIthat in 1949 the President of the Pont-Audemer breed club in France allowed for other breeds, including theIrish Water Spaniel,[3]to cross-breed with the existing population in order to alleviate the risk of inbreeding what few Pont-Audemer Spaniels remained.[1]However the breed's population remained low, and in 1980 at the recommendation of the Société Centrale Canine, the Pont-Audemer breed club was merged with that of thePicardy Spaniel.[1]
The Pont-Audermer Spaniel is recognized by theFédération Cynologique Internationale,the international kennel association.[4]It is recognised in the United States by theUnited Kennel Club,in the club'sGundog Group.[3]Other breed registries that recognize the Pont-Audemer include theContinental Kennel Club,[5]theInternational Canine Kennel Club,[6]and theAmerican Rare Breed Association.[7]
Description
[edit]The Pont-Audemer Spaniel is a medium-sized dog, weighing 44 to 60 pounds (20–27 kg), and standing around 50–58 centimetres (20–23 in) at thewithers.[1]It is different from most sporting dog breeds in the US and UK in its length, and the pointed quality of the muzzle.[2]The Pont-Audemer Spaniel's coat is curly or, at the very least, quite wavy, but smooth around the face. The most common pattern is brown and white roan but a solid brown coat is also acceptable. Both coat patterns can have red-brown “dead leaf glints”. Black or tan markings are faults. The hair on the face is short. The topknot can take up to five years to fully develop. Most Pontos have docked tails. Tails that are left intact are usually well feathered like that of a setter, although it is not unheard of for a Ponto to have the shorthaired “rat-tail” of an Irish Water Spaniel.[citation needed]
Temperament
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Though hardy, as well as hard-working, the breed has the typical spaniel traits of being easy to train, gentle, and affectionate. The dogs are known to have a fun-loving quality and in France are said to bele petit clown des marais(the little clown of the marshes).[1]
Pont-Audemer Spaniels are usually found in a working gundog environment, and are rarely kept as mere family pets. The dogs specialize aswater dogs.[2]At the start of the 20th century they were prized for their use in hunting wild ducks in either the water or marshy conditions.[2]They remain used in France in various terrain, and used for hunting rabbits or pheasants.[1]
Health
[edit]Alopeciahas been reported in the Pont-Audemer Spaniel, appearing first between the ages of seven and eighteen months. The ears and nose areas are primarily affected.Biopsieson the affected animals showed that damage to the root sheath and clumping of pigment in hair shafts were the main reasons for the condition. Tests conducted ruled outendocrinerelated causes such ashyperthyroidism.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdef"Les historiques Pont Audemer".Site officiel du Club de l'Epagneuls Picards, Bleus de Picardie & Pont Audemer(in French).Retrieved6 January2012.
- ^abcdLeighton, Robert (1907).The New Book of the Dog.New York; London: Cassell. p. 500.ISBN9781440089428.
- ^ab"Epagneul de Pont-Audemer".United Kennel Club. Archived fromthe originalon 27 April 2012.Retrieved6 January2012.
- ^"FCI-Standard N° 114 / 25. 09.1998 / GB Pont-Audemer Spaniel"(PDF).Fédération Cynologique Internationale. 15 September 1998.Retrieved6 January2012.
- ^"Epagneul Pont-Audemer".Continental Kennel Club.Retrieved6 January2012.
- ^"Breed Standards".International Canine Kennel Club. Archived fromthe originalon 14 November 2011.Retrieved6 January2012.
- ^"Pont-Audemer Spaniel".American Rare Breeds Association. Archived fromthe originalon 6 November 2011.Retrieved6 January2012.
- ^Mecklenburg, Lars; Linek, Monika; Tobin, Desmond John (2009).Hair Loss Disorders in Domestic Animals.Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell. p. 174.ISBN978-0-8138-1082-9.
External links
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