Rock Creek Pudelpointers

Since 1995

Minnesota's Home of the Pudelpointer

Producing 47 NAVHDA Breeder's Awards

                                       Please read all of the FAQ's prior to contacting us.


     At Rock Creek, we breed hunting dogs. We do not sell pets. We do not sell to non-hunting families or as suprise gifts for the hunter in the family. We ask that the individual who will be hunting the dog contact us.


     We apologize, but we are a family run kennel and we do not schedule planned visits for those who are curious about the breed and we never allow the "we were in the area" visits. Ideally, this site, as well as other sites, visits to local NAVHDA events, and referrals will help with your research. Then, by the time you contact us, you will have decided that a pudelpointer is right for you and your family.  

Do they need a lot of exercise?

      The harder you run and exercise your dog, the longer he will hunt for you. If you do nothing to condition your dog, then your day in the field will be much shorter. Do they get destructive if they don’t get exercise? No, they get out of shape. We would hope with the investment you make and the desire to have a quality hunting dog, that you would ensure that they are in excellent physical condition and fed properly.

Can pudelpointers be used to hunt for deer sheds and for blood tracking?

   Many of our owners have used their pudelpointers for both sheds and blood tracking.

    I do not train for sheds, but my dogs will occasionally bring back a shed to me and quite often other treasures. Much of this has to do with the cooperative nature of pudelpointers and because they have been through the forced retrieve.

Do they make good house dogs or good kennel dogs?

        Pudelpointers are comfortable in the home or in the kennel. Ask anyone who

owns one and they will tell you that they are not hyper dogs. They will tell you that pudelpointers have an uncanny ability to turn off the switch when not hunting.


Are they good around kids and other dogs?

        Having trained and handled police K-9’s for ten years and being very familiar with canine aggression, I can tell you that our pudelpointers show no aggression towards people or other dogs. If you own another dog, the right question may be to yourself, "Will my dog get along with a new dog?". I cannot answer that question for you.


Are pudelpointers difficult to train?

        If you have only trained and hunted with flushing dogs, labs for instance, you have to understand that other than blanket principles, such as negative and positive reinforcement, that all dogs respond to in a similar fashion, there is very little in common between the hunting style and training approach between a lab and a versatile or pointing dog. This is why, especially for first time versatile owners, NAVHDA is a must. Pudelpointers are very biddable dogs. All four of my children raised, trained, and tested their own pups from the age of 12 to 15 years old. I think that speaks volumes to the trainability of our dogs.


Is a pudelpointer right for me and my family?

     That is a question I cannot answer for you.



Do Pudelpointer coats require maintenance, do they shed, and are they hypoallergenic?

        Harsh, wire coats tend to repel most stickers. We do very little with coat maintenance other than some light stripping in the spring, which is removing dead hair by pulling it out with your thumb and forefinger because it tends not to fall out on its own. Because of this they shed very little, if not at all and Pudelpointers are very clean and are not oily.

  

       Some heavy softer coats are benefit by an occasional brushing with a steel tooth rake type comb. You should never clip wirehair breeds. Some softer coats can become more harsh over the years but this will not occur if the dogs coat is clipped.


       I refrain from saying they are hypoallergenic as no one in our family has allergies to gauge that claim. We have had countless individuals with allergies spend time with our dogs and have reported no effects.


Will pudelpointers work in all terrain and handle all species of game birds?

        You can find pudelpointers from Alaska to Florida, Maine to Arizona, and every state in

between across all of North America hunting the game birds particular to those areas.


Will pudelpointers retrieve waterfowl?

         Pudelpointers are excellent dogs for waterfowl. If you hunt ducks or geese in the field or over water, early or late season, you will find that pudelpointers will fulfill all your retrieving needs.



How big are pudelpointers as adults and what is their life span?

     Pudelpointers are typically between 23" and 26" and weigh roughly 45 to 65 pounds.

     An average life expectancy for a pudelpointer is roughly 12 years.


Do coats and colors differ?

    Pudelpointer coats can be smooth to heavy and wooly. The ideal coat is dense and harsh or wiry. Keep in mind that you cannot custom order a specific coat type. Within a given litter we try to match preferences to a desired coat the best we can.

    It is acceptable for coat color to range from light fawn to black in color and patches of white on the chest and feet are also acceptable. Anyone who makes the claim that a certain color within that range is highly rare, highly desirable, or elevates the value of the dog, is very mistaken and should be avoided.



Answers to some of your general pudelpointer questions:

Photo by Marcus Hockett

Photo by Dom Watts

General Breed Questions

Are they good in cold or hot weather?

       Yes, pudelpointers do well in Minnesota cold to Arizona heat if acclimated and well conditioned.