Please read all of our Frequently Asked Questions prior to contacting us,
Thank You.

     At Bent Tree, we breed hunting dogs. We do not sell pets. We do not sell to non-hunting families or as surprise gifts for the hunter in the family. If you do contact us, please have the individual who will be hunting the dog do so.
     Since we get such a high volume of calls and e-mails regarding our pups and the dogs in general, it is our hope that we can spend more time in the field and less time addressing these very general questions by posting these answers to FAQ's. We would much prefer to discuss where, what, and how much you hunt, your desire to join NAVHDA, your current and past experience with versatile dogs, your time frame for a pup, and our waiting list protocol.
     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 and by the time you contact us you will have decided that a Pudelpointer is right for you and your family.

PUPPIES

What age are the puppies allowed to go home with their new owners?
     We place pups in their new homes at roughly 8 weeks old.

Are the pups vaccinated?
      Yes, the pups are given the first of their puppy vaccination series and are on a regular de-worming schedule.

Are tails docked and dew claws removed?
   The litter's tails are docked to two-thirds and the dew claws are removed at two to three days old.

Are the dam and sire tested for hip dysplasia?
     Yes, both the dam and sire are certified OFA or PennHip.

Can we tell what type of coat a pup will have?
   We can tell if the pup's coat will be on the smooth side or rough side close to eight weeks old. Those in between can be a bit more difficult to predict, although we have done very well placing pups close to what individuals would prefer in a coat. Because Pudelpointer’s coats do change over the course of a year and sometimes throughout their lifetime, we cannot guarantee coats. Again, coats cannot be custom ordered, but we do take your preference to a smoother or rougher coat with given differences in the litter you will receive a pup from.

Do the pups get any training and socialization prior to pick up?
     All of our pups are born in our home. Our pups are around and interact with adults, adolescents, children, and our own personal dogs from the time they touch the ground. We place a huge importance on early exposure with litters exploring woods, fields, ponds, butterflies, crickets, and toads. Desensitization to gunfire also begins before they leave for their furever home.

How are the pups from a litter placed with owners? Who gets the "pick" of the litter?
   Everyone gets the pick of the litter. No one can determine which pup at eight weeks old will be the "best" dog of the bunch, especially after only spending an hour or so with the litter the day of pick up. Breeders should be breeding for outstanding litters not individual dogs. If there ever is a pup that we ourselves would not take, then that pup will not leave our property. We will place each pup from the litter with the owner giving consideration to coat preference the best we can. Please do not expect to arrive on pick up day and have a litter of six puppies running around that you are going to pick from.

Can you tell how big the pup will be as a adult?
   No, the smallest dog in the bunch can often be the largest as an adult and vice versa. Other than males being slightly larger than females as adults, there is no way to predict the size your pup will be.

Can we visit the litter prior to the day of pick up?
   We understand your excitement to see your new pup and to share it with your family, but we are very protective of our litters. Pups are very susceptible to many illnesses and we do not allow strangers or strange dogs near our litters. We are protecting your pup as well as everyone else’s. Allowing ten families, all who may own other dogs, and allowing visits from those curious about the breed puts your pup at risk for infectious diseases such as parvo.
Healthy pups start with the breeder!

Do your pups have breeding restrictions?
   Yes.  Until that pup has scored the required score in a NAVHDA test to breed.

What is the price of a pup?
   Our current price for a pup is $2,000.00.

How do I get on a waiting list for a pup?
   Waiting lists can be very difficult to manage and they can change rapidly when you are dealing with mother nature and extended periods of time. We believe we have a good system to reduce wait times for our pups. Check our website home page and we will advise when the best time would be to call when we are adding names to our list.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

How big are Pudelpointers as adults?
     Pudelpointers are typically between 23" and 26" and weigh roughly 45 to 65 pounds.

What colors are Pudelpointers?
        Colors can range from light fawn to black. Patches of white on the chest and feet are common. 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.

Do coats differ?
     Yes, coats can be smooth and slick to heavy and wooly. The ideal coat is dense and harsh or wiry. We have been very fortunate with our coats in that the majority of our dogs at adulthood have nearly ideal coats with furnishings, which is the characteristic beard and eyebrows of wirehaired breeds. Keep in mind that you cannot custom order a specific coat type. If you view the pictures of our dogs on this site, you will see some of the differences in coats.

Do Pudelpointer coats require maintenance and do they shed?
        Harsh, wire coats tend to repel most stickers except for what we call green beggars lice, which no dog is impervious to, and stickers under the chin. 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 fore finger because it tends not to fall out on its own. They shed very little, if not at all. Pudelpointers are very clean and are not oily. We rarely give our dogs a traditional bath with soap and suds.

Are they hypo allergenic?
      A Doctor will tell you there is no such thing as a hypo allergenic dog, but take it from a family of severe allergies, they are definitely a great breed to choose if you are allergic to other dogs.

Do they have any inherent health issues?
         No reoccurring inherent health issues are known to affect Pudelpointers.

What is the life expectancy?
       An average life expectancy for a Pudelpointer is roughly 12 years. Keep in mind that with all animals that can vary on either side of that number.

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.

Will Pudelpointers retrieve waterfowl?
        Yes. 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.

Can Pudelpointers be used to hunt for deer sheds and for blood tracking?
    Yes.

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?
        Our Pudelpointers show no aggression towards people or other dogs. If you own another dog, the right question may be to ask yourself, "Will my dog get along with a new pup?"

Are they good in cold or hot weather?
       Both

Are Pudelpointers difficult to train?
     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.

 

For more information, please email us at info@benttreepudelpointers.com