Are Pudelpointers Heavy Shedders?

Pudelpointers are German hunting dogs that were bred from a Poodle and Pointer, which are both fairly low shedding dogs. They are smart, friendly and eager to obey their master.

How much do they shed?

Pudelpointers have a medium length outer coat and a dense undercoat that sheds a low to moderate amount of hair throughout most of the year. However, he does shed seasonally which means that twice per year you may notice heavier shedding.

Let’s discuss Pudelpointer shedding in more detail, along with some of the simple and effective ways you can minimize this and keep as much fur out of your home as possible.

Pudelpointer Shedding

Pudelpointers are a low to moderate shedding breed.

To put this into perspective, they shed more than a Poodle which is basically considered a non-shedding, hypoallergenic dog, but far less than a heavy shedding breed like the Great Dane.

For the most part, they take after the English Pointer when it comes to shedding. Although they do have a medium length double coat that sheds seasonally.

A double coat simply means that they have both a top (outer) coat and an undercoat. Their top coat is made up of coarse, flat hairs that can be either black or liver in color. And their undercoat is soft and dense.

This is a good coat for a working type dog as he is, because it protects him from harsh weather conditions on land or in the water. But it does mean he sheds seasonally.

Seasonal shedding dogs shed more heavily during certain times of the year, typically during late spring and fall as they are preparing for a change in weather. How extreme this is does depend on the individual breed though, especially when they’re a mix like the Pudelpointer. But generally speaking, you should expect an uptick in shedding for a couple weeks or so, twice per year.

Pudelpointers are not considered to be a hypoallergenic breed either. The hair itself doesn’t causes allergies, it’s the dander (dead skin), but dander attaches itself to hair and when that hair falls out the allergens spread.

So if you’re looking for a hypoallergenic dog, you should stick with one that sheds virtually nothing. Even dogs with no hair aren’t completely non-allergenic though, but the less they shed the better. So, if you had to choose between a Poodle and Pointer for this reason, a Poodle is the clear winner.

Grooming Your Pudelpointer

Grooming your Pudelpointer is a fairly easy task given how low maintenance they are. Brushing weekly and the occasional bath is enough to maintain his coat.

This is one of those rare breeds that doesn’t shed much and is also easy to groom. They take the “wash and go” trait of Pointers and the low shedding characteristic of a Poodle.

However, if you want to limit how much hair ends up on your furniture, brushing more regularly is one of the simplest and most effective ways to do this. Especially during shedding season.

Given that their coat is medium in length, a slicker brush is a good type of brush to use. The fine wire bristles of the slicker work well to remove any mats and dead fur from his coat, so this is a good brush to start with. To finish off the top coat and to remove the loose undercoat fur, a comb or deshedding tool are good options.

Related: Best Dog Shedding Brushes (Reviews and Buyer’s Guide)

A simple metal comb (AKA greyhound comb) should do the job and is very cost effective. However, you might find that a deshedding tool, like the Furminator or equivalent, removes more fur in less time.

Either way, brushing regularly is key. Not only does this remove the dead fur from their coat before it falls out and onto your furniture, but it helps to keep his coat healthy.

Bathing with a good quality shampoo designed for dogs can help too, especially prior to a thorough brushing session. You don’t want to do this too often, or it may dry out his skin, but this can certainly help to reduce shedding.

Other things to keep in mind are feeding your Pudelpointer a healthy, balance diet to keep his coat in optimal condition. And when it comes to general grooming, it’s important to trim his nails and clean his teeth and ears regularly.

Any Similar Dogs That Shed Less Hair?

Most types of Pointers shed low to moderately, but none are completely non-shedding. So if you’re looking for a non-shedding breed, the next best thing would be a hunting breed that doesn’t moult.

And a breed like the Welsh Terrier is a good place to start. These are the calmer of terrier breeds, and so they can make good hunting and working dogs. And most importantly, they don’t shed much.

The same is true for the Irish Water Spaniel. These are an intelligent, hardworking dog that sheds very little and excels in the water. Although their coat isn’t as low maintenance.

If you’re not bothered about the hunting or working aspect, other great low shedding alternatives include breeds like the Toy Poodle, Italian Greyhound, and Havanese.

Pudelpointers are quite a unique dog though, so it’s hard to find a perfect alternative. And at the end of the day, as long as you keep up with brushing them regularly, you will find that the small amount of hair that they do shed is very easy to manage.