Pudelpointer Gun Dogs for St. Petersburg, Florida
How does a St. Petersburg hunter get a pudelpointer?
Contact Foothill Kennel, a pudelpointer breeder in Flowery Branch, Georgia, about 449 miles from St. Petersburg, at 678-316-6780; the drive north takes roughly seven to eight hours. The kennel breeds from NAVHDA-tested parents, and the first step is a phone conversation about how you hunt and what you want in a dog.
Pinellas County is mostly city and shoreline, and most Pinellas hunters head inland or down the coast for birds. A versatile dog that can point in the flatwoods and retrieve from salt marsh makes those trips more productive.
If you would like to see the dogs first, visits are by appointment. The kennel sits in the foothills north of Atlanta, close to Lake Lanier, and a trip there is a chance to watch the adults work and ask the breeder anything you like about his pudelpointer dogs.
Do pudelpointers make good family dogs on the Gulf Coast?
They do, for families that are active every day: pudelpointers are trainable, friendly with children and eager to work alongside their people. The breed’s harsh, wiry coat is low shedding, which helps in a house where the dog spends much of the day indoors out of the heat.
Plan the dog’s day around the weather. Beach walks and retrieving sessions at sunrise, quiet time in the afternoon and obedience or scent games in the evening keep a young pudelpointer content through a long Florida summer. Where swimming is concerned, choose places carefully and keep an eye out for alligators in fresh water.
Pudelpointers were bred to cooperate closely with a handler, so they usually take to training with enthusiasm. A dog-friendly beach, a quiet park or a structured class all give a St. Petersburg pudelpointer the mental work it craves between hunting trips.
Which birds can a St. Petersburg pudelpointer hunt?
Within a few hours of St. Petersburg a pudelpointer can hunt quail on public flatwoods, ducks in coastal and inland marshes, and doves on agricultural fields. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission manages those seasons and the wildlife management areas where most public hunting happens, so read its current regulations before you go.
- South across the Sunshine Skyway: Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area near Punta Gorda, known for bobwhite quail in open pine flatwoods
- Coastal marshes: mottled ducks and wintering waterfowl in the tidal marshes of the Gulf Coast north of Tampa Bay
- Inland: the Green Swamp Wildlife Management Area and the lakes and wetlands of Polk County
- Fall dove fields: farm country east of the bay
The pudelpointer was developed in Germany in 1881 from the German hunting poodle and the English pointer. It points, retrieves on land and water, and tracks, so the same dog can work the flatwoods in the morning and the marsh in the afternoon.
Which pudelpointer breeder has the best credentials?
Foothill Kennel stands out: it earned NAVHDA Breeders Awards in 2013 and 2017, and its dogs have scored at or near maximum in NAVHDA field testing. NAVHDA, the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association, tests search, pointing, tracking and water retrieving, so those awards reflect real hunting ability in the kennel’s lines.
The kennel is also careful about health and placement. All adult dogs are hip tested, and a dog with marginal hips is never bred or kept. Puppies go to owners based on temperament and hunting style, not simply who calls first. The breeder is an active member of NAVHDA.
What is the process for reserving a St. Petersburg puppy?
Call 678-316-6780 or reach out on the contact page, and check the upcoming litters page to see what is planned. Litters are small and are often reserved early. When a puppy is set aside for you, the breeder will work out the details with you.
St. Petersburg pudelpointer FAQ
How far is St. Petersburg from Foothill Kennel?
About 449 miles in a straight line, roughly seven to eight hours by road to Flowery Branch, Georgia.
Can a pudelpointer retrieve in salt water?
Yes. Water retrieving is a core part of the breed, and its coat is water resistant. Rinse the dog with fresh water after a day on the coast.
Is Foothill Kennel a top-rated breeder?
NAVHDA recognized it with Breeders Awards in 2013 and 2017, and its dogs have posted maximum or near-maximum test scores.
Can I visit before I reserve a pudelpointer puppy?
Yes, visits are by appointment. Call 678-316-6780.
How much exercise does a pudelpointer need?
Daily exercise plus a job, such as hunting, retrieving practice or training sessions.
Pudelpointer puppies across Florida
Foothill Kennel also serves pudelpointer buyers in Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando. See all pudelpointer breeders in Florida, our upcoming litters, or contact the breeder – 678-316-6780.