Epagneul Pont Audemer

Epagneul Pont Audemer is the original French name for the breed known in English-speaking countries as the Pont-Audemer Spaniel. The name follows standard French breed nomenclature: epagneul identifies it as a spaniel, and Pont-Audemer locates its geographic origin in the small market town of Pont-Audemer in the Risle river valley of Normandy, in the department of Eure. The town sits in the heart of the Marais Vernier, one of the largest and most important wetland systems in northern France, and it was in and around these marshes that the breed was developed as a specialized water retriever during the 19th century. The French name remains the breed's official designation under the Federation Cynologique Internationale and is the version most commonly encountered in continental European breeding records, show catalogs, and hunting literature.

In English-language contexts, the breed is most often called the Pont-Audemer Spaniel, a straightforward anglicization that retains the geographic reference while dropping the French generic term for spaniel. Some older English texts use Epagneul de Pont-Audemer with the preposition intact, and occasional references to the Pont Audemer Water Spaniel appear in 20th-century British sporting literature, though none of these variants has achieved formal status with any English-language registry. The breed is sufficiently rare outside France that name standardization in English has never been a pressing concern, and most people who encounter the breed in person or in print will see either the French original or the anglicized Pont-Audemer Spaniel, both pointing to exactly the same dog.

The breed's recognition footprint is narrow compared to more popular sporting breeds. The FCI has recognized the Epagneul Pont Audemer since the organization's early years, classifying it within Group 7, Pointing Dogs, Section 1.2, Continental Pointing Dogs of the Spaniel type. The United Kennel Club in the United States recognizes the breed within its Gun Dog Group. The breed is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, the Canadian Kennel Club, or the Kennel Club in the United Kingdom, which reflects its extreme rarity outside France rather than any deficiency in breed type or documentation. Within France, the breed is registered and governed by the Societe Centrale Canine under the FCI standard.

The Pont-Audemer Spaniel occupies an unusual position among French sporting breeds. While France has produced a rich variety of spaniels, pointers, and hounds, many of which enjoy healthy global populations, the Epagneul Pont Audemer remains one of the rarest. Annual registration numbers in France have fluctuated between roughly thirty and eighty puppies in recent decades, placing the breed in a precarious demographic position that requires active conservation-minded breeding. The breed's obscurity outside its homeland means that most of the world's breeding population is concentrated in a handful of French kennels, with scattered individuals and small breeding programs in neighboring European countries and a minimal presence in North America.

The primary breed club for the Epagneul Pont Audemer is the Club de l'Epagneul de Pont-Audemer, based in France and operating under the authority of the Societe Centrale Canine. This club serves as the guardian of the breed standard, coordinates breeding recommendations to manage the limited gene pool, maintains a stud book and pedigree database, and organizes field trials and conformation events where the breed can be evaluated against the standard. The club plays an especially critical role in a breed this small, because every breeding decision has an outsized impact on the genetic health and type consistency of the overall population. Members are expected to prioritize the breed's long-term viability over individual kennel interests, and the club actively counsels breeders on mating combinations that balance type preservation with genetic diversity.

The FCI breed standard describes the Epagneul Pont Audemer as a medium-sized, sturdily built spaniel of distinctive appearance, characterized by its curly brown coat and the signature topknot of tousled curls on the crown of the head. The standard calls for a dog that stands between 51 and 58 centimeters at the withers, with a body that is slightly longer than tall, a deep chest reaching to the elbows, and a well-developed musculature that reflects the breed's working purpose without coarseness. The head is rounded with a well-defined occiput, the muzzle is long and slightly convex in profile, and the nose is brown. The eyes are small, dark amber to hazel in color, and carry an expression described as gentle and intelligent. The ears are set low, long, flat, and covered with long curly hair that blends into the coat of the neck and shoulders.

The coat is central to the breed's identity and function. The standard specifies a coat that is curly or very wavy across the body, with a texture that is slightly rough to the touch and naturally oily enough to shed water effectively. The topknot on the skull is a required feature, forming a cap of longer, looser curls that distinguishes the breed visually from other curly-coated sporting dogs. Acceptable colors are brown and brown-and-white roan, with a preference for a uniform blend of brown and gray-white hairs that produces the characteristic roan pattern. Solid white patches are tolerated but not preferred. The tail is traditionally docked to approximately one-third of its natural length in countries where docking remains legal, though undocked tails are increasingly common and accepted in countries that have banned the practice.

The UKC standard for the breed is substantially aligned with the FCI standard, reflecting the common European origin of the documentation. Minor differences exist in the emphasis placed on working ability versus conformation aesthetics, with the UKC giving somewhat greater weight to demonstrated hunting aptitude in its evaluation criteria. Neither the AKC nor the Kennel Club maintains a standard for the breed, as it has not been submitted for recognition in those registries. For buyers and breeders outside France, the FCI standard serves as the definitive reference document, and dogs bred to that standard are the ones most likely to produce offspring that maintain correct breed type across generations.

The Epagneul Pont Audemer is a medium-sized sporting spaniel built for endurance and efficiency in wetland terrain rather than speed on open ground. Adults stand between 20 and 23 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 44 and 60 pounds, with males tending toward the upper end of both ranges. The body is solidly constructed, slightly longer than tall, with a deep chest that provides ample lung capacity for sustained work in cold water, well-sprung ribs that allow free movement of the front assembly, and a strong, slightly arched loin that transmits power from the muscular hindquarters. The overall impression is of a dog that is substantial without being heavy, athletic without being rangy, and capable of working long days in demanding conditions without breaking down physically.

The head is one of the breed's most distinctive features. It is rounded rather than flat across the skull, with a well-developed occiput and a moderate stop that creates a gentle transition from forehead to muzzle. The muzzle itself is long and slightly convex along the bridge of the nose, ending in a broad brown nose with well-opened nostrils designed for efficient scenting in damp air. The eyes are relatively small, set somewhat deeply, and range in color from dark amber to hazel, giving the breed a soft and thoughtful expression that reflects its gentle temperament. The ears are set low on the skull, long and flat against the cheeks, and covered in abundant curly hair that extends their visual length and creates an elegant frame for the face.

The topknot is the breed's visual signature and the feature that makes it immediately identifiable even at a distance. This cap of longer, loosely curled hair sits atop the skull and blends backward into the ear furnishings and neck coat, creating a tousled, almost comically disheveled look that endears the breed to everyone who encounters it. The topknot serves no known functional purpose and is most likely a byproduct of the same genetic factors that produce the curly body coat, but it has become so central to the breed's identity that the standard specifically requires it and judges evaluate its quality and coverage as part of the overall assessment.

The coat across the body is dense, curly to wavy, and carries a slight natural oiliness that serves as waterproofing during the breed's work in marshes, rivers, and flooded fields. The texture is somewhat harsher than the silky coats of other spaniel breeds, providing better protection against thorny brush and cold water while still remaining manageable for grooming. Color is brown or brown-and-white roan, with the roan pattern producing an attractive intermingling of brown and gray-white hairs that gives the coat a warm, heathered appearance. The legs carry moderate feathering, and the feet are large and webbed, providing the paddle-like propulsion that makes the breed such an effective swimmer.

Movement in the Epagneul Pont Audemer is fluid and ground-covering, with a balanced reach and drive that reflects efficient structure rather than flashy action. The gait is smooth at the trot, with the topline remaining level and the feet converging slightly toward a center line at speed as physics demands. In the field, the breed moves with a purposeful, methodical pace that allows it to cover ground thoroughly without wasting energy, quartering naturally within gun range and adjusting its search pattern to the terrain and cover conditions. In water, the breed swims powerfully and with obvious enjoyment, using its broad chest, webbed feet, and rudder-like tail to navigate currents and retrieve from distance with apparent ease.

The Epagneul Pont Audemer emerged in the wetlands of Normandy during the first half of the 19th century, developed by hunters in and around the town of Pont-Audemer who needed a dog specifically adapted to the challenging conditions of the Marais Vernier and the broader Risle river valley. This landscape of flooded meadows, tidal marshes, reed beds, and slow-moving waterways demanded a spaniel that could work tirelessly in cold water, navigate dense aquatic vegetation, retrieve across soft and uncertain footing, and endure the damp Atlantic climate that characterizes Normandy's coast. The local hunters who created the breed drew on whatever sporting spaniel stock was available in the region, likely including descendants of the old French water spaniels that had been used for wildfowling across northern France for centuries.

The exact breeding formula that produced the Pont-Audemer Spaniel is not documented with the precision that modern breed histories demand. Most authorities believe the foundation involved crosses between local French water spaniels and the Irish Water Spaniel, which was being exported from Ireland in significant numbers during the mid-19th century and whose curly coat, brown coloration, and water-working ability would have been attractive to Norman hunters seeking to improve their local type. The resemblance between the two breeds is evident in the curly coat, the brown color, the topknot, and the general working style, though the Pont-Audemer is lighter in build, more moderate in head type, and gentler in temperament than the Irish breed. Some breed historians have also suggested contributions from English Water Spaniels, Barbet lines, and other Continental spaniel varieties, but concrete documentation for any specific cross is lacking.

The breed achieved enough type consistency and regional identity by the latter half of the 19th century to be recognized as a distinct breed by French canine authorities. It was shown at French dog shows and registered in the French stud book, and a small but dedicated community of breeders maintained the type through the late 1800s and into the early 20th century. The breed's population was always modest - it was a regional specialist rather than a nationally popular sporting dog, and its geographic range never extended far beyond Normandy and the immediately surrounding departments. This limited population base made the breed vulnerable to any disruption that reduced breeding numbers or scattered the breeding community.

The two World Wars of the 20th century devastated the Pont-Audemer Spaniel's population, as they did the populations of many European sporting breeds. The disruption of rural life, the loss of breeders, the scarcity of food for working dogs, and the general upheaval of wartime France reduced breeding numbers to dangerously low levels. After the Second World War, the breed was on the edge of extinction, with so few remaining individuals that some degree of outcrossing was considered necessary to rebuild the population and maintain genetic viability. Irish Water Spaniels were reportedly used in this recovery effort, reinforcing the historical connection between the two breeds and reintroducing genetic diversity into the depleted Pont-Audemer gene pool.

The breed has stabilized since the postwar recovery period but has never achieved large population numbers. Annual registrations in France have fluctuated between a few dozen and roughly eighty puppies in recent decades, placing the Epagneul Pont Audemer among the rarest of the French sporting breeds. The breed's survival depends on a small community of committed French breeders who balance the competing demands of maintaining type, preserving genetic diversity within a restricted gene pool, and producing dogs that retain the working ability that justifies the breed's existence. Outside France, the breed is virtually unknown, with only scattered individuals in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and a handful in North America. Conservation breeding strategies, including careful management of inbreeding coefficients and occasional controlled outcrosses when approved by the breed club, remain essential to the breed's long-term viability.

The Epagneul Pont Audemer possesses a temperament that combines the drive and focus of a working gun dog with the gentleness and affability of a devoted family companion. This is a breed that was developed to work closely with individual hunters in the marshes and waterways of Normandy, and that partnership-oriented heritage has produced a dog that is deeply attuned to human direction and emotionally invested in its relationship with its handler. The breed does not operate independently the way some pointers and hounds do - it works with and for its person, checking in frequently, reading body language and vocal cues, and adjusting its behavior based on the feedback it receives. This cooperative nature extends from the field into domestic life, making the Pont-Audemer Spaniel one of the most handler-focused of the French sporting breeds.

Gentleness is the trait that owners and breed enthusiasts most consistently emphasize when describing the Pont-Audemer Spaniel's character. This is a soft dog in the best sense of the word - sensitive to its environment, responsive to the emotions of the people around it, and inclined toward kindness in its interactions with both humans and other animals. The breed does not carry the hard edge or competitive intensity that some sporting breeds display, and its default approach to unfamiliar situations is cautious curiosity rather than boldness or aggression. This sensitivity has practical implications for training and daily management, as the breed responds poorly to harsh handling, raised voices, or confrontational training techniques that would roll off the back of a tougher breed.

Despite its gentleness, the Epagneul Pont Audemer is not a passive or timid dog. In the field, it works with genuine enthusiasm and intensity, driving through dense cover, plunging into cold water without hesitation, and persisting on difficult retrieves with the determination that its marsh-hunting heritage demands. The switch between working mode and domestic mode is one of the breed's most appealing characteristics - a dog that hunts with tireless energy all morning can settle quietly at its owner's feet all afternoon, content and calm as long as its exercise needs have been met. This dual nature makes the breed adaptable to households that combine an active outdoor life with comfortable indoor living.

Socially, the Pont-Audemer Spaniel is generally friendly and well-disposed toward both people and other animals. It lacks the suspicion of strangers that characterizes some guarding breeds and the dog-directed aggression that can complicate life with certain terrier and working types. Most individuals greet unfamiliar people with polite interest that warms into genuine friendliness within a few minutes of contact. With other dogs, the breed is typically sociable and cooperative, reflecting its history of working alongside other dogs in hunting parties without conflict. The breed gets along well with cats and other household animals when raised with them or introduced thoughtfully, and its low prey drive relative to many sporting breeds makes cohabitation with smaller pets less fraught than it might be with a higher-drive breed.

One aspect of the breed's personality that prospective owners should understand is its need for companionship. The Pont-Audemer Spaniel does not tolerate prolonged isolation well and can develop separation anxiety if routinely left alone for extended periods. This is not a dog that will contentedly occupy itself in a backyard while its family is away at work all day. The breed needs to be part of the household's daily rhythm, included in activities, and given regular opportunities for meaningful interaction with its people. Owners who work long hours away from home should plan for midday visits, doggy daycare, or a canine companion to mitigate the loneliness that an isolated Pont-Audemer will inevitably experience.

The Epagneul Pont Audemer fits naturally into active family life, bringing an even-tempered warmth to the household that makes it a rewarding companion for families who can meet its exercise and companionship needs. The breed's gentle disposition makes it particularly well suited to families with children, as it tolerates the unpredictability of young kids with patience and good humor. Its sturdy medium-sized build means it is not easily injured by the accidental bumps and grabs that are inevitable when dogs and children share space, and its soft mouth and gentle nature mean that even excited play rarely produces accidental nips or rough contact. Children who are old enough to participate in the dog's exercise and training benefit from a breed that is forgiving of novice handling mistakes and visibly enjoys the attention that kids provide.

The ideal living environment for a Pont-Audemer Spaniel includes a house with a securely fenced yard and access to open land or water for regular exercise outings. The breed can adapt to suburban living if the owner is committed to providing daily structured exercise that includes opportunities for swimming, retrieving, and off-leash exploration in appropriate areas. Rural properties near marshland, lakes, or rivers represent the optimal setting, as the breed was purpose-built for wetland environments and is never happier than when working in or near water. Apartment living is not impossible but is challenging to manage well with a breed that needs substantial daily exercise and benefits from having outdoor space readily available.

The breed's relationship with other household animals is generally harmonious. Pont-Audemer Spaniels coexist well with other dogs, particularly when raised together or when introductions are managed with patience and positive associations. The breed's cooperative nature and lack of strong same-sex aggression make it a good candidate for multi-dog households. Cats and other small household animals are typically safe around a well-socialized Pont-Audemer, though puppies should be taught appropriate boundaries early and individual prey drive varies enough that supervision is wise during the initial adjustment period with any new species introduction.

Climate is a practical consideration for potential owners. The breed's curly, water-resistant coat provides excellent protection against cold and wet conditions, and the Pont-Audemer Spaniel is in its element during the damp, cool weather that characterizes its Norman homeland. Heat tolerance is more limited - the dense coat and the breed's enthusiastic work ethic can combine to produce overheating during strenuous activity in hot weather. Owners in warm climates should schedule exercise during cooler parts of the day, provide ample shade and water, and watch for signs of heat stress during summer months. The coat does not need to be shaved in summer, as it provides some insulation against heat as well as cold, but activity levels should be moderated when temperatures climb.

Prospective owners should also consider the breed's rarity and what that means in practical terms. Finding a well-bred Pont-Audemer Spaniel puppy requires patience, research, and often international communication with French breeders. Waiting lists can extend for a year or more, and the small number of litters produced annually means that buyers may have limited choice in terms of timing, gender, or color. Veterinarians outside France may be unfamiliar with the breed's specific health profile and care requirements, and breed-specific rescue resources are essentially nonexistent. Choosing this breed is a commitment to a dog that most people will never have seen before and that comes with the responsibilities inherent in owning a member of a numerically vulnerable population.

Training the Epagneul Pont Audemer is a rewarding process that capitalizes on the breed's natural desire to work with its handler and its quick, retentive intelligence. The breed learns new tasks efficiently when training is delivered through positive reinforcement methods that build confidence and maintain enthusiasm. Food rewards, praise, and the opportunity to retrieve or swim serve as powerful motivators, and most individuals show a visible eagerness to figure out what their handler is asking. Short, varied training sessions that introduce new challenges regularly produce better results than long, repetitive drills, as the breed's intelligence means it grasps concepts quickly but loses interest when asked to repeat the same exercise endlessly.

The breed's sensitivity is the single most important factor in training methodology. The Pont-Audemer Spaniel does not respond well to forceful corrections, intimidation, or any training approach that relies on the dog's fear or discomfort. A sharp verbal correction that would barely register with a hard-tempered terrier or working breed can cause a Pont-Audemer to withdraw emotionally and become reluctant to engage in the training process. This sensitivity is not a weakness - it is the foundation of the breed's responsiveness - but it demands that handlers maintain a calm, patient, and encouraging demeanor throughout every training interaction. Building the dog's confidence through progressive challenges and consistent reward for effort produces a partner that is both willing and reliable.

Field training for those who intend to hunt with the breed follows a natural progression that taps into the dog's inherited instincts. Most Pont-Audemer Spaniels take to water enthusiastically with minimal encouragement, and basic retrieving instinct is strong enough that formal force-fetch training is rarely necessary. Introduction to gunfire should be gradual and positive, pairing distant shots with retrieving opportunities or mealtime to build a positive association. Quartering patterns, steadiness to flush and shot, and blind retrieves can all be developed through patient, incremental training that respects the dog's learning pace and emotional readiness for each new challenge.

Exercise requirements for the Pont-Audemer Spaniel are substantial and non-negotiable. This is a working gun dog bred for long days in demanding terrain, and its energy reserves reflect that heritage. A minimum of sixty to ninety minutes of vigorous daily exercise is needed to keep the breed physically satisfied and mentally balanced. Ideal exercise includes swimming, which the breed was built for and which provides excellent cardiovascular conditioning with minimal joint stress; retrieving games that engage both mind and body; long walks or hikes through varied terrain; and off-leash running in safe, enclosed areas. A Pont-Audemer Spaniel whose exercise needs are chronically unmet will develop behavioral problems including destructive chewing, excessive barking, restlessness, and hyperactivity indoors.

Mental stimulation deserves equal attention alongside physical exercise. The breed's intelligence means it needs its mind engaged as well as its body, and dogs that receive only physical exercise without mental challenges can remain restless and unsatisfied even after a long run. Puzzle toys, scent work, hide-and-seek games with retrieving dummies, and structured training sessions all provide the cognitive engagement that keeps a Pont-Audemer Spaniel content. For owners who do not hunt, organized dog sports such as dock diving, hunt tests, agility, and rally offer structured outlets for the breed's energy and intelligence that replicate some of the mental and physical demands of field work.

The Epagneul Pont Audemer is a generally robust breed with a life expectancy of twelve to fourteen years, reflecting the sound structural proportions and moderate build that characterize well-bred working spaniels. The breed has not been subjected to the extreme conformational pressures that create health problems in some popular breeds, and its working heritage has maintained a natural selection pressure for physical soundness and stamina. However, like all breeds, the Pont-Audemer Spaniel carries predispositions to certain health conditions that prospective owners and breeders should be aware of, and the breed's very small population introduces genetic management challenges that are unique to numerically vulnerable breeds.

Hip dysplasia is a concern in the breed, as it is in most medium to large sporting breeds. The condition involves abnormal development of the hip joint, producing a poor fit between the femoral head and the acetabulum that leads to progressive arthritis, pain, and reduced mobility. Screening breeding stock through radiographic evaluation using OFA or PennHIP protocols identifies affected dogs before they enter breeding programs, and breeding only from dogs with good or excellent hip evaluations reduces the incidence of the condition in subsequent generations. The breed's moderate size and athletic build provide some natural protection against the severe forms of the condition, but screening remains essential.

Ear infections represent the most common health management challenge for owners of this breed. The long, pendulous ears covered in dense curly hair create an enclosed environment within the ear canal that traps moisture, restricts airflow, and promotes the growth of bacteria and yeast. Dogs that swim frequently, as most Pont-Audemer Spaniels do, face an elevated risk because water routinely enters the ear canal during immersion. Preventing chronic ear problems requires diligent post-swimming ear drying, regular cleaning with a veterinary-approved ear solution, and prompt veterinary attention at the first signs of redness, odor, or discharge. Left untreated, recurring ear infections can cause chronic pain, hearing loss, and structural changes to the ear canal that make future infections more likely and more difficult to treat.

Entropion, a condition where the eyelid rolls inward and causes the lashes to abrade the corneal surface, has been documented in the breed. The condition produces tearing, squinting, corneal irritation, and in severe or prolonged cases, corneal ulceration that can threaten vision. Surgical correction is straightforward and curative in most cases, involving the removal of a small strip of skin from the affected lid to evert it to a normal position. Breeding stock should be examined for entropion and other ocular abnormalities by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, with results contributing to breeding decisions that reduce the condition's prevalence.

The breed's small population size introduces genetic management considerations that are less pressing in numerically secure breeds. A restricted gene pool means that genetic diversity is limited, and careless breeding can accelerate the fixation of deleterious alleles within the population. Breeders working with the Pont-Audemer Spaniel must balance the desire to produce dogs of correct type with the need to maintain or improve genetic diversity, and this sometimes means making breeding decisions that sacrifice minor points of conformation in favor of introducing fresh genetics from less closely related lines. The breed club's coordination of breeding recommendations and its monitoring of inbreeding coefficients across the population are critical tools in managing this balance. Prospective owners should seek breeders who demonstrate awareness of population genetics and who can discuss the inbreeding coefficient of a planned litter in informed terms.

The curly coat of the Epagneul Pont Audemer requires regular attention to maintain its condition and function, but the grooming demands are manageable for owners willing to commit to a consistent routine. The coat's natural texture is somewhat harsher and more resilient than the silky coats of many spaniel breeds, which means it resists matting better than a fine-textured coat would, but it does not maintain itself. Dead hair accumulates within the curls, debris from fieldwork lodges in the coat, and the areas of heaviest friction behind the ears, in the armpits, and along the belly are prone to developing tangles if left unattended.

Brushing two to three times per week with a pin brush or a wide-toothed metal comb keeps the coat in good order between baths. The technique matters - working through the curls gently, section by section, from the skin outward rather than simply skimming the surface ensures that tangles are caught and resolved before they tighten into mats. A slicker brush can be useful for finishing and for removing loose undercoat, but aggressive slicker work can break the curls and damage the coat texture. Spraying the coat lightly with water or a conditioning mist before brushing reduces static, eases comb passage, and helps preserve the curl structure that defines the breed's appearance.

Bathing frequency depends on the dog's lifestyle and activity level. Working dogs that swim regularly in natural water may need bathing every two to three weeks to remove organic matter, algae, and the accumulated oils that can turn rancid if left in the coat. Companion dogs with less water exposure can go longer between baths, typically every four to six weeks. A shampoo formulated for curly or water-dog coats preserves the natural oils without stripping them, and a light conditioner applied to the ear fringe, topknot, and leg feathering keeps those longer sections manageable. Thorough rinsing is essential, as shampoo residue left in curly coat produces flaking, itching, and a dull appearance that defeats the purpose of bathing.

The breed does not require extensive professional grooming or elaborate coat shaping, but periodic tidying keeps the dog looking neat and prevents practical problems. The hair between the footpads should be trimmed regularly to maintain traction on smooth surfaces and to prevent mud and debris from balling up between the toes. The sanitary area benefits from occasional trimming for hygiene. The ear furnishings can be thinned if they become so thick that they impede airflow into the ear canal, and some owners trim the hair on the underside of the ear leather to reduce moisture retention. The topknot should be left natural and is never sculpted or shaped, as its characteristically tousled appearance is part of the breed's identity.

Beyond coat care, the grooming routine for a Pont-Audemer Spaniel should include nail trimming every two to three weeks, dental care through regular brushing or veterinary-approved dental chews, and the ear maintenance discussed in the health section. The breed's webbed feet are worth inspecting regularly, as the webbing can trap small stones, thorns, or seeds that cause irritation if not removed. Dogs that work in or around water should have their ears dried thoroughly after every swim using a veterinary ear drying solution, and the coat should be allowed to dry completely rather than being left damp for extended periods, as prolonged moisture against the skin can promote hot spots and fungal infections even in a breed adapted to aquatic environments.