Breed Characteristics:
Apartment Friendly
?How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?
Good For First-Time Owners
?Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?
Overall Sensitivity
?Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?
Tolerates Being Alone
?Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?
Affectionate With Family
?How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?
Kid-Friendly
?Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?
Friendly Toward Other Dogs
?Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?
Friendly Toward Strangers
?Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?
Drooling Level
?If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?
Easy To Groom
?Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?
Overall Health
?What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.
Prone To Obesity
?Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?
Trainability Level
?Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.
Intelligence Level
?Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?
Prey Drive
?Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?
Barking Level
?How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?
Energy Level
?Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?
Exercise Needs
?Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?
Playfulness Level
?Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?
Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are true hunting dogs who thrive when there is a job to be done.
This breed isn’t for those who expect to have a couch potato for a dog. No, this breed is for true outdoor lovers, who love being active every day.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffons need regular walks and exercise time or they will become bored and eventually destructive.
Dogs then to become destructive when they don’t vent their energy the best way possible.
That being said, if you are not ready to meet a dog’s need energy-wise think about getting a dog with lower energy levels.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are dogs of bit rubbed look. Their coat is harsh and bristle and as such gives them a natural and untouched appearance.
They are commonly gray with white markings, while their face is enriched with a strong mustache and eyebrows frame.
Griffons are highly social beings and should never – like no dog in general, experience any harsh handling. If so, they will become miserable, hard to train, and overall impossible to socialize.
Make sure that you have enough patience to own a dog before you get one. Now, let’s see what makes this breed os unique.
Quick Facts
Real name: Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Other names: Korthals Griffon, Griffon d’arrêt à poil dur Korthals
Origin: Netherlands, Germany, France
Breed type: Sporting Dogs
Weight: 50 to 60 pounds
Height: 20 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder
Lifespan: 10 – 14 years
Litter Size: 6 – 9 puppies
Color: Gray and brown, brown and white, chestnut, orange and white, gray and tan, liver
Coat: Double and dense coat of wiry hair
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon History
Among dog lovers, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is considered to be a young breed.
E.K. Korthals is the person most responsible for the breed’s development. He lived in France when he decided to create the perfect gundog.
So far, there is no clean evidence on how this breed was exactly created, but there are some rumors that E.K. Korthals used the Otterhound, Setters, and Spaniels.
Some claim that he probably used a Pointer to the mix. Eventually, in far 1874, he produces three dogs who produce the best offspring in the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon breed.
He also did an amazing job in promoting the breed. Soon after the best offspring were produced he got people around this breed who loved the breed’s great ability to point and retrieve.
In no time, this breed gained enormous popularity and soon after, in 1887 the first Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was registered in the United States.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Physical Appearance
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is for those who want a medium-sized dog that will easily adapt to any living space.
These largish dogs can be seen strolling down the most active city streets or running through more rural areas.
As for their size, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are usually between 22 to 24 inches and between 50 to 60 pounds. They may be walking hunters, but their posture will be elegant and soft.
Their overall movement will be cat-like. They come with lavishing and double coats that is rather lavishing.
The outer coat is straight and wiry, and should never be woolly or curly.
Their outer coat is carefully designed to provide the right kind of protection. The undercoat is softer and abundant.
The head should always be enriched with noticeable eyebrows and a mustache. As for the color, they should mostly be steel gray.
A black coat and any other nose color than brown will disqualified the dog.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Personality
Within the dog lovers, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is often described as the ‘supreme gundog.’ They are agile, highly energetic, and fast to complete their task.
As a hunting breed, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a versatile hunting dog who will be fast to point and faster to retrieve.
Not only that this breed is great as a working dog, but this good-looking dog will be a great family dog as well.
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a loyal and affectionate dog when around his people. This is something that will only be stronger with years.
Around strangers, they may be nervous a bit, which is why they will be fast to bark, if not to point.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon With Children And Other Pets
Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are loving dogs who still need some rules.
They should know dog house rules and which areas (if there are any) are off-limits.
As gentle dogs, they will get along with children nicely, as long as they know how to behave around dogs.
They will love children of any age, but they will get along the best with children over the age of six. This doesn’t mean that they won’t accept younger children, but just that they will need more socialization.
On the other hand, children should know how to interact with dogs safely.
Ear or tail pulling shouldn’t be tolerated, and the dog’s territory should be respected.
No matter how great your child and dog get along, they should even be left unsupervised.
As for the other pets they usually do great with other dogs. As for the smaller pets, they may learn to tolerate them if raised together from puppyhood.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Training
As soon as you bring your Wirehaired Pointing Griffon home you should start the training process.
Dogs are capable of mastering basic commands as of eight weeks of age? This is why early training is important.
By the time the socialization window ends, your dog should know the following:
- Basic commands such as ‘no’ and ‘come’
- How to behave around house visitors
- What are basic dog house rules
- Which house areas are forbidden
- How to walk on a leash
If you feel like training your Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is too much work for you, think about hiring a professional dog trainer.
This way you will speed up the training process and even get some professional input on further training.
Professional dog trainers usually have experience working with dogs who suffer from separation anxiety.
Talk about how to prevent this condition and how to keep your Wirehaired Pointing Griffon well entertained.
Another option is to enroll your pup in puppy classes – this can be a great bonding experience for you and Fido.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Exercise
Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are creatures of action.
They love nothing more than when there is a job to be done. This doesn’t mean that you have to put your dog on heavy duty, but just that you should keep his mind and body engaged.
For mental stimulation use training sessions, indoor games, and engaging toys.
For physical activity use exercise time as a tool to keep his body fit, his weight optimal, and his joints healthy.
Next to regular walks, provide additional 20 minutes of free play on a daily level. This could be an intense walk, a good run in the dog park, or a hard run off-leash in the backyard.
Be careful with puppies and do not force them to work out. They need more time to grow, and you want to avoid any form of injury.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Grooming
Are you a fan of long grooming sessions or not? If you prefer to have short grooming sessions, and longer playtime, you are in luck!
This breed is the perfect choice for experienced dog owners who aren’t in love with a super-long grooming session.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a low-shedding breed. As such, weekly brushing should be enough to keep his coat neat, clean, and debris-free.
Stripping of the coat is recommended to remove old hair.
Not sure how to do this? Talk with a professional groomer or your veterinarian on straightforward tips on how to perform hair stripping safely and fast.
The rest is basic care:
- Trim or grind nails monthly
- Check gums weekly
- Check eyes daily for any sign of eye discharge
- Bath only when needed
- If recommended by your veterinarian brush his teeth
- Clean ears when needed
All in all, to make the grooming process easier and faster make sure that you use the right grooming tools. This way you will spend less time grooming.
Do not avoid brushing sessions, because as a practice brushing is a great way to bond with your Fido further. Plus, brushing sessions are a great way to check a dog’s skin for any sign of fleas and skin infection.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Health
Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are overall considered to be healthy dogs. This is usually the case if you choose to deal with responsible dog breeders.
Responsible dog breeders will always screen puppies for most common health issues, and present you with medical documentation on the puppies. Plus, they will show you the facilities and let you meet the bitch if not both parents.
On top of that, reputable breeders will provide tips on the best care and possible future health issues.
No matter how great care you might provide, dogs still may get sick for countless reasons.
That being said, some of the conditions that you can expect to see in this breed include:
- Canine hip dysplasia (CHD)
- Otitis externa
- Ectropion
- Entropion
The best way to keep your dog happy and healthy is to provide high-quality food, regular exercise, and regular veterinarian check-ups.
Is Wirehaired Pointing Griffon For You?
Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are happy and outgoing dogs. They love when there is a job to be done and when they get to spend time with their people.
Still, to keep this breed happy you will have to provide regular walks, and extra exercise to keep them entertained and fit.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon isn’t for you if you are a first time dog owner. This athletic hunting dog is a great choice for experienced dog owners who know their way around hunting dogs.
If you want a dog who may be wary of strangers, is agile, and very athletic then this breed may be for you.
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