Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 by Richard in 1c Gundog Breeds Pointers |

A 14 week old wirehaired pointing griffon gundog playing in water for the first time

Known as the “supreme gundog,” one only has to see the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon in the field to really understand how applicable that term is to this gundog breed. Not only is this medium sized gundog able to point out prey for hunters, they are also able to retrieve and flush them.

What makes them even more versatile is that they are not only used to hunt water fowl and game birds but they can also be trained quite easily to hunt small mammals such as rabbits.

Despite, or maybe because, of their ability in the field, the Wirehaired Pointing Dog has really found their element with people. They are usually very happy and loving and they make excellent dogs for families.

They can be a bit energetic and are not appropriate for apartments but generally, with enough exercise, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is fairly even tempered. They can be a bit timid and without proper socialization, this can lead to severe fear problems in the dog.

When it comes to training a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, it can be done very easily since they are both intelligent and eager to please. In the field, they usually work very well and listen to commands easily. Since they are so intelligent and often thrive with human interaction, they can be prone to separation anxiety if they are left alone too long.

Still, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a versatile hunting dog that truly embodies the term “supreme gundog,” without losing any of the good humor that endears them to hunters and families alike.

Pro’s and con’s of owning a Pudelpointer

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is an amazing gundog and is commonly referred to as the “supreme gundog.” They are excellent hunting companions as well as loyal family pets and both of these qualities have made them popular with many sportsmen and sportswomen.

There are many traits that make these dogs a wonderful addition to any family but there are also many traits that are a definite con for the breed. It is important that you understand the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon completely before you purchase one and that you understand your own experiences with dogs first since they are not recommended for first time dog owners.

The Pro’s

Like all dog breed, there are a number of pros when you look at a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

• They have a very good temperament that is considered to be very loving and gentle. This makes them an excellent companion breed in addition to being excellent gun dogs.
• Wirehaired Pointing Griffons make wonderful family dogs and do well with children but are better suited to homes with older children.
• They are not very aggressive and can be in homes with multiple pets.
• They are considered to be a non-shedding dog and are usually very easy to groom.
• Wirehaired Pointing Griffons make excellent guard dogs since they will bark at anything suspicious, although they usually accept everyone that comes to the door.
• They thrive when they can live in a home with their family instead of in a kennel so they are generally very adaptable to living spaces.
• They are eager to please so this makes training very easy.

The Con’s

Again, although the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is an excellent hunting and family dog, there are a number of cons that potential owners should take into consideration before they purchase a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppy.

• They are an active breed of dog and do require at least 30 minutes of exercise per day.
• While Wirehaired Pointing Griffons can adapt to different types of living, they are not suited for apartments and do much better in a home with a fair amount of land for them to run on.
• They can be very anxious and high strung and may exhibit a lot of nervousness when introduced to a new situation or person. It is very important to properly socialize your Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
• Wirehaired Pointing Griffons really enjoy being with their owners and are not suited to kennel or outdoor living.
• They can be prone to separation anxiety if they are left alone for too long.

Health Issues:

When it comes to health issues, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a very hardy breed that only suffers from a few health concerns; however, with proper breeding practices and by purchasing a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon from a reputable breeder, the risk of these health problems decrease significantly. Health issues that have been seen in the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon are:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Height & Weight:

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a medium sized breed of gundog that is very strong and well-proportioned. They should have a square shaped head and should have an easy gait that makes them a wonderful sight in the field. In proportion, they should be slightly longer than they are tall with a ration of about 10 to 9.

The size of a Spinone Italiano is:

Males: 22 to 24 inches (56 to 61 cm) tall
Females: 20 to 22 inches (51 to 56 cm) tall

Both Males and Females range in weight from 50 to 60 pounds (22.7 to 27.3 kg.).

Note: Height is always determined from the ground up to the withers, also known as the highest spot on the shoulders, of the dog.

Grooming:

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is considered to be a light shedder but in actuality they are more of a non-shedder than anything. This makes them a great breed of dog to have if you have allergies or if you don’t want a coat that really requires a lot of effort.

Regular grooming of a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a weekly brushing to remove any dead hair or debris. In addition, they will need to have some stripping done to remove any dead hair but this is usually only during times of the year when they are blowing their coat.

Some owners prefer to keep their Wirehaired Pointing Griffon’s hair shaved but if you are entering them into the conformation ring, then you should keep the hair trimmed and neat but at the natural length.

If the fur is kept long, some trimming will need to be done to keep areas free of debris. The most important area for this is around the feet and toes since their fur can pick up debris and brambles and can cause problems if they get trapped between the toes.

When the dog comes out of the field, it is important to brush them down to remove any debris and to also dry their ears since the pendulous ears can be prone to ear infections if they are not cared for properly.

Wirehaired Pointing Griffons should only be bather about once or twice a year, or when it is necessary since bathing can soften the natural hardness of the fur and the protective factors of the coat will be lost when this happens.

Life Expectancy: 10 to 14 years

History:

When it comes to the history of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, there isn’t that much to it since the breed is actually a very young breed, and was actually developed in the late 1800’s.

In fact, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon can actually trace its history back to a man named E.K. Korthals. He was a sportsman that decided in 1874 that he was going to create a superb gundog.

The very first dog that he purchased was a female named Mouche, a gray and brown rough coated dog, although it is unclear what breed Mouche was. From that single female, he whelped several litters by matching her with five other dogs that he had purchased.

From those pairings and subsequent second and third generations, E.K. Korthals was able to produce three dogs by the name of Moustache I, Lina and Querida. It is these three dogs that went on to produce the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

Now despite not knowing which dogs were used for the creation of the breed, it is believed that he may have used setters, spaniels, otterhounds and may have also used a pointer.

Although the breed was fairly young, it did gain popularity very quickly and was imported into the United States by 1887.

Grouping:

Gun Dog, AKC Sporting Group

Recognition:

CKC, FCI, AKC, CKC, NKC, AWPGA, APRI, ACR