German Wirehaired Pointer

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Breed Attribute

Breed Details

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Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The German Wirehaired Pointer originated in Germany and was bred to work alongside their hunting master and find or 'point' out the game after it was shot. This breed is thought to be a mixture of the Bloodhound, Wirehaired Griffon, Foxhound and Poodle mixes, giving them their excellent hunting skills as well as their fantastic agile and speedy gait.

This breed has a muscular body, strong, toned legs and triangular, floppy ears which give them an innocent look. The GWP (German Wirehaired Pointer) has a long, powerful muzzle and large circular eyes. Naturally their tail is long, but for showing purposes will be docked. Their fur is the most valuable asset to them because this will not only protect them from the bitter cold, but also from rougher terrains where they must retrieve their owner's game.

The German Wirehaired Pointer is energetic, responsive and very devoted to their families. They will make a great family pet because they interact well with children and will get along with smaller animals in the household. This breed will need a large amount of exercise to remain calm, so if this is not done they might become destructive.

Color

This breed will come in one colour variation which is the white & liver. They can have many different markings, spotting or patches as long as the colour stays the same.

Coat

The German Wirehaired Pointer has a hard, dense, double layered coat. The top layer is wire-like and straight and the under layer is thickly insulated. It is very important for their fur to meet the standards of any show ring because if not, they will be disqualified no matter how beautiful the dog. The length is to be about an inch long and should have a messy look to it.

Personality

The German Wirehaired Pointer is a cheerful, outgoing breed that will need to be socialized as puppies, especially around other dogs and people to ensure they will be comfortable in varying situations as adults. They are affectionate with family and friends but will be weary around people they've never met. This will quickly pass once they have been introduced to the new person and a new friendship will have been created! These dogs have a strong personality and will need an owner who possesses that type of energy. Large amounts of exercise as well as quality time spent with this breed is definitely needed or they will become lonely and depressed dogs.

Care

The German Wirehaired Pointer will need a moderate amount of grooming to upkeep their coat. Brushing 3-4 times per week and bathing when the owner finds it necessary will be perfect! These dogs might be prone to skin ailments (allergies and cancers), hip dysplasia, and eye infections. Generally this is a healthy breed which doesn't inherit many genetic diseases.

Training

This breed will need an owner who has experience in training or has some knowledge in that field as they can be very stubborn dogs. Short training sessions will be needed and firm consistency will be the only way this breed will learn. If obedience is taught in an enjoyable or fun manner, it is much more likely these dogs will pick it up quickly because they won't see it as a chore, but more of a treat to learn the commands!

Activity

This breed will need at least 1-2 hours of exercise per day to tire them out! Trips to an off-leash park where they can run or chase after a ball will be essential to burn off their energy. These dogs will need a household to roam around in because they are large dogs that cannot live in the space of an apartment. A backyard would be needed so they can have an outdoor area at home to run in.