Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

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Breed Details

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Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (WPG) has an uncertain origin, some historians say France and some say the Netherlands. They are a mixture of the Setter, German Pointer, Barbet, German Griffon and various Spaniels. These dogs are not common but they are fantastic hard working dogs that would be an asset to any hunter.

This breed has a muscular, athletic body and straight, toned legs. They have a long powerful muzzle and large round eyes which give them a friendly look. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon has large floppy ears, and a thick rough coat that will protect them colder climates as well as cold water. Naturally this breed has a long slender tail, but for show purposes it will be docked.

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a loving, happy and loyal pet that will make an excellent companion as well as an excellent worker. They are great family dogs because they interact well with children and other family pets but tend to be more energetic and will need more exercise per day compared to other breeds. Even though they are considered a more difficult dog to raise, they will do well with an owner who is able to be firm and stay patient with them while training.

Color

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon will only come in 2 coat colours which are a rich brown or gray with patches of brown. Most commonly seen is the gray with brown patches but both colour variations are accepted for show standards.

Coat

This breed has dense, harder textured fur that is wiry to the touch. They have a double layered coat with the outer layer being bristle-like and thick, and the under layer being plushy and insulating. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon definitely needs their type of coat for the conditions in which they hunt because it?s not only the weather they need protection from, it is also the terrain!

Personality

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon will need an owner who has ample time to spend exercising and raising them. These are not the type of dogs who can be left alone too often because they thrive on the affection and attention they get from their owners. This breed is incredibly intelligent and should be more simple to train provided their owners are repetitive and gentle! The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is also protective of their territory and will make a good watchdog as they will gladly alert the family or their owners of intruders! Despite their outgoing personality, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon will be more weary of people theyhave never met, but upon introduction will warm up. These dogs will need to be socialized as much as possible as puppies, especially around people, dogs and busier locations, so they will become adjusted to these as adults.

Care

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon will need a minimal amount of grooming to upkeep their coat. Brushing once per week and bathing every 1-2 months is all this breed needs! Once per year they should have their fur stripped just to ensure the dead coat is expelled. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is prone to hip dysplasia but is generally a very healthy breed!

Training

This breed will need gentle repetitive training in order for them to be taught obedience or any type of training. They are clever dogs that will be able to pick up the concept quickly, plus they have the motivation to please their owners! Training sessions should be kept short with this breed so they have time in between to let the information sink in.

Activity

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon will need at least 1-2 hours of exercise per day to tire them out. They are an energetic breed that will need time spent off leash to run around or swim! These dogs will only be happy once they are exercised thoroughly enough and have had their dose of attention for the day. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon will do well in a household environment with a backyard because they need as much space as possible to live in.