Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Breed Description

An Owner's Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Description
As I'm writing this, Ohio fishermen are anxiously awaiting the Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to set limits for this year's walleye season. As a recreational fisherman, angling for walleye is the highlight of the year for me and my dog, Scout.

Scout is a great swimmer and makes a great retriever. I let him help as much as possible and I can see that at the end of the day, he feels good about himself. I have to admit, he's a hard worker. I let him know how good he is with plenty of praise and his favorite treats. I have two other dogs, but they were my wife's before the two of us married: her two dogs together don't hold a candle to my Scout. He is so versatile! Besides fishing, he enjoys hunting with me in all types of terrain. When he's not working, he is really good about playing around with the other two dogs. It's just that when he's 'working it', he doesn't have time for their antics.

One thing I have to be careful of, though, is not leaving the windows in my car open when it's parked at home. Scout takes to hiding in the car: I suppose he is hoping that our next trip in it will be to one of his favorite spots. I've got to admit I find that so endearing that I just don't have the heart to discipline him over it. Easier to just remember to close the windows.

Introduction

This breed was developed in Europe around the 1870s. It was created to make a stronger hunting dog that could handle the harsh winters in Europe. This dog possesses a harsh, rough coat that is mainly gray with a hint of light brown. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a great family pet for those who live in rural areas. This dog loves to run in wide open spaces.

History

The hardiness of this dog is obvious by it's nickname: it's known as the 4-wheeled drive! The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was created as the working companion of hunters on foot. Whether slogging through marsh or clawing up a rocky outcrop, this dog is game.

Although Griffon-type dogs are evident even in Ancient Greece, the modern day Wirehaired Pointing variety is credited to the breeding work of Eduard K. Korthals, Kennel Master to Germany's Prince Albrecht zu Solms-Braunfels. Korthals sought the perfect hunting dog for the walking hunter and mixed many breeds to get the abilities and traits he was after. It took only a decade for him to produce the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and he wrote the breed standard in 1886.

In the years since, while this has never become a commonly popular breed, it has won a devoted following among hunters throughout the world.

General Description

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a square-headed medium size member of the AKC's Sporting Group. Thanks to their standard mustache and bushy eyebrows, they have very expressive faces. Eyes can be anything from yellow to brown; ears are set on the eyeline and lay flat and close. The dog has the wide nostrils of a scent hound. The nose is always brown, whatever the dog's colors are.

The Griffon has a strong back that descends in a gentle slope towards the rear. Neck is a bit long, not much arch. The chest is deep (to the elbow) and the croup and rump are sturdy and designed for endurance and speed.

Pasterns are slightly sloping. Feet are perfect for the dog's work: tightly closed toes, thick pads and webbed.

The coat of this breed is a tribute to the design engineering by Korthals. The exterior is Wirehair and it is impervious to the rigors of even the roughest terrain. Beneath that is an undercoat that resembles down: it provides warmth and water resistance. That undercoat is what the eyebrows and mustache consist of, so the dog's face has the advantage of the superior protection it provides.

Temperament

One reason these dogs are so beloved is that they are eager to please and easy to train with an innate intelligence that makes them a wonderful family pet as well as a gifted hunting dog.

Health and Care

As with any sporting dog, exercise is mandatory. You don't have to hunt to keep your Griffon happy, but you do have to make sure it gets significant exercise every day.

Grooming is minimal. The wire outercoat rejects most material. Comb or brush periodically if you like. The undercoat will be blown seasonally depending on the climate you live in; brushing during that time will make the process go quicker.

Regular nail trimming will enable the dog to maintain it's easy stride.

Sources

The American Kennel Club

The American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association,

Griffonpoint Kennels

Colors

Grey/Brown, Steel Grey, Brown/White, Chestnut Brown, White, Black

Living Area

This breed is a bad choice for apartment life and will quickly grow frustrated with containment. It is happiest in a country home, or perhaps a farm, with land to explore and freedom to exhaust its bundles of energy. It is possible to keep a Griffon in a large house, providing there's a yard with ample space. The dog will appreciate room to maneuver, but space isn't necessarily a substitution for the freedom of a country life. The dog prefers a cool climate and isn't suited to Mediterranean temperatures, or stuffy humidity. It will not enjoy being kept in a kennel or being tied down for any length of time.

Recognized By

CKC, FCI, AKC, NKC, APRI, ACR

Pets4You offers listings of Wirehaired Pointing Griffon breeders with puppies for sale.