Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon excels in the field of hunting, and earns the name of “supreme gundog”. They are outdoing, eager, and quick-witted, and known for their harsh, low-shedding coat. As their sense of humor and lively nature, this breed is an ideal choice for an energetic family who wants a dog to be live with them.
| Other Names | Korhals Griffon, Pointing, Wirehaired Griffon, Griffon D’Arrêt a Poil Dur |
| Color | Brown & Gray, Chestnut & Gray, Brown, Chestnut, White, White & Brown, White & Orange |
| Height | Male: 22-24 inches. Female: 20-22 inches. |
| Weight | Male: 50-70 pounds. Female: 35-50 pounds. |
| Life Span | 12-15 years |
| Personality | Friendly, Devoted, Trainable |
| Exercise | Needs Lots of Activity |
| Origin |
| Popularity | #62 |
| Groom Needs | Weekly |
| Kids Friendly | Yes |
| Dog Friendly | Yes with supervision |
| Watch Dog | |
| Family Dog | Yes |
| Litter Size | 6-9 |
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Video
Introduction
The Griffs, as they are popularly called are a breed of medium-sized dogs with a low-shedding, often bristle double coat that gives them a naturally haggard appearance. The undercoat is usually dense and thick to provide for insulation. They are remarkable gun-dogs, although they can easily double as watchdogs due to their strength, vigor, and resilience. The mustache, as well as the eyebrows, is considerably lavish. Wirehaired Pointing Griffons usually come in steel gray color with markings of brown.
A standard male stands at a shoulder height of between 22 and 24 and weighs around 55-70 pounds. The females run smaller, often 20-22 inches height from paw to shoulder, and 40-50 pound-weight. They are jovial, devoted, and docile dogs of the sporting type. Wirehaired Pointing Griffons have an average lifespan of 11-15 years.
Living with Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
The minimally shedding Griffon coat has a harsh outer coat with a soft, insulating undercoat, so it is not difficult to groom this breed. Their coat should be combed through about once a week and stripped of dead or loose hair. And they only need to be bathed when necessary, as bathing can soften the natural harshness of its coat.
Check their ears weekly for redness or a bad odor that may indicate an infection, the ears need special attention and should be kept clean and dry especially after swimming.
Brush your dog’s teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar buildup and the bacteria that lurk inside it, the daily brush is better to keep fresh breathe and prevent gum disease. And trim the nails every week or two, or as needed.
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a high-energy dog breed who needs plenty of exercise, this rugged, athletic breed loves agility, fetch, running, and hiking. They need about an hour of vigorous exercise every day, the owner can take your dog for walks, runs, jogs, hikes, and swims to keep his happy and healthy.
Besides, they are social animals who require a lot of attention, consistent training, time, and patience. Griffons are not good full-time kennel dogs, especially they are active as puppies, and are very intelligent, social, and physically powerful as adults. Without considerable mental and physical exercise, they may become bored, unhappy, and/or destructive. Apartments are not recommended for this breed, they do best in the country or a home with a yard because of their exercise demand.
Generally, it is recommended to feed a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon with two to two and a half cups of high-quality dry dog food every day, divided into two meals. More importantly, the food amount should depend on the dog’s weight, size, age, and activity level. There should be fresh and clean water at all times.
Some dogs are easy to get overweight, so you need to watch their calorie consumption and weight level all the time. Treats may be an important aid in training, but excessive intake can lead to obesity. Also, owners need to distinguish which human food is safe for dogs and which are not. If you have any problems with your dog’s weight or diet, just consult from your veterinarian.
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a relatively healthy breed, and they are prone to the following health conditions: hip and elbow dysplasia, ear infections, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), etc.
Major concerns: none
Minor concerns: otitis externa, CHD, entropion, ectropion
Occasionally seen: elbow dysplasia
Suggested tests:
Hip Evaluation
Elbow Evaluation
Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Total Annual Cost: $2889
Cost is estimated for the first year and may vary depending on many factors, such as dog food, health care, leash, collar, licensing, possible fencing, crates, training and obedience classes, dog-walking, grooming, treats, toys, flea, tick, and heart-worm meds, microchips, etc.
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon may be a bit difficult to be trained although this is an intelligent breed. This is because the dogs may have a mind of their own and have different ideas about what they want to do. And your dog may just walk away if he doesn’t like the way you are training him.
As they are eager to please and willing to learn, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon could learn basic obedience training quickly. And it is best to keep the training fun and interesting and provide plenty of praise for the best results. The harsh punishment is not recommended.
Besides, the Griffons are highly trainable and excel at advanced training. To burn off your dog’s excess energy, the owner can take it to participate in agility, flyball, obedience, and advanced tricks training.
History
A Dutchman of the name Eduard Korthals is credited with developing the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon breed. It is quite difficult to decide with certainty what the nationality of origin of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is, since Korthals had worked on this breed in Germany before moving to France to complete it. Korthals’ father was a wealthy banker, so he could afford to keep a large population of dog breeds from an early age. It is rumored that he had decided on his own to create a breed that could be so versatile that it could serve as both a gun dog on land and a retriever in water; a dog with unrelenting vigor, resilience, strength, and trainability.
Hence, Korthal set out, interbreeding several dogs in 1873. The ancestors of what later became the Korthals’ Patriarchs were a group of about six dogs, which Korthals interbred one group after the other until he had achieved his original desire. Mouche, a female dog, was bred with Banco, Satan, Hector, Juno, and Janus, which were all Griffons. In 1888, the first Griffon club was instituted as a conglomerate of several other clubs in different countries, such as Germany, 1895 ( where it was called the Southern German Griffon Club); France, 1901 (Wirehaired Griffon Club) and Belgium, 1895 (Royal Belgium Griffon Club).
The American Kennel Club registered its first Korthals Griffon in 1887 when it was identified as a Russian Setter, as it was believed to have a Russian origin. However, later in 1916, the dog breed was fully recognized as the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. Ever since Its popularity grew amongst the American people. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is ranked 65th most popular dog breed by the American Kennel Club.
Helpful Information
Breed Club: AMERICAN WIREHAIRED POINTING GRIFFON ASSOCIATION
Breed Club Link: https://www.awpga.com/
Breed Club Rescue: AWPGA Rescue Program
Breed Club Rescue Link: https://www.awpga.com/rescue-info.html