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German Wirehaired Pointer

German Wirehaired Pointer
History:

Country/Date of Origin: Germany/1900s

German sportsmen do not favor a specialist hunter. They want a dog that can do it all. The German Wirehair can. With great skill it does the work of a pointer, a retriever and a spaniel. It tracks, points, and retrieves on land and water. In a land where hunting for the table was important, it was bred not for speed or drive, but rather for thoroughness. In the early 20th century German sportsmen created a dog that would do all that the German Shorthaired Pointer could do - and have a coat more suited to working through brambles and briars. In 1928 the new creation, obtained by adding some Pudelpointer and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon bloodlines to the German Shorthairs, was admitted to the German Kennel Club. It was first introduced to the US in the 1920s with its brother breed but did not gain entry into our stud books until 1955.

 Other Names Body Type Personality Coat Health Concerns

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Deutscher Drahthaariger Vorstehhund

AKC Group: Sporting

Breed Club: German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America

Rescue Club: German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America Rescue

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Body Type:

  • Medium sized, well balanced gun dog
  • Height: 21-25 inches (at shoulder)
  • Weight: 45-70 pounds
  • Males and females differ considerably in size
  • Broad, hanging ears are not altered
  • Tail is docked to about 40% of its original length
  • Webbed feet to assist in water retrievin

Personality:

  • Even-tempered and sensible
  • Boundless energy. Can become destructive if not given ample exercise
  • More often than not, this is a one person dog
  • Intelligent and very trainable
  • Very suspicious of strangers. Much more so than the German Shorthaired Pointer

Coat:

  • Coat is harsh and double
  • Excellent water repellent qualities
  • Eyebrows, mustache, and beard are required
  • Allowable colors are solid liver or any combination of liver and white. Black and white coloration is permissible in Europe but not in the United States
  • Medium grooming requirements. Seasonal shedding of undercoat

Health Concerns:

  • Very healthy breed
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Skin problems
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Tasty Tidbits:
  • Likes to roam
  • Noisier than most hunting breeds
  • Good with kids