German Wirehaired Pointer

Description: The German Wirehaired Pointer is a medium-sized, well muscled dog. The body is a little longer than it is tall. The skull is broad with a moderate stop. The muzzle is long and straight leading to the dark brown nose. The medium sized, oval eyes are brown, with medium length eyebrows. The ears are rounded, hanging close to the head. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The neck is strong and slender. The chest is deep and wide. Dewclaws are usually removed. The high-set tail is docked to two-fifths of it’s original length. Note: Docking tails is illegal in most parts of Europe. The coat has an undercoat that is dense in the winter and thin in the summer. The weather-resistant, water-repellent, wiry outer coat is straight lying flat and harsh about 2 inches (5.8 cm.) long. Hair on the beard, forehead and whiskers is slightly longer to protect the face. The coat colors are liver and white, either with ticking, roan or spotted and sometimes a solid liver. The head is liver, with or without a white blaze and the ears are liver. Height: Dogs 24-26 inches (60-67 cm.) Bitches 22-24 inches (56-62 cm.) Weight: 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg.) Temperament: The German Wirehaired Pointer is very active and intelligent. Eager to learn and loyal to their family, they need a handler with a consistent in approach. They like to be occupied and enjoy working for their owner. They are friendly with those they know, but can be distant with strangers and should be socialized, preferably at an early age. If they sense their owners are meek or passive they will become rather willful. Their hunting instincts lore them to roam. Powerful and energetic they can become bored and hard to manage without enough exercise. The German Wirehaired Pointer is a good all-around gun dog, able to hunt any sort of game on any sort of terrain. This dog has a good nose and can track, point, and retrieve on both land and water. Steady, lively and vigorous. Children should be taught how to display proper leadership skills. If they do not see humans as above them in the pecking order they will become dominating and pushy and may try to dominate other animals. With proper leadership they will get along well with other dogs and household animals. They make good watchdogs.

Care and Training: The coat of the German Wirehaired Pointer should be brushed about twice a week with a firm bristle brush. The coat needs some stripping, but is not hard to learn how to do. The hairs should be hand plucked occasionally depending on the condition of the coat. It is usually thinned in the spring and fall. Bathe only when necessary.  The hair of the coat should be as hard as possible but must not look untidy. Check the ears to make sure they are clean. The feet should be checked after the dog has been out working. This breed is an average shedder.

This dog is extremely energetic and tireless. It is very important that it gets daily vigorous exercise to prevent them from becoming high-strung with extreme indoor restlessness. This breed can be a challenge for even the most active family and they should not be taken on as a family pet unless they can guarantee plenty of daily vigorous exercise. They need to be taken on a daily, brisk, long walk, jog or run alongside you when you bicycle. They are excellent jogging companions and love to swim and retrieve. While out on a walk or jog be sure to make the dog heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, never in front, as instinct tells a dog the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human.

Living Environment: The German Wirehaired Pointer is not recommended for apartment life. They can be somewhat high strung and very active indoors; needs plenty of exercise to prevent extreme indoor restlessness. They will do best with at least a large yard.

Health Issues: Some lines are prone to hip dysplasia, ear infections, genetic eye disease and skin cancers.

Life Span: 12 -14 years Origin: The German Wirehaired Pointer was developed in Germany in the beginning of the 20th century by crossing the German Shorthair Pointer with the Griffon, Stichelhaar (a dog that was developed by crossing the Pointer, Foxhound, Pudelpointer, and Polish water dog) and the Pudelpointer (a dog that was a cross between the Poodle and Pointer). The dogs were a o point, track, retrieve, and work as a gun-dog, in both field and water for both feather and ble t fur. They were recognized by the AKC in 1959. The German Wirehaired Pointers talents are show dog, obedience, gun dog, retrieving, tracking trials, field trials, and hunting tests.

AKC Group:Gun Dog, AKC Sporting Registries: CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, NKC, GWPCA, NZKC, VDD/GNA, ANKC, APRI, ACR, DRA