Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a hunting dog bred to accompany the hunter on foot. In 1873, a young Dutch man, Eduard Korthals, wanted a gun dog suited for hunters on foot (rather than on horseback). He wanted a dog who worked close to the hunter and in all types of terrain, especially the marshy lands of the Netherlands. The ancestors of today’s Wirehaired Pointing Griffon include several wire coated dogs known to be good hunting dogs, the Otterhound, a French Barbet, and several other unknown dogs and breeds.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon dogs stand 20 to 24 inches tall and weigh 50 to 65 pounds. The head is of medium width, the nose is always brown, and the eyes are large and may be from yellow to brown. The ears are medium-sized and dropped. The body is slightly longer than the dog is tall, and the tail is docked. The undercoat is thick, and the outer coat is harsh, straight, and wiry. Coat colors include steel gray with brown markings, chestnut brown, white and brown, and orange and white. The coat needs twice weekly brushing to keep it neat and clean. Show dogs need some handstripping.
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a very active breed that needs a chance to run every day. He can run alongside a bicycle or go jogging with his owner. These dogs also like to retrieve, so fetch games are great fun. Eager to please, these dogs are usually quite easy to train. Their good noses, however, can also make them easily distracted, especially while young. If the training is too repetitive, these dogs may get bored, so the training should be firm and structured, yet challenging enough to keep their interest.
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a young breed, and the individual dogs have strong hunting instincts. As such, they do best in homes where they are used for hunting, competitive field trials, or hunt tests. The Griffon is a good family dog and very patient with children. He is good with other dogs but, as a hunting dog, should be supervised with smaller pets. The primary health concern is hip dysplasia.