German Wirehaired Pointer
Description
Developed in Germany up until the 1800s, German Pointers
were said to be heavy and slow, however in the early 1900’s the German
Wirehaired Pointed was created with a combination of French Griffon,
Pudel-pointer, Shorthaired Pointer and Broken-coated Pointer to produce
the breed we see today - a medium-large, but lean and well-muscled
dog. This resulted in producing an all-round hunting dog, able to work
on land, in water as a flusher, pointer and retriever, where they would
instinctively 'point' indicating to its handler where game may lay.
This newly created German breed of dog was more versatile with a higher
hunting performance and possessed a stronger physical constitution and
is a little
bigger than its shorthaired cousin.
Temperament
This breed makes an excellent dog for people who love the
outdoor active life and will have the time to do activities with their
dog such as swimming, retrieving, obedience, and agility. It is
recommended that children be supervised with these dogs as with any
large breed and because of their hunting instincts, they generally don’t
get on with cats unless introduced as a puppy; the same applies for
other domesticated pets such as rabbits, rats, mice. They are very
loyal and protective of their family but normally bond with one
particular person more than the whole family and because of their
devotion make it quite difficult to re-home at a later age. Slightly
aloof with strangers, they are never timid or aggressive and do best
raised in a family environment. Not making for good pets in small yards
and if left alone for long periods they can become destructive from
boredom. Because they are very active, they will be required to be
exercised twice daily and trained to avoid boredom.
Appearance
Height: 56-67cm (22-26in)
Weight:
27-32kg (60-70lb)
A double-coated breed with a “wirey” harsh outer coat to
protect its skin from thick brush and scrub, a dense undercoat becoming
more prevalent in winter and a 'beard' apparent below the jaw. This
noble looking dog that stands tall has eyes which blend with the coat
colour. Colours come in predominantly black or brown, interspersed with
white (known as roan) or predominantly white with black or brown roan.
Grooming
Grooming the Wirehaired Pointer should be basic with the
occasional combing out of dead hair, a bath once every 6 weeks and trim
under the tail if feathering occurs. Pluck and clean inside the ears 3
times a year and trim their nails every 8 weeks.
Life Expectancy
12 Years
Health Concerns
Hip dysplasia and
eye problems have been known to afflict the breed and there
have been skin problems in some inbred bloodlines,
which are immune system related and also occurring in light pigmented
animals.
Suitability
Do you love being
outdoors and looking for an active dog with a bit of spirit and
character, then a German Wirehaired Pointer might be just the dog for
you. They are more aloof towards strangers and protective in
temperament than its short-haired cousin. Mixing well with its family
and their children, these dogs may come across less tolerant of outside
children. Because of there strong prey drive, they may be inclined to
chase the family cat or small animal if given the opportunity. Even
though these dogs are intelligent, they can be quite headstrong so early
training is still essential. The German Wirehaired Pointer will require
adequate exercise to be able to burn off excess energy and if left in
the backyard with no exercise may turn destructive.
German Wirehaired Pointer - Back to Top
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