Wirehaired Pointing Griffon: temperament, size, care and health

About the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a medium-sized, strongly built gun dog with a harsh, tousled coat, bushy eyebrows, a mustache and beard. The look is rough and a little untidy by design: the coat protects the dog from thorns, cold and water. Its usual color is steel gray with chestnut markings, though solid chestnut and roan also occur.

It was developed as a versatile dog that can find game by scent, point it, wait for the shot and retrieve from land or water. It moves at a steady working pace rather than a flat sprint, which suits hunters who walk their ground. Many are kept now as companions by people who like the breed's cheerful, shaggy character.

Temperament and family life

Griffons are affectionate, outgoing and eager to take part in family life. They tend to be gentle with children and generally friendly toward visitors and other dogs. The breed has a soft side and does not respond well to heavy-handed methods, which can cause a stubborn or withdrawn dog.

A Griffon is a companion breed in practice and does not do well when isolated in a yard or left alone for long hours. They like to shadow family members. Birds and small animals may attract their hunting instinct, and a dog off leash will follow a trail. Socialization in puppyhood helps them stay relaxed with strangers.

Exercise and training

A Griffon needs substantial daily activity, such as a long hike, swim, retrieve or field work. Adults do well with more than an hour of purposeful exercise. They also benefit from mental work, and many enjoy tracking, scent games and hunt tests. Without outlets they become restless and may dig or bark.

The breed learns quickly but has a slight independent streak and dislikes dull repetition. Short, interesting sessions with praise and food work well. Teach recall and a reliable leave-it early. Griffons mature slowly and may remain puppyish into their third year.

Grooming and shedding

The harsh coat sheds little, but it needs periodic care. Brush it weekly, and have it hand-stripped or thinned a few times a year to remove dead hair and keep the texture. Clipping softens the coat and changes its color, so pet owners who choose clippers will see a different look.

Beard and mustache collect water and food, and need to be wiped. The ears are covered with soft hair and should be checked and cleaned regularly. After time in thick cover look for burrs, seeds and ticks, and trim hair between the pads when it tangles.

Health

Griffons are generally healthy, but hip dysplasia is known in the breed. Ear infections are a frequent nuisance, and eyelid conditions such as entropion, hypothyroidism and some autoimmune diseases have been reported. Responsible breeders screen hips and often elbows, eyes and thyroid, and they should explain their results. This is only general information about the breed, and a veterinarian is the person to ask about an individual dog.

History

The breed is associated with the Dutch breeder Eduard Karel Korthals, who worked in the second half of the 1800s to produce a hardy wirehaired pointer, and in some countries it is still called the Korthals Griffon. His breeding program took place largely in Germany, and used several rough-coated hunting dogs. The Griffon was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1916. Its numbers stayed small for decades, and it remains a less common breed.

Is the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon right for you?

A Griffon suits an active person or family who hunts, hikes or trains for dog sports and who does not mind a rumpled dog. It is a good partner for owners in cold, wet, wooded climates.

It is not suited to people who want an immaculate house or who are rarely home. For a related wirehaired type with a similar job look at the German Wirehaired Pointer, which is faster and more intense. The Spinone Italiano is a larger, slower, more placid wirehaired option, and the Wirehaired Vizsla has a closer, shorter coat.