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Breed Characteristics
1 paw - breed exhibits the least amount of this characteristic
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German Wirehaired Pointer
| Other Names | Deutsch Drahthaar, Deutscher Drahthaariger Vorstehhund, Drahthaar, German Wire-haired Pointing Dog |
| Country of Origin | Germany |
| Weight | 60 - 70 lbs. (27 - 32 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 24 - 26 in. (60 - 67 cm) Females: 22 - 24 in. (56 - 62 cm) |
| Coat | The functional wiry coat is the breed's most distinctive feature. A dog must have a correct coat to be of correct type. The coat is weather resistant and, to some extent, water-repellent. The undercoat is dense enough in winter to insulate against the cold but is so thin in summer as to be almost invisible. The distinctive outer coat is straight, harsh, wiry and flat lying, and is from one to two inches in length. The outer coat is long enough to protect against the punishment of rough cover, but not so long as to hide the outline of the dog. On the lower legs the coat is shorter and between the toes it is of softer texture. On the skull the coat is naturally short and close fitting. Over the shoulders and around the tail it is very dense and heavy. The tail is nicely coated, particularly on the underside, but devoid of feather. Eyebrows are of strong, straight hair. Beard and whiskers are medium length. The hairs in the liver patches of a liver and white dog may be shorter than the white hairs. A short smooth coat, a soft woolly coat, or an excessively long coat is to be severely penalized when showing. While maintaining a harsh, wiry texture, the puppy coat may be shorter than that of an adult coat. The coat of the puppy should be shorter than 1 inch the adult coat should be kept at 1 inch long. |
| Colour | The coat colours 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. |
| Litter Size | 6 - 10 puppies |
| Life Span | 12 - 15 years |
| Origin & History | German Wirehaired pointers trace their origins back to 1880. They originated in Germany, where breeders wanted to develop a rugged, versatile hunting dog that would work closely with either one person or a small party of persons hunting on foot in varied terrain; from the mountainous regions of the Alps, to dense forests, to more open areas with farms and small towns. The breed the Germans desired had to have a coat that would protect the dogs when working in heavy cover or in cold water, yet be easy to maintain. Careful crosses of the German pointer with many other breeds. Sources differ on the exact lineage, though the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Pudelpointer, Stichelhaar, and Deutscher-Kurzhaar are commonly accepted as the most likely contributors. This is a dog that can fully respond to the needs of its hunter. The goal was to develop a wire-coated, medium-sized dog that could: Search for, locate and point upland game Work both feather and fur with equal skill and retrieve water fowl Be a close-working, easily trained gun dog Be able to track and locate wounded game Be fearless when hunting "sharp" game such as fox Be a devoted companion and pet; and Be a watchdog for its owner's family and property. Some consider the "Drahthaar" to be a different type of dog than the German wirehaired pointer. While the breeds are genetically indistinguishable, "drahts" have to meet rigorous hunt and show tests before being eligible for breeding. These tests include tracking wounded game such as fox, rabbit, deer and boar, which may not be required of a dog that hunts birds predominantly. A desire to recover and retrieve game stands out in both styles of dog (GWP and Drahthaar). In double blind studies, the tracking capabilities of Drahthaar and GWP's has shown to be statistically indistinguishable. For upland (i.e. non-waterfowl) bird work, many GWPs have distinguished themselves with all-breed Field Championships and Master Hunter titles. Unlike many sporting breeds, there is no "breed split" with Wirehairs (though individuals have varying talents). Dual Championships (both field and show) are not uncommon in the breed. |
| Personality | The German Wirehaired Pointer is very active and intelligent. Eager to learn and loyal to its family, it needs a handler who is consistent in approach. The GWP likes to be occupied and enjoys working for its owner. It is friendly with those it knows, but can be distant with strangers and should be socialized, preferably at an early age. If it senses its owner is meek or passive it will become rather willful. Its hunting instincts lure it to roam. Powerful and energetic, the GWP can become bored and hard to manage without enough exercise. The German Wirehaired Pointer is a good all-around gundog, 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. It is steady, lively and vigorous. Children should be taught how to display proper leadership skills. If this dog does not see humans as above it in the pecking order it will become dominating and pushy and may try to dominate other animals. With proper leadership it will get along well with other dogs and household animals. GWPs make good watchdogs. |
Care Requirements
| Health | Some lines are prone to hip dysplasia, ear infections, Von Willebrands Disease type 2, heart disease, genetic eye disease and skin cancers. |
| Grooming | 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. |
| Exercise | This dog is extremely energetic and tireless. It is very important that it gets daily vigorous exercise to prevent it 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. It needs 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. |
| Other Considerations | The German Wirehaired Pointer is not recommended for apartment life. It can be somewhat high strung and very active indoors; needs plenty of exercise to prevent extreme indoor restlessness. It will do best with at least a large yard. |
