Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Dog Breed Profile

by Luke Blaise

AKC Group: Sporting Group

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon dog is a rare breed that comes to us from the French. This is a medium sized, scruffy looking dog. But don't let its appearance fool you, it is very intelligent and very friendly.

History

Griffon-like dogs have been around for hundreds of years, but specific roots are not known. The current heritage of the dog however, has been extensively recorded. Dutchman Eduard Korthals was an enthusiastic hunter and wanted a dog which could hunt over an assortment of terrain, so he formulated a breeding program to produce a flexible new sporting dog. In just 2 decades, Korthals had developed a new breed that he named the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

Physical Features

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a medium-sized dog with a thick double coat. The outer coat is very wiry, and doesn't fully develop until the dog is three years old. The coat gives the dog a very un-groomed look. The undercoat is very fine and waterproofs the dog which makes it a great swimmer.

The head sports a beard, and bushy eyebrows. Normally the head and tail are a little bit darker in color than the rest of the body. Normal colors are steel gray with brown marks. Other colors could be brown, white, or orange. The normal height ranges from 20-24 inches. Adult weight is normally around 50-60 pounds.

Personality

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon dog features a quick and clever mind and it is very easily trained. He's an extrovert, and shows a significant willingness to interact with others. He is an outstanding family dog and hunting companion. Active, friendly, lively, the breed is effective in upland and marshland, and is an excellent flusher, pointer retriever.

Common Health Problems

This dog sheds very little, and is great for people who have allergies to dog hair. In terms of health, they are pretty healthy, except some dogs may be prone to hip dysplasia.

Return to: Complete AKC Dog Breed List

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