German Wirehaired Pointer

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German Wirehaired Pointer Profile

The German Wirehaired Pointer is a well-muscled, medium sized dog of distinctive appearance. German Wirehaired Pointers are balanced in size and sturdy build. German Wirehaired Pointers are among three German Pointer breeds: the German Wirehaired, the German Shorthaired Pointer, and the German Long-haired Pointer. The German Wirehaired Pointers have a weather resistant, wire-like coat, bushy eyebrows, and a mustache and beard. German Wirehaired Pointers love human companionship, but don't do well in apartments as they need extensive exercise. The German Wirehaired Pointer is an all-around gundog, they like to hunt birds and small animals, making them high energy dogs. The German Wirehaired Pointer also makes an excellent watchdog. They are responsive and gentle, doing well with children. They are affectionate and even tempered, as well as bold and outgoing. They are friendly and often humorous to watch. They rejoice in being taught, as they love to learn. If they are not given enough exercise or entertainment, they may become bored and resort to destroying their boundaries. They love to play and enjoy a good wrestle with their owner. Sometimes they are more one-person dogs. Overall, the German Wirehaired Pointer is a hardy worker and good family dog.

Other Names: Deutscher Drahthaariger, Vorstehund, German Pointer (Wirehaired), Drahthaar

Type: Gun Dog

Height: Females: 22 - 24 inches; Males: 24 - 26 inches.
Weight: Females: 45 - 64lbs.; Males: 55 - 75 lbs.

Colors: Liver and white, solid liver, black and white in UK.
Coat: Thick and harsh, no longer than 1.5 inches with a dense undercoat. Wiry and flat on the outer coat, having a moderate length beard and bushy eyebrows, but not so much to hide the outline of the dog. They have plenty of woolly fur underneath as well.

Temperament: German Wirehaired Pointers are active, responsive, gentle, affectionate, even tempered, bold and outgoing. They tend to be more aloof and suspicious than the Shorthaired Pointer, but they are affectionate and friendly to family. They enjoy playing, but are a serious hard worker. German Wirehaired Pointers can often be a clown in front of their family. They are equally at home in the water as on land.
With Children: Yes, good with children.
With Pets: Yes, but may stand their own with other dogs.
Special Skills: Field sports dog and family pet.

Watch-dog: Very High.
Guard-dog: High. The German Wirehaired Pointer is more suspicious and aloof of strangers than his cousin, the Shorthaired Pointer.

German Wirehaired Pointer Care and Exercise: Brush the coat of a German Wirehaired Pointer a couple of times a week, bathe when necessary. Thinning is necessary in the spring and fall. They shed in the spring. Regular attention to their ears is needed. German Wirehaired Pointers need a considerable amount of exercise as they are an energetic hunter. Vigorous rough-housing combined with daily walks or runs are good for this breed. Their coat should never have to be clipped.
Training: German Wirehaired Pointers need to be taught basic obedience and socialized early to other dogs and humans. They do, however, enjoy learning and training. They require firm training.
Learning Rate: High. Obedience - Medium. Problem Solving - Medium.

Activity: Very High.
Living Environment: A home with a fenced yard is essential. German Wirehaired Pointers are a breed who thrives on human companionship. An ideal situation would be a house-dog with access to the outdoors. Owners of German Wirehaired Pointers should be active, have good leadership skills and the time to provide their dogs with basic obedience training and socializations. The German Wirehaired Pointer will do very well with an owner who is a hunter. If left alone for a long time or they become bored, they can become destructive.

German Wirehaired Pointer Health Issues: This breed has been relatively healthy over the years. There have been cases of hip dysplasia and entropion. Sometimes hormone problems affect their coats.

Life Span: 10 - 14 years.
Litter Size: 6 - 10 puppies.

Country of Origin: Germany
German Wirehaired Pointer History: The German Wirehaired Pointer and other Pointer types developed in Germany in the 1800s. Among these were the Pudelpointers, the Griffon, Stichelhaar and the German Shorthaired Pointer, all of which may have contributed to the breed. Foxhounds, Airedale Terriers, and Broken Coated Pointers were said to have been in the mix as well. The Pointer types eventually separated into separate breeds over the years. In the late 19th century, or 1870, the German Wirehaired Pointer was recognized by Germany. Over time the breed made its way to the American circuit in the 1920s, like its cousin, the Shorthaired Pointer. It never gained as much popularity as its Shorthaired cousin, but was still very useful to hunters in America as well as Germany. The German Wirehaired Pointer was recognized by the AKC in 1959. Although this pointer is less widespread in the U.S. than in Germany, it is even less widespread in Britain. Regardless, the German Wirehaired Pointer earns his worth as a very good pointer. The German Wirehaired Pointer has evolved from the best of pointers.

First Registered by the AKC: 1959
AKC Group: Sporting Group
Class: Gundog
Registries: AKC, ANKC, CKC, FCI (Group 7), KC (GB), UKC

German Wirehaired Pointers

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