Is a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon the Right Dog for You?

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is an adorable looking dog that boasts a lovely nature. The breed is renowned for not only their loyalty and great dispositions but for their working abilities too and are often referred to as supreme gun-dogs"". They are medium in size and very proud looking with a nice square head and rough coat and were originally bred to work on just about any terrain whether it's a damp bog, woodland or on more open ground.

A Little Background History

This clever dog boasts Dutch origins and not French as most people tend to think. Although there are not a tremendous amount of these lovely dogs around they are incredibly popular amongst the hunting fraternity due to their excellent pointing and retrieving skills but they make wonderful family pets and companion dogs. They are extremely faithful which makes them even more attractive and loveable.

The man most associated with developing the breed is Edward Korthals, a Dutch breeder who managed to refine the breed that we see today. In many countries including the UK, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is often called to the Korthals Griffon. With this said, these dogs can be traced right back to the 18th century with the first breed type being called the Cherville Griffon which as the result of crossing a setter with a pointer.

The history of the breed gets a bit confusing because in the mid 18th century, many dog lovers thought that any dog with the sort of coat a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon boasts typically originated from Siberia and as such they called the breed ""Russian Retrievers"" and when the breed was first formally registered, it was done so under the name of ""Russian Setter"".

Energetic, Loyal and Extremely Affable

The breed is renowned for their hunting skills loving the job they are bred to do. However, they also make wonderful companion dogs and family pets because they boast such friendly natures. As a bonus they are brilliant around other pets too. With this said, they love to be kept busy and are definitely not ""couch potatoes"" which makes them the perfect choice for people who lead active lives and who love spending time in the great outdoors, but not such a good choice for people who lead more sedentary lives.

Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are not the best choice for first-time dog owners either because although they are extremely obedient and will answer commands if they have been trained to do so, they are also very clever canines that are capable of thinking for themselves. If they are left to their own devices this could get them into a bit of trouble. In short, these lovely dogs need to be handled with a fair but firm hand and their training has to be consistent throughout their lives.

A Breed That Needs Lots of Healthy Exercise

As previously mentioned, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon likes nothing better than to be in the great outdoors and this means lots of daily exercise. You would need to have the time to play games with your canine friend or even take up jogging so they can join you in a ""keep fit"" routine. Another of the breed's favourite pass times is to play in water and they literally adore swimming which can often lead to a few ear problems so this is something you would need to keep an eye on.

When it comes to grooming, the breed boasts a lovely tight coat that needs regular grooming which should be at least twice a week. You also need to have their coats stripped and again this needs to be done professionally at a grooming salon at least twice a year so that all dead hair is removed so the new coat can grow through more easily.

A Healthy Breed

These lovely canines have a nice long life span and if well cared for can live anything from 12 to 14 years and more. They are robust dogs which means they very rarely suffer from nasty diseases. With this said, they may develop certain conditions which include the following:

• Hip dysplasia (CHD)
• Otitis externa
• Entropion

As with all breeds, it is really important for them to have regular health checks at the vets because if there is something untoward going on, this can be picked up early and the sooner a condition is treated, the less discomfort your pet has to through and the sooner they are on the road to recovery.

Conclusion

If you are thinking about sharing your home and life with a canine companion and really enjoy spending time in the great outdoors whenever you have the opportunity, then you would not go far wrong by choosing a gorgeous Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. They are extremely loving, loyal and clever dogs that are a real pleasure to have around with the added bonus of them getting on well with children and other pets. If you like jogging, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon makes the perfect running companion and it's one pass time they really adore doing!

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