German Wirehaired Pointer

In my own words

 

Hello! Are you going to go running with me? I need to go out and get exercise as I am bred to be a an active gun dog and I need to chase things and I need to jump about and run through water and learn to train and…sorry am I speaking too fast for you? It’s just a trait. I just have so much energy! I see as well that you have noticed my coat, it’s thick and wirey so that it is waterproof. Was that my owner? Is he going to take me for a walk?! I love my owner, they are my leader and I always do what they say. Sometimes, if I have been good, they let me go running with them. They tire pretty quickly, but I never do! I can just keep running and running!

Was that the letter box!? WOOF!! I’m a good watchdog as I can pick up even the slightest of noises. I have a great nose as well, because I am bred to hunt animals. Apparently my ancestors are from Germany and they were bred to be this way. I would love to go hunting one day, it was literally what I was born to do!

Information essential about the German Wirehaired Pointer

 

Kennel Club Group:

Gundog. Sporting dog.

Size:

Height:  Dogs 24-26 inches (60-67 cm.) Bitches 22-24 inches (56-62 cm.)

Weight:  60-70 pounds (27-32 kg.)

Popularity:

Breed History:

 

Sharing a common ancestry with the other German Spitz types (the longhaired and the shorthaired), the Wirehaired was bred specifically as a hunting dog in the early 20th century from various Foxhounds, Poodles and Pointers. The dogs were able to point, track, retrieve, and work as a gun-dog, in both field and water for both feather and fur. They were recognized by the AKC in 1959. The German Wirehaired Pointers talents are show dog, obedience, gun dog, retrieving, tracking trials, field trials, and hunting tests. They were also bred to have webbed feet, making them excellent at swimming.

Character:

 

Energetic, active and intelligent dogs; the German Wirehaired Pointer is a good all round gun dog; and it will always try to work hard for its owner. Because of these hunting instincts, they will constantly look to roam and this means that it will not like being locked inside for any extended period of time. The dog wouldn’t be suitable for apartment, urban, living either; as they – like all gundogs – require a lot of space to be able to fulfil their natural, genetic, gundog instinct. The breed has an excellent nose, meaning it always knows what’s being cooked for dinner, and can be trained easily to track, point and even retrieve with ease. Proper training is required to make sure the dog knows who is boss, and so that it doesn’t dominate you, children, other dogs and other animals. If they think that you are not in charge they can become aloof and bored. It will always look to chase things, and this includes birds, rabbits etc, and good recall training is necessary to make sure they do not constantly do this. They are quite playful dogs, and enjoy playing fetch or playing other games with their owners; they also love a good swim.

Temperament:

 

A very active and intelligent breed, German Wirehaired Pointers crave exercise to fulfil their hunting instinct. It is absolutely vital that they get this, otherwise they will become very bored; and look to entertain themselves – sometimes with destructive effects. They are particularly attached to their master and may display jealousy. This breed will generally get along well with other dogs and pets, but may try to dominate them. They are aloof and suspicious of strangers and make good watchdogs, and can bark a lot at a knock on the door or the letterbox. They can be trained so that this does not become an issue. The breed can be god with children, but it can become suspicious of them if they do not show a dominant ‘pack-leader’ attitude; so the breed is probably best with families with older children. They are easy to train and, especially when young, very eager to learn.

Conformation:

 

German Wirehaired Pointers need to have a strong and lively look. The coat is perhaps the breed’s most distinctive feature and is wirey, course and water resistant; and this also protects them from thorns and brambles. This coat sheds moderately. They have fairly long heads that leads to a dark brown nose, and it’s teeth have a straight scissor bite. The neck is strong and slender. The chest is deep and wide. The tail is often docked, the breed a being a hunting breed, but this is illegal in most countries. German Longhaired Pointers have webbed feet, and this helps them to swim. They are medium sized, and easy to transport long distance; but they will become frustrated if kept in a car for too long.

Colour:

German Wirehairs are usually white or ‘liver’ coloured

Training:

 

The breed requires training from a young age, and needs to familiarize itself with its owner and other humans. This is absolutely imperative because the dog will become aloof in older age if it does not understand that you are its leader. Training needs to be firm, patient and consistent; but the dog is very willing to learn, and will become an excellent companion if training is completed in this way.

 

German Wirehaired Pointers need a lot of exercise, and it is essential that they have a large amount of space to be able to run about in and rummage about. The breed can be a challenge for even the most active family and they should only be considered as a family pet if you can guarantee plenty of daily vigorous exercise, for the dog. They need to be taken on a daily, brisk, long walk, jog or run alongside you when you bicycle. If they do not receive this amount of exercise, they will become very restless and perhaps even destructive while kept in the home. 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 its pack leader is you. The dog will need training to achieve this. Training must also be taken to make sure that the dog does not pull on the lead.

Care:

 

As the name suggests, German Wirehaired Pointers have a very thick and wirey coat, and they need to be brushed with a thick brush at least twice a week. The coast should be as hard as possible, but not look inertly untidy. The coat also needs some stripping, and this is not hard to learn how to do. The hairs should be hand plucked occasionally depending on the condition of the coat. The coat turns thinner in the spring and autumn and the dog only needs to be bathed very occasionally. Check the ears of the dog regularly to make sure they are clean. The feet should be checked after the dog has been out working, as the webbed toes can pick up thorns.

Health:

German Wirehaired Pointers can suffer with the health problems associated with pure bred gun dogs. They need to be hip scored as puppies, as hip dysplasia can be a problem as they grow up. They are relatively easy to feed, but intake as growing puppies needs to be monitored closely. They can also suffer from skin cancer, eye problems and ear infection. All in all they are a pretty healthy and can live as long as 15 years

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