Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a medium-sized hunting dog developed in continental Europe to work close to the gun across varied terrain. It hunts, points, and retrieves on land and from water, which places it squarely in the HPR (hunt, point, retrieve) group rather than among the specialist pointers or retrievers. Its style is measured and methodical, built for stamina and precision rather than raw speed.

In Britain the breed remains relatively uncommon, recognised by The Kennel Club but not a common sight at HPR working tests or game fairs. European enthusiasts, particularly in France and Germany, have long known it as the Korthals Griffon, a name that honours its principal developer, Eduard Karel Korthals, and that continental heritage is part of the breed's identity.

The most recognisable feature is the harsh, wiry outer coat over a soft insulating undercoat. This double coat resists thorns, cold, and wet, and the dog carries prominent eyebrows, a moustache, and a beard on the face. The overall impression is a sturdy, roughly square dog that looks rugged but moves with an easy, balanced gait.

As a companion, the Griffon is people-orientated and bonds closely with its household. It tends to be steady with children and responds well to consistent training. Because it was bred to cooperate closely with a handler, it does best when included in daily activity and given a job to do.

Who it suits

The breed suits active households that can provide daily physical exercise and mental work. It is a strong choice for HPR hunters or wildfowlers who want a single dog across different quarry and terrain. Non-hunting owners willing to substitute structured activity such as scent work, long walks, or working gundog tests, will find it a willing, devoted companion. It is less suited to households that are away for long hours or that want a low-energy housemate.

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon traces to the work of Eduard Karel Korthals, a Dutch sportsman who began a deliberate breeding programme in the 1870s. His aim was a single versatile gundog able to hunt a range of quarry, point, and retrieve from land and water, working steadily and close to the handler.

Korthals kept careful breeding records and drew on rough-coated and pointing-type dogs to fix the harsh coat and the close-working style that define the breed. So central was his role that the dog is still called the Korthals Griffon across much of France, Germany, and wider Europe.

Although Korthals was Dutch and the breed is credited to the Netherlands, much of the development and early promotion took place across the Netherlands, Germany, and France. This shared European heritage is reflected in the breed continuing to be recognised under more than one national name.

The breed reached North America before the turn of the twentieth century. In Britain it is recognised by The Kennel Club in the gundog group and classified among the HPR breeds, though numbers remain modest compared with the more established HPR varieties such as the German Shorthaired and Wirehaired Pointers.

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon presents as a medium, roughly square dog of moderate bone and substance. The build is muscular without being heavy, suited to a full day in the field. The head carries heavy eyebrows, a moustache, and a beard, and the eyes are large and rounded with an alert, friendly expression.

The defining feature is the coat: a harsh, straight outer layer that feels coarse to the touch, lying over a fine, dense undercoat. The texture is functional, shedding water and resisting brush and bramble, attributes that prove their worth in British upland and foreshore conditions.

Coat and colours

The outer coat should feel hard and bristly rather than soft or curly. Common colourings are steel grey with brown markings, solid chestnut, and various roan patterns. The harsh texture is what gives the breed its weatherproof working ability; a coat that is too soft is considered a fault under the KC standard.

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is known for an even, willing temperament. It bonds closely with its family and tends to stay near its people, a trait that comes directly from its breeding as a close-working gundog. With children it is usually patient and gentle, and it commonly gets along with other dogs.

Toward strangers the breed is typically reserved rather than aggressive, often watchful at first and friendly once introduced. This alertness makes it a reasonable watchdog, though it is not a guarding breed. With other pets it generally coexists well, although its hunting background means small animals may trigger a chase or point.

The breed is intelligent and eager to cooperate, which makes it responsive to training but also means it needs mental engagement. A bored Griffon may dig, chew, or become vocal. Daily interaction and a clear routine keep the temperament at its best.

Grooming

• Brush the coat once or twice a week to remove dead hair and prevent matting in the furnishings.
• Hand-strip or have the coat professionally tidied a few times a year to maintain the correct harsh texture; avoid heavy clipping, which softens the coat and removes its weatherproof quality.
• Clean the beard and moustache after meals and water, since food and debris collect there.
• Check ears weekly and dry them after swimming or working in wet conditions to reduce the risk of infection.
• Trim nails monthly and brush teeth several times a week.

Exercise

• Provide at least 60 minutes of vigorous activity daily, split across walks, runs, or fieldwork.
• Include retrieving games and swimming, which suit the breed's natural drives.
• Add scent work or training sessions to meet mental needs alongside physical ones.
• Use a secure area for off-leash work, since the hunting instinct can pull the dog after birds or other game.

Environment

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon adapts to most homes provided it receives daily exercise, but it is happiest with access to a garden or yard and regular outdoor work. The weatherproof coat lets it tolerate cold and wet British conditions well. It prefers to be near its family and does not do well left alone for long stretches.

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon does well on a complete, balanced diet formulated for active medium-sized dogs. Working and hunting dogs burn more energy and may need higher-calorie food or larger portions during the shooting season, while less active pets need careful portion control to avoid weight gain. Always match the amount to body condition rather than feeding a fixed quantity year-round.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to roughly 10 percent of daily calories and use small training treats during sessions. Most healthy dogs on a complete diet do not need supplements. Discuss joint support or fish-oil additions with your vet, particularly for older or hard-working gundogs.

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is generally a hardy breed with a typical lifespan of 12 to 15 years. Responsible breeders screen breeding stock for inherited conditions, and routine preventive care keeps most dogs sound and active well into older age. As with any active working gundog, joints and ears deserve regular attention.

Preventive care

• Keep core vaccinations and parasite prevention current.
• Schedule annual veterinary exams, moving to twice yearly for seniors.
• Maintain a healthy weight to protect joints.
• Brush teeth regularly and check ears weekly.
• Ask breeders for hip and eye screening results before taking on a puppy.

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is one of the more trainable HPR breeds because it was bred to cooperate closely with a handler. It learns quickly, wants to work with its person, and responds poorly to harsh or heavy-handed methods. Short, consistent sessions hold its attention and build reliable behaviour. Early socialisation with people, places, and other animals sets the foundation for a confident, biddable adult.

For those entering working gundog tests or HPR field trials, the breed's naturally close-working style is an advantage. It is easier to keep steady than a wide-ranging pointer and is generally willing to hunt at a pace its handler can follow on foot.

Basics

1. Start socialisation and gentle handling in puppyhood.
2. Teach name recognition and a reliable recall early, since the hunting drive can pull the dog away.
3. Build core obedience: sit, stay, down, and lead manners.
4. Introduce retrieving and water work to channel natural instincts.
5. Add advanced or field training once the basics are solid.

Responsible breeding of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon begins with health-screened parents that match the breed standard in coat texture, structure, and temperament. Dogs generally reach physical maturity before being bred, and reputable breeders wait until both parents have completed recommended hip and eye evaluations.

After a successful mating, gestation runs approximately nine weeks. The dam should have a quiet whelping area and close monitoring as the due date approaches. Puppies are born blind and dependent and rely entirely on the mother for the first weeks.

Raising the litter involves keeping puppies warm, ensuring each nurses adequately, and beginning gentle socialisation once their eyes and ears open. Early handling and exposure to normal household sights and sounds help produce confident, people-orientated adults. Puppies typically move to new homes after weaning and an initial round of veterinary care.

Registering a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon in the United Kingdom

When a dog warden or rescue centre picks up a stray Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, the chip scan is the first move, and the record behind it decides how the story ends. Keep yours pointing home with a free United Pet Club profile. Register your dog once, and the record stands for life without a renewal letter ever landing on the mat.

The implant happens at the vet surgery; the record is your half of the bargain, and the 2016 regulations expect it kept up to date. Register the microchip free on the lifetime plan: any brand a British vet implants is accepted, amendments after moving house cost nothing, and the record stays searchable through the lookups rescue centres and wardens turn to first. Create your free account and square it away this evening.