United Pet Club

German Wirehaired Pointer breed standards compared

Each column is one club's published standard. An empty cell means the club says nothing on that point in our records.

Clubs compared: FCI, AKC, UKC, KC.

Size

Size
MeasureFCIAKCUKCKC
Height at the withers, male61–68 cm61–66 cmover 66 cmFaultunder 61 cmFault61–67.9 cm60–67 cm
Height at the withers, female57–64 cmover 55.9 cmunder 55.9 cmFault55.9–63.5 cm56–62 cm
Weight, maleNo rulingNo ruling25–31.8 kg25–34 kg
Weight, femaleNo rulingNo ruling20.4–27.2 kg20.5–29 kg
Height to length10.9No rulingNo ruling
Skull to muzzleNo rulingNo rulingNo ruling1

Conformation

Conformation
FormFCIAKCUKCKC
BiteScissors biteStandard (“regular, complete scissor bite”)Standard (“The incisors meet in a true scissors bite”)Standard (“meet in a scissors bite”)Standard (“perfect regular and complete scissor bite”)
BiteOvershotNo rulingNo rulingDisqualifying (“Eliminating Faults: Undershot or overshot bite”)No ruling
BiteUndershotNo rulingNo rulingDisqualifying (“Eliminating Faults: Undershot or overshot bite”)No ruling
DentitionFull dentitionStandard (“42 teeth according to the dentition formula”)Standard (“a full complement of evenly set and properly intermeshing teeth”)Standard (“A full complement of strong, white teeth”)Standard (“with full dentition”)
StopPronouncedStandard (“Stop: Clearly visibly pronounced”)No rulingNo rulingNo ruling
StopModerateNo rulingStandard (“The stop is medium”)Standard (“Stop is medium, clearly defined”)Standard (“Moderate stop”)
Facial profileRoman (convex)Standard (“Slight roman nose”)No rulingNo rulingNo ruling
Facial profileStraightNo rulingStandard (“nasal bone straight, broad and parallel to the top of the skull”)Standard (“Long, with nasal bones straight and broad”)No ruling
Muzzle lengthLongStandard (“Muzzle: Long, broad, strong, deep”)No rulingStandard (“MUZZLE Long, with nasal bones straight and broad”)No ruling
Ear setHighStandard (“set on high and wide”)No rulingStandard (“Set on high, rounded and not too broad”)Standard (“Medium sized in relation to head, set high”)
Ear carriageDrop (pendant)No rulingStandard (“hang close to the head”)Standard (“Hang close to sides of head”)No ruling
Ear tipRoundedNo rulingStandard (“The ears are rounded but not too broad”)Standard (“Set on high, rounded and not too broad”)No ruling
Ear sizeMediumStandard (“EARS: Of medium size”)No rulingStandard (“medium in size”)Standard (“Medium sized in relation to head”)
Eye shapeOvalNo rulingStandard (“medium in size, oval in contour”)Standard (“Medium size, oval in shape”)Standard (“Medium-sized oval”)
Eye sizeMediumNo rulingStandard (“medium in size”)Standard (“Medium size”)Standard (“Medium-sized oval”)
Eye setProminentFault (“neither too deep-set nor protruding”)No rulingNo rulingFault (“not protruding nor too deep set”)
Eye setDeep-setFault (“neither too deep-set nor protruding”)No rulingNo rulingFault (“not protruding nor too deep set”)
Neck lengthMediumStandard (“NECK: Of medium length”)Standard (“The neck is of medium length”)Standard (“Strong and of medium length”)No ruling
Neck shapeArchedStandard (“slightly arched napeline”)Standard (“slightly arched”)Standard (“Slightly arched and devoid of dewlap”)No ruling
DewlapNone (clean throat)Standard (“clean cut throat, no dewlap”)Standard (“devoid of dewlap”)Standard (“devoid of dewlap”)No ruling
ToplineSloping to the rearStandard (“Slightly sloping from the withers in a straight line”)Standard (“a perceptible slope down from withers to croup”)Standard (“the topline slopes from withers to set on of tail”)Standard (“slightly falling back line”)
ToplineSwaybackFault (“SEVERE FAULTS: Swayback or roach back”)No rulingNo rulingNo ruling
ToplineRoach (arched)Fault (“SEVERE FAULTS: Swayback or roach back”)No rulingNo rulingNo ruling
ChestDeepStandard (“Chest: Broad and deep”)Standard (“The chest is deep and capacious”)Standard (“The chest is broad and deep”)Standard (“Chest must appear deep rather than wide”)
ChestBroadStandard (“Chest: Broad and deep”)No rulingStandard (“The chest is broad and deep”)No ruling
ChestBarrelNo rulingNo rulingNo rulingNot recognized (“never barrel shaped nor flat”)
CroupSlightly slopingStandard (“Long and broad, slightly sloping”)No rulingStandard (“Croup slopes slightly”)Standard (“croup falling slightly towards tail”)
Tail setHighNo rulingStandard (“The tail is set high”)Standard (“Set high, carried at or slightly above the horizontal”)No ruling
Tail carriageLevelStandard (“carried as horizontally as possible or slightly raised, but not steep”)Standard (“carried at or above the horizontal when the dog is alert”)Standard (“carried at or slightly above the horizontal”)Standard (“carried horizontally or slightly upward”)
Tail carriageRaised (gay)Alternate (“or slightly raised, but not steep”)Alternate (“at or above the horizontal”)Alternate (“at or slightly above the horizontal”)Alternate (“horizontally or slightly upward”)
Tail carriageSabreAlternate (“natural ... carried straight or slightly sabre-like”)No rulingAlternate (“natural tail ... straight or slightly saber-like”)Alternate (“Undocked: ... carried straight or slightly sabre fashion”)
FeetOvalStandard (“Oval-round with well-knit toes”)No rulingNo rulingStandard (“Compact, close knit, round to oval shaped”)
HocksCow-hockedFault (“SEVERE FAULTS: ... cow hocked or close behind”)No rulingNo rulingNo ruling
HocksStraight and parallelNo rulingStandard (“The hocks (metatarsus) are short, straight and parallel”)No rulingNo ruling
Rear angulationWell angulatedStandard (“Well angulated at the stifles and the hocks”)No rulingStandard (“good angulation at the stifle and hock”)Standard (“Stifles well bent”)
Front angulationWell laid backStandard (“Shoulders: Well laid-back, sloping shoulder blade”)Standard (“The shoulders are well laid back”)No rulingNo ruling
PasternsSlightly slopingStandard (“Pasterns: Slightly sloping”)No rulingStandard (“Pasterns strong and very slightly sloping”)Standard (“Pasterns slightly sloping”)

Markings

Markings
MarkingFCIAKCUKCKC
BlazeNo rulingAlternate (“The head is liver, sometimes with a white blaze”)No rulingNo ruling
Chest patchAlternate (“Brown with or without white chest patch”)No rulingNo rulingNo ruling

Cropping, docking and other procedures

Cropping, docking and other procedures
ProcedureFCIAKCUKCKC
Tail dockingStandard (“Docked for the hunting purposes”)Standard (“The tail is docked to approximately two-fifths of its original length”)Alternate (“Customarily docked to 2/5 original length. A natural tail is acceptable”)Alternate (“Previously customarily docked. Docked ... Undocked”)
Dewclaw removalNo rulingAlternate (“Dewclaws are generally removed”)Alternate (“Removal of dewclaws is preferred but not mandatory”)No ruling

The law on these procedures differs by country. A listing here says nothing about whether one is legal where you live.

German Wirehaired Pointer colors and patterns

What each club's breed standard says about every German Wirehaired Pointer color and pattern. Point at a ruling to see the club's own wording.

Breed standards describe the German Wirehaired Pointer in Black, White, and Liver. Standard patterns: Solid, Bicolor, Roan, and Spotted.

Coat: rulings by club
Color or patternFCIAKCUKCKCKUSA
BlackStandard (“Black roan, with or without patches”)Fault (“Black & White”)Standard (“Solid black”)Standard (“black and white”)Standard (“Black roan, with or without patches”)
WhiteStandard (“Light roan”)Standard (“Liver & White”)Standard (“liver and white ticked”)Standard (“Liver and white”)Standard (“Light roan”)
LiverStandard (“Brown with or without white chest patch”)Standard (“Liver”)Standard (“Solid liver”)Standard (“solid liver”)Standard (“Brown with or without white chest patch”)
AlbinoNot recognizedNo rulingDisqualifying (“Albinism”)Not recognizedNot recognized
Patterns
SolidStandard (“Brown with or without white chest patch”)Standard (“solid liver”)Standard (“Solid liver”)Standard (“solid liver”)Standard (“Brown with or without white chest patch”)
BicolorNo rulingStandard (“The coat is liver and white”)Standard (“liver and white”)Standard (“Liver and white”)No ruling
RoanStandard (“Brown roan with or without patches”)Standard (“Roan”)Standard (“liver and white ticked”)Standard (“Liver & White Ticked”)Standard (“Brown roan with or without patches”)
SpottedStandard (“Brown roan with or without patches”)Standard (“Spotted”)Standard (“liver and white spotted”)Not recognizedStandard (“Brown roan with or without patches”)
TricolorNo rulingNo rulingNo rulingFault (“Solid black and tricoloured highly undesirable”)No ruling
Eyes: rulings by club
Color or patternFCIAKCUKCKCKUSA
BrownNo rulingStandard (“Eyes are brown”)No rulingStandard (“hazel or darker”)No ruling
Dark brownStandard (“As dark as possible”)No rulingStandard (“as dark as possible”)Standard (“hazel or darker”)Standard (“As dark as possible”)
HazelNo rulingNo rulingNo rulingStandard (“hazel or darker”)No ruling
YellowNo rulingFault (“Yellow eyes are not desirable”)No rulingNo rulingNo ruling
Patterns
Odd-eyedDisqualifying (“differently coloured eyes”)No rulingNo rulingNo rulingDisqualifying (“differently coloured eyes”)
Nose: rulings by club
Color or patternFCIAKCUKCKCKUSA
BlackStandard (“Strongly pigmented corresponding to the colour of the coat”)No rulingStandard (“black in black dogs”)Standard (“Nose liver or black”)Standard (“Strongly pigmented corresponding to the colour of the coat”)
LiverStandard (“Strongly pigmented corresponding to the colour of the coat”)Standard (“The nose is dark brown”)Standard (“Dark brown in liver dogs”)Standard (“Nose liver or black”)Standard (“Strongly pigmented corresponding to the colour of the coat”)
PinkNo rulingFault (“A spotted or flesh colored nose is to be penalized”)No rulingNo rulingNo ruling
Patterns
Butterfly noseNo rulingFault (“A spotted or flesh colored nose is to be penalized”)No rulingNo rulingNo ruling

What the rulings mean

Standard
Described by the club's breed standard.
Fault
Named by the club's breed standard as a fault: the animal can be shown but is penalized.
Disqualifying
The club's breed standard disqualifies an animal of this color or pattern.
Not recognized
The club does not accept this color or pattern for the breed.

Color changes

How a German Wirehaired Pointer's colors can change over its life.

  • Blackchanges toRust

    Coat · With body condition · can change back

  • Blackchanges toGray

    Coat · Progressive

  • Blackchanges toBrown

    Coat · In the sun · can change back

  • Whitechanges toRoan

    Coat · With age · from 2 weeks

  • Blackchanges toSnow nose

    Nose · With the season · can change back

  • Blackchanges toPink

    Nose · With the season · can change back

Published standards