Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

friendly / devoted / trainable

Sporting Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

22-24 inches (male)

20-22 inches (female)

Weight

50-70 pounds (male)

35-50 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy

12-15 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family

Independent Lovey-Dovey
100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

Not Recommended Good With Children
100% 100%

A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
60% 60%

How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

No Shedding Hair Everywhere
60% 60%

How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

Monthly Daily
40% 40%

How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
60% 60%

How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded

Curly

Double

Hairless

Rough

Silky

Smooth

Wavy

Wiry

Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long

Medium

Short

How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
100% 100%

How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
80% 80%

How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
60% 60%

A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
80% 80%

How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

Self-Willed Eager to Please
100% 100%

How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

Couch Potato High Energy
100% 100%

The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

Only To Alert Very Vocal
60% 60%

How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
100% 100%

How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

Independent Lovey-Dovey
100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

Not Recommended Good With Children
100% 100%

A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
60% 60%

How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

No Shedding Hair Everywhere
60% 60%

How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

Monthly Daily
40% 40%

How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
60% 60%

How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded

Curly

Double

Hairless

Rough

Silky

Smooth

Wavy

Wiry

Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long

Medium

Short

How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
100% 100%

How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
80% 80%

How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
60% 60%

A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
80% 80%

How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

Self-Willed Eager to Please
100% 100%

How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

Couch Potato High Energy
100% 100%

The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

Only To Alert Very Vocal
60% 60%

How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
100% 100%

How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The hard-working Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, described as the “supreme gundog,” is distinguished by its coarse, low-shedding coat. Griffs are unbeatable on the field and devoted at home because they are outgoing, enthusiastic, and quick-witted. All-purpose, medium-sized griffs have a shoulder height of no more than 24 inches. They have a reputation for having a very rough, bristly coat that gives them a raw, untidy appearance. With brown markings, steel gray is the preferred color. Large, rounded eyes that sparkle with a keen intelligence are framed by a lush mustache and brows. Griffons are the epitome of an upright, hard-working sports dog, and their attractive appearance is not the consequence of fussy grooming but rather of a noble and unaffected toughness.

Wirehaired-Pointing-Griffon-wading-in-water

What To Expect When Caring For a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

The Griffon has certain health and genetic screening requirements. Despite Griffon's relatively low incidence of hip dysplasia, dams, and sires should still obtain either an OFA or PennHIP clearance. Additionally, some breeders get thyroid, thyroid, elbow, and eye clearances.

Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:

Hip Evaluation
Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Elbow Evaluation

Grooming

The Griffon coat has a hard outer coat and a soft, insulating undercoat, and it sheds very little. Weekly brushing or combing, routine nail and tooth brushing, as well as irregular trimming around the paws and ears, are all necessary for this breed. Periodically hand-stripping some coats may be necessary to promote the growth of new coat. A Griffon can get ear infections, like any dogs with drop ears, thus routine cleaning and hair removal from the ear canals is advised.

Exercise

Griffons are gregarious creatures that need a lot of care, continuous training, patience, and time. Griffons are not suitable as permanent kennel dogs. As pups, they are very energetic, and as adults, they are highly clever, gregarious, and physically robust. They need significant daily mental and physical challenges to avoid becoming bored, unhappy, or even destructive. Griffons prefer homes where the residents are busy and involve the dog in their everyday activities. A Griffon can be an incredibly delightful and easy-to-live-with companion if their daily mental, emotional, and physical requirements are addressed.

Training

Griffons are gregarious creatures that need a lot of care, continuous training, patience, and time. Griffons are not suitable as permanent kennel dogs. As pups, they are very energetic, and as adults, they are highly clever, gregarious, and physically robust. They need significant daily mental and physical challenges to avoid becoming bored, unhappy, or even destructive. Griffons prefer homes where the residents are busy and involve the dog in their everyday activities. A Griffon can be an incredibly delightful and easy-to-live-with companion if their daily mental, emotional, and physical requirements are addressed.

Nutrition

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon should thrive on premium dog food, whether it is made commercially or at home under the guidance and consent of your veterinarian. Any diet should be suitable for the age of the dog, whether it is a puppy, adult, or senior. Watch your dog's calorie intake and weight level because certain dogs are prone to obesity. Treats can be a valuable training tool, but offering them in excess might lead to obesity. Discover which foods fit the bill for canine consumption and which don't. If you have any worries about your dog's weight or diet, consult your veterinarian. Fresh water that is clean should always be accessible.

History

European hunters were preoccupied with producing hunting dogs with a wide range of skills in the 1800s. Eduard Korthals, a Dutchman and the wealthy banker’s son, was one of them. Korthals created a dog with webbed toes for swimming that could work as a pointer on dry land and an effective water retriever through the careful mating of several breeds. In the course of his employment in Germany and then France, Korthals improved his breed. Partisans have disagreed since Korthals’ time as to whether Griffs are truly a Dutch or a French breed.