The German Wirehaired Pointer is a hunting dog. This is a griffon type of breed developed in the 19th century, in Germany, and was trained to track birds. The griffon is a hunting dog characterized by rough or wired hair. Its duties have not changed a lot since the beginnings, it is still hunting, but it can also be a wonderful house dog.
The German Wirehaired Pointer is a medium-sized dog with a muscled body. It is rather long than tall and sturdily built. Its charm is given by its distinctive ruffled look that is not only unusual, but also practical. The coat is about 1 or 2 inches long and protects it against brambles or climate changes. The undercoat changes during seasons by becoming thick in winter and thin in summer. The outer coat is more dense and harsh on the shoulders and around the tail.
However, this wiry coat maintains the outline of the dog. The colors of the coat are usually liver, white ticked or black and white ticked. The tail is short and nicely coated. It has webbed feet that help it hunting really well on rainy days or even swim. Its head is long, with dark eyes and a humble look, its muzzle is massive and has that special furnishing which looks like a beard.
This hunter is extremely active and intelligent. It is always eager to please its master, which makes it a very loyal partner. It likes to have a lot a space and to be permanently occupied. This working dog can be very friendly if it is well trained, but tends to be rather distant with strangers. Anyway, one thing is for sure: this dog will always protect you and, once you integrate it into the family, it becomes very attached and devoted to you.
Make sure you offer it early training and enough physical exercise, because it can become hard to manage if it does not have the possibility of consuming its energy. These pointers are not suitable for an apartment life - they need a lot of space to run and hunt.. They require at least an hour a day of exercise or, if you have the possibility, of hunting. They are well behaved when they are doing their pointing job They do well as pets, but they must have access to the outdoors. They are well-mannered in the house as long as they get their daily exercises.
Because it has such a gentle temperament, this dog can live with anyone, especially children. It is very playful and attentive when properly trained, so it would not harm defenseless people.
Grooming is minimal - it needs only regular brushing. Generally, this is a healthy dog with no health concerns. It can live up to 14 years.
The German Wirehaired Pointer is a devoted friend and an intelligent partner, ideal for hunters and for active persons who want a tireless and obedient pet.
