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Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Outgoing, eager, and quick-witted, Griffs are known for the harsh, low-shedding coat, incomparable in the field and loving at home.

Overall Status

Height 20 to 24 inches at the shoulder
Temperament Friendly, Devoted, Trainable
Weight 45 to 70 pounds
Life Expectancy 12 to 14 years
Coat Color Brown, Gray, White
Barking Level Medium

Quick Factors

Playfulness
Dog Friendly
Exercise Need
Grooming Needs
Strangers Friendly
Family Affectionate
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Daily Care

Grooming Tips Exercise Tips Feeding Tips Health Tips Trainability

Grooming the WPG isn’t difficult. His coat sheds a little throughout the year. It’s water-repellent and dries quickly after a bath or other wetting. Brush it weekly to remove dirt. You’ll also need to pluck out dead hairs, called “stripping” or “rolling” the coat. It’s easy to learn to roll the coat, and it’s not painful for the dog.

The Griff doesn’t need frequent baths; in fact, they’re probably counterproductive. It is a good idea, though, to rinse him thoroughly with fresh water to remove chemicals, bacteria, or salt any time he has been in a chlorinated pool, an algae-filled pond or lake, or the ocean.

The rest is basic care. Trim the nails as needed, usually every week or two. Brush the teeth frequently with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath. Keep the ears clean and dry to help ward off infections, especially if the dog goes swimming.

History

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was developed sometime around 1870 by a Dutch breeder named Eduard Korthals. An enthusiastic hunter, his goal was to breed a dog that would hunt in all kinds of terrain.

Korthals mixed German Griffons, French and German Pointers, Spaniels,Barbetsand a Setter. He developed the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon in his breeding program in less than 20 years, writing a standard, and in 1916 formed the Griffon Club of America.

The dogs excel in small-game hunting, such as hare and quail; they are eager hunters with fine noses. That same year he showed sixteen Wirehaired Pointing Griffons at the Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show in New York.

In the 1980s a select few breeders decided to mix the Cesky Fousek into the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon lines. This caused an uproar and the American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association was formed with the goal of preserving the purity of the original breed. The American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association is the AKC parent club for the WPG. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was recognized by the AKC in 1887.

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