Truth be told, you’d be hard pressed to find any “kind” of pointer that we here at IndulgeYourPet aren’t a huge fan of. After all, pointers have basically been bred to be able to follow directions and love the outdoors!
And if you’re…
A dog lover, these are two great traits to have in any dog, right? Plus, as an added bonus with the German Wirehaired Pointer, you’re also going to get a dog that has an awesome mustache too boot!
But just because…
We love these dogs doesn’t mean that they’re going to be the “best” fit for you. This is why we wanted to take a moment and discuss what it might be like to actually own a German Wirehaired Pointer so that if you’re ever given the opportunity to own one, you’ll know if it’s going to be a good fit.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
German Wirehaired Pointer Fast Facts
Country of Origin: Germany
Original Purpose: General hunting and watch dog
Height: 20 to 26 inches tall
Weight: 50 to 70 pounds
Lifespan: 12-14 years
Dog Breed Classification: Sporting group
Origin of the German Wirehaired Pointer
The German Wirehaired Pointer comes from a long lineage of dogs that date way back to the early 16th and 17th century when hunting by the noble elite was very popular.
During this time…
“Pointers” were used in sport to help locate and flush out prey into either traps or nets for the hunters. Over time, with the advent of more efficient weaponry, these dogs slowly became more specialized allowing hunters to use these dogs to hunt with guns.
This also opened…
Up the sport of hunting to commoners which is when these “gundogs” popularity really began to soar. This is also when hunters/breeders began to look for a pointer dog that would be able to function more as a multi-tasker capable of hunting a wide assortment of prey rather than just one particular animal.
And this is why…
They created the German Wirehaired Pointer. Because these guys can basically perform any task one would expect a hunting breed to do including pointing out and tracking prey for his master as well as retrieve any prey as well – on land or water.
Called the Deutsch Drahthaar…
In Germany, the German Wirehaired Pointer was most likely developed by crossing the German Shorthair, Griffon, Pudelpointer, Polish Water dog along with other breeds available during the early 1800’s, ultimately allowing for a unique breed to emerge. One that would eventually earn official status in Germany in 1870.
And while…
It did take a bit of time for the Deutsch Drahthaar or the German Wirehairs to be recognized in the United States. They were eventually recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1959 approximately 40 years after they were first brought to the United States.
Where he…
Continues to remain a very popular breed in America as a hunting and field trial dog breed.
Physical Characteristics of the German WireHair
The German Wirehair Pointer is a mid-sized hunting dog with a quite noticeable beard, bushy whiskers and thick eyebrows.
This along with…
Their thick coat is one of the reasons why these dogs are so popular among hunters. You see, these guys are built to be able to withstand just about any kind of weather condition. And they’re not afraid to get wet!
This is mainly because…
These guys are naturally very athletic with their rectangular body and wiry coat which is water-repellent and dries up quickly after getting wet in the rain or during a bath.
Their coats can…
Also come in various colors but are usually white and liver in color. Some pointer dogs have roan or spotted coats as well.
Comparison breeds
German Wirehairs can be compared with spaniels and terriers such as Pointing Griffon, Curly-Coated Retriever, Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Flat-Coated Retriever, German Shorthaired Pointer and the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
He is a close cousin of the German Shorthaired Pointer. They are two of the most popular dog breeds in Germany developed from crossing the Pointer, Standard Poodle and the Foxhound.
Temperament and Personality of the German Wirehair Pointer
German Wirehair Pointers are very smart, intelligent dogs with a mind of their own. But if there is one thing they hate the most, it is being left alone by themselves and not getting attention from their human family.
In cases like these…
You can pretty much expect that your German Wirehaired Pointer will get noisy and destructive, mostly out of boredom and loneliness. Now we don’t want to suggest that every time you leave the home for a few hours your Wirehaired is going to go crazy, because that simply isn’t the case.
However…
If you a someone who will be leaving the home all day for 8 to 10 hours, then this is not the dog you’re going to want to purchase or pick up from a rescue center. These dogs are much happier in the company of humans and/or other dogs which is why we generally only recommend this breed to a multi-dog family that won’t leave him or her alone for too long.
And if you…
Haven’t already guessed, these guys are very active dogs. Active dogs that will require plenty of exercise and outdoor activity. This makes them perfect for a rural or suburban setting, and not so much for city life. If you have a large backyard at your property, then you may consider bringing the Pointer Dog home.
He is very loyal, but jealous and protective….
German Wirehaired Pointers are a very affectionate breed that dotes on his human family. He wants to make you happy and is always up to something. He wants to hang out with you and the other members of the family as much as possible.
They also get…
Very attached to his family and hence can suffer from separation anxiety (think noisy and destructive). He is very protective of his family and can get aggressive or suspicious of strangers.
That’s why…
Training and socialization of this dog should begin as early as possible. If you want to take him out hunting, then it is important to train him in different techniques such as agility, tracking and retrieving. He is a natural hunter and aces all field trials.
What about Health Problems?
The German Wirehaired Pointer is a perfectly healthy dog for the most part. German Wirehair Dogs have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.
They could, however, suffer from common canine disorders such as:
- Hip dysplasia,
- Entropion,
- Follicular dysplasia,
- A blood clotting disorder called as Von Willebrand’s disease
- And arthritis.
Older GWPs can also…
Suffer from eye problems such as cataract and require surgery. The cost of the treatment could vary from $500 to $7,500, depending on the severity of the ailment.
And while this…
May all seem like a lot, the truth is, this is somewhat par for the course any time you decide to adopt a purebred animal.
This is also why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet also recommend that any new pet owner take a moment and see what it might cost for you to purchase a pet insurance policy for your new animal.
Now will a pet insurance policy be right for everyone?
No, probably not. But until you fully understand what these policies “will” and “won’t” cover and how much these pet insurance policies cost, how will you know if one might be right for you?
For more information on who we feel currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies out there, we would encourage you to check out our Best Pet Insurance Policies article.
hey I was just wondering where you got this information from because its a bit incorrect . I am an owner of 3 wirehair pointers and i have them for about 5 years this information is just of key you know what i mean? i am happy to help you update it just email me if you want.
love, me
Mackenzie,
We tried to grab the best information about each breed from a variety of different sources. That said however, you really can’t ever know a breed completely until you have had the pleasure of actually owning one for a period of time. So with that said, please feel free to add any additional comments/corrections that you may have for us and we’ll gladly include them in our comments section.
Thanks,
IndulgeYourPet.