German Wirehaired Pointer puppies

About the German Wirehaired Pointer

The German Wirehaired Pointer was assembled in Germany in the late nineteenth century from pointer, griffon and hound stock, with one goal in mind: a single dog that could point, track and retrieve on land and in water. The result is a leggy, deep chested gundog in a harsh wiry jacket, with a blunt beard and heavy eyebrows that shrug off thorns and cold water. At home they are affectionate and steady with their own people, and typically watchful and reserved with visitors.

This is a very high energy breed that wants a job rather than a stroll. Plan on serious daily work plus training, scentwork or field sport to occupy the mind, or expect a bored and destructive dog. The coat is the easy part: a weekly comb and slicker brush, with hand stripping now and again. They rate middling with children, so supervise and socialise early. Give that hunting drive an outlet, even if all you wanted was a handsome family pet.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a German Wirehaired Pointer puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, screened under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme
• Elbow dysplasia, screened under the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme
• von Willebrand disease type 2 (vWD2), detectable by DNA test
• Inherited eye disease, screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme
• Hypothyroidism, detected by a blood test of thyroid hormone levels

Your German Wirehaired Pointer puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a German Wirehaired Pointer.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 22.7 to 31.8 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 31.8 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other large breeds

More on the German Wirehaired Pointer

Previous: German Spitz · Next: Giant Schnauzer

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from German Wirehaired Pointer breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/german-wirehaired-pointer/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: JainaKo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.