Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppies

About the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was created in the late nineteenth century by a Dutch breeder working in France, who set out to build a slow, thorough, close working gundog for rough cover and cold water. This is a medium, strongly built pointer with a harsh weatherproof outer coat over a soft insulating undercoat, plus heavy eyebrows and a moustache. Temperament is unusually biddable for a hunting breed: affectionate, keen to stay near their handler, and steady rather than frantic once they are working.

This dog needs a great deal of daily work, physical and mental both, and they do badly kennelled or left out of family life. Grooming is a weekly brush or comb, occasional trimming around the feet and ears, and periodic hand stripping to bring new coat through. The drop ears need cleaning and the hair in the ear canal plucking. They suit an active household that will include them in everything. Those shaggy looks come with a dog that demands a lot of attention every day, so be ready to give plenty.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon 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 medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. 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 by an OFA or PennHIP hip evaluation of breeding stock
• Elbow dysplasia, screened by an elbow evaluation
• Eye disease, picked up by an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Heart disease, screened by a cardiac exam on breeding stock
• Hypothyroidism, detected by a thyroid blood panel
• Ear infections in the drop ears, found on regular ear checks and cleaning

Your Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 15.9 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 medium 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 medium breeds

More on the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Previous: Wire Fox Terrier · Next: Wirehaired Vizsla

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 Wirehaired Pointing Griffon breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/wirehaired-pointing-griffon/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: CarolPtak, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.