All About
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Griffons need at least one hour of vigorous exercise every day in order to maintain health, happiness and an even temperament. A bored Griffon is a destructive Griffon. They enjoy hunting and are able to work long hours in the field in any terrain or weather. They are also adept swimmers and make excellent water retrievers.

At home, Griffons like to romp and play in the yard and also enjoy long walks, hikes and jogs. If you have a pool, expect your Griffon to want to take a dip now and then, especially if there is a ball or stick in the water that he can retrieve.

Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are country dogs who need the outdoors and open spaces. The city can be too overwhelming for him, and he does not do well cooped up in a small apartment.

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

The minimally shedding Griffon coat has a harsh outer coat with a soft, insulating undercoat. The breed requires weekly brushing or combing, regular nail trimming, and tooth brushing as well as occasional trimming around the feet and ears. Some coats may need to be hand-stripped periodically to encourage growth of new coat. Like all dogs with drop ears, a Griffon can develop ear infections, so regular cleaning and plucking of ear-canal hair is recommended.

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is an intelligent breed, a quick learner who's eager to please. It's important to start training early, especially if you want to train her as a gundog. Socialization should also start as soon as vaccinations are complete, since Griffons — though not generally aggressive — can sometimes be high-strung or nervous around new people, dogs, and situations.Although Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are hardy enough to live in kennels, they do much better living indoors with their families. They thrive when they're working closely with people. They also do better in the country where there's room to run, but they can adapt to city living if they have a fenced yard. They're not recommended for apartments.The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon needs regular exercise, a minimum of 20 minutes of free play every day. She does better when she's exercised off-lead in a yard; if you walk her on a leash, then you'll need to spend more time, since she can't receive the same workout as when she's running loose. Like many sporting breeds, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon has a lot of energy but can be fairly calm when inside the house.

Major concerns: none
Minor concerns: CHD, otitis externa, entropion, ectropion
Occasionally seen: none
Suggested tests: (hip), (eye)
Life span: 12-14 years

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a fairly young breed. Its development is attributed to one E.K. Korthals, a Dutchman who lived in France and was interested in creating the ideal gundog. There's no clear evidence of what breeds he used, but some believe that he crossed the Otterhound and various Setters and Spaniels. It's also probable that a Pointer was part of the mix.Starting his work in 1874, he eventually produced three dogs — Moustache I, Querida, and Lina — who in turn produced the best lines in the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon breed.Korthals was soon able to win over many people to his breed's ability to point and retrieve. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon gained popularity quickly and the breed was first exhibited in a show early in its history. In 1887, the first Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was registered in the United States.