Mary Allen
The German Wirehaired Pointer’s coat structure is so hard and dense that it protects the dog from minor injuries, e.g. from thorns or twigs. Find out everything about the behavior, character, activity and exercise needs, training, and care of the German Wirehaired Pointer dog breed in the profile.
The German Wirehaired Pointer is a variant of the German wire-haired pointer that was bred in the late 19th century. It was created by crossing the German Stichelhaar, Griffon Korthals, German Shorthaired Pointer, and Pudelpointer breeds. Behind this idea was Sigismund Freiherr von Zedlitz und Neukirchen, who endeavored to combine the best (hunting) characteristics of these dogs in one animal.
General Appearance
The breed standard describes the German Wirehaired Pointer as having a “noble appearance”: the dog has a rather square body with a particularly broad chest. The muscular body is covered with wiry and water-repellent hairs about 2 to 4 cm long. The dense, water-repellent undercoat in the brown or black mold is also characteristic. The Deutsch-Drahthaar is bred in three colors: the original solid brown, the brown roan, and the black roan. The eye color should be as dark as possible.
Behavior and temperament
Smart and even-tempered, the Wirehaired Pointer is loyal to its owners. As lively as he is in the field, at home, he is calm personified – provided he is not constantly under-challenged by his people, because this can quickly turn him into a problem dog. The child-friendliness of this dog is legendary. He feels really comfortable in a large “pack” and therefore needs a home with family connections. He’s also a very alert dog who can be a bit stubborn at times and shy around strangers.
Need for employment and physical activity
The purpose of the Deutsch-Drahthaar is to go about his daily work as a hunting dog. This dog has excellent aptitudes for all work in the field, in the forest, and in the water – and he also wants to work. But this activity is not enough, he also needs a lot of exercises. He finds a combination of both in the hands of a hunter, which is why many breeders only give their animals to this professional group. As an apartment dog without a “job”, he would wither away and become unhappy very quickly. If you don’t have the will or the time to be active with this dog for several hours a day, it is better to choose another breed.
Upbringing
The German Wirehaired Pointer is relatively easy to train because he learns quickly and with pleasure. In addition, he has a balanced and robust character and doesn’t take offense to his owner so easily. However, he is not a beginner’s dog: Because of his stubbornness and his high level of intelligence, he needs consistent leadership and only belongs in the hands of people who already have experience with hunting dogs.
Maintenance
Due to the robust coat of hair, minimal grooming is required for this dog.
Disease Susceptibility / Common Diseases
The German Wirehaired Pointer is a particularly robust breed in terms of health. There are no known abnormalities or common health problems in this dog.
Did you know?
The German Wirehaired Pointer’s coat structure is so hard and dense that it protects the dog from minor injuries, e.g. from thorns or twigs.