Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Overview

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a versatile continental gundog developed in the late nineteenth century by Dutch sportsman Eduard Karel Korthals. It stands 20 to 24 inches at the shoulder and weighs 35 to 70 pounds. The breed is a moderate-paced pointing and retrieving dog with a shaggy weather-resistant coat, designed to work close to the gun across marshes, plains, and forests.

The Griffon is friendly, cooperative, and steady. Owners describe it as one of the easier gundogs to live with: sociable at home, willing in the field, and less driven than the German Wirehaired Pointer. It's often described in America by its French nickname 'supreme gundog' and remains popular among hunters who want a versatile close-working dog.

History & origin

Eduard Karel Korthals, a Dutch national living in France and later Germany, began the breed program in the 1870s. He wanted a versatile gundog that hunted close to the gun, pointed reliably, retrieved from land and water, and could work all day through rough cover. His foundation stock included various European griffons, Barbets, spaniels, setters, and continental pointers.

Korthals kept meticulous records and worked with a small syndicate of fellow enthusiasts. He named his foundation pair Mouche and Trouvere, and the breed's early stud book is called the Korthals Kennel Book. The breed was recognized in France, Germany, and the Netherlands in the 1880s and 1890s, and the AKC granted recognition in 1887, one of the earliest continental breeds to gain AKC status.

The FCI classifies the breed under its French name, and France is the primary country of origin for FCI purposes. The Netherlands, France, Germany, and the United States all maintain active Griffon populations. In North America the breed has grown steadily since the 1980s as an accessible versatile gundog for weekend hunters.

Appearance

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon stands 22 to 24 inches at the shoulder for males and 20 to 22 for females, weighing 35 to 70 pounds. Build is squarely proportioned, sturdy, and slightly rustic. The head is long with a moderately long muzzle, a slight stop, and heavy eyebrows. Ears are medium-length and hang against the head.

Coat is harsh, wiry, and tousled with a dense soft undercoat. Medium length, about 2 to 3 inches on the body. A pronounced beard, mustache, and heavy eyebrows give the breed its signature disheveled expression. Colors include steel gray with brown markings, chestnut brown, roan, and white and brown. Solid brown is permitted but less preferred. Movement is smooth and workmanlike rather than showy.

Temperament

The Griffon is friendly, biddable, and cooperative. It bonds hard with its family and is generally social with strangers. With other dogs it's usually excellent. Prey drive is high but focused rather than frantic. The breed points naturally and retrieves willingly.

The Griffon is more moderate than many gundogs: less driven than the GWP, less exuberant than the Vizsla, less intense than the English Setter. It's often called 'the thinking man's gundog' because it works close and adjusts to handler cues rather than ranging wide. Home temperament is calm and family-oriented.

Living with one

The Griffon suits active households with a securely fenced yard. Apartments are workable for calm adults if the daily exercise schedule is honored. Multi-dog and multi-pet households usually work well because of the breed's sociable temperament.

Climate tolerance is broad. The double wire coat handles cold and wet weather comfortably. The Griffon works ice-water retrieves and shrugs off rain, snow, and mud. In hot climates the breed manages with shade and morning-evening exercise, though the coat traps heat somewhat.

Exercise needs are moderate to high. A young adult Griffon wants an hour or more of daily activity plus mental work. The breed enjoys hunting, hiking, tracking, swimming, and field trials. Puppies should build stamina gradually. Older Griffons stay active but at reduced intensity.

Alone-time tolerance is fair. Griffons are family-oriented but generally manage a working day if crate-trained. The breed is less prone to separation anxiety than more intense gundogs. Multi-pet households often work well.

Noise level is low to moderate. Griffons alarm-bark and vocalize when excited but aren't chronic barkers. The breed is quieter than most versatile pointers and suits close-neighbor living reasonably well.

Training & exercise

The Griffon is intelligent, food-motivated, and eager to please. Training should be upbeat, consistent, and reward-based. The breed learns quickly and generalizes well. Harsh corrections aren't needed and often backfire. Reward-forward methods produce reliable partners.

Socialization is usually easy given the breed's inherent friendliness. Puppy classes, calm dog friends, and exposure to varied environments through the first four months set the foundation. Griffons meet the world with tail up and interested.

The classic training mistake is under-exercising and expecting an easy dog. Griffons are versatile gundogs and need real work to stay balanced. Under-exercised dogs become chewy and vocal. Well-exercised dogs are calm and cooperative. The breed excels at hunt tests, field trials, tracking, and rally.

Grooming & care

The wiry coat needs weekly brushing and hand-stripping two or three times a year to maintain correct texture. Clipping softens the coat and dulls color. Beard and mustache need regular wiping. Baths every six to eight weeks are typical.

Ears need weekly checking due to drop conformation and hunting exposure. Nails grow fast and need trimming every two to three weeks. Dental care is standard. Grooming demand is moderate and manageable for owners committed to hand-stripping.

Health & lifespan

Lifespan is typically 12 to 15 years, good for a medium working breed. The Griffon is generally hardy and benefits from Korthals's careful early selection.

Hip dysplasia occurs at rates typical for the size. Elbow dysplasia appears at low rates. Progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts appear occasionally. Ear infections are common due to drop ears and hunting exposure.

Bloat and gastric torsion appear at rates typical for deep-chested breeds. Hypothyroidism occurs occasionally. The American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association maintains health databases and reputable breeders share screening results. Prospective owners should ask about hips, elbows, and eye clearances in the immediate pedigree.

With kids & pets

Wirehaired Pointing Griffons raised in a family are patient, gentle, and affectionate with children of all ages. The breed's steady temperament and moderate energy suit family life well, and the Griffon is one of the more child-friendly gundogs.

First-time owner note

A workable first breed for an active household ready to commit to daily exercise and moderate grooming. Best matched with owners who want a versatile gundog that's easier to live with than many drive-heavy alternatives.

Fun facts

• Eduard Karel Korthals's foundation dog was named Mouche, meaning fly in French, a nod to her small size and quick movement.
• The Griffon works close to the gun by design, in contrast with wider-ranging setters and pointers, making it a favorite of walk-up hunters.
• The breed is sometimes called the supreme gundog by North American enthusiasts because of its versatility across point, retrieve, and water work.
• The Griffon is one of the earliest continental pointing breeds recognized by the AKC, accepted in 1887 alongside the English breeds.

Famous & in culture

• The Griffon appears in nineteenth-century French sporting art depicting Korthals's breed program and early continental hunting scenes.
• American writer Rick Bass has written extensively about hunting behind Wirehaired Pointing Griffons in Montana, driving a modest surge in American interest.