The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

The Wire Haired Pointing Griffon is a dog that is known for his trustworthy nature and that fact that he is always willing and ready to please those that he loves…so if you want a good family pet then the Wire Haired Pointing Griffon is the one for you! It is not a choice that you will likely regret!

Even though house training can be hard sometimes with this dog, training in general is considered easy and enjoyable because of the intelligence of this breed…these are dogs that do well with even the most inexperienced owner and they also do well with a dog veteran.

They need their owners and they need lots of mental stimulation and ways to let their energy out or they will become destructive, barking animals and messy as well. These are dogs that will not do for the person that likes to have an impeccable household because these dogs have the reputation for being messy in the house.

Even though this dog has the reputation for being independent, it should be known that he is also sensitive and it's training should not be harsh, it should just be firm and consistent. Remember to always reward the dog with food, play or praise when he has done something the right way!

Start socialization from an early age because these dogs have been known to become timid and fearful if not raised properly; starting their socialization early, will result in a dog that is confident in himself and his owner. They do not do so well around small children, for some reason they prefer the older children that know how to properly treat them.

The Wire haired Griffon is a dog that loves to chase cats but other animals are perfectly safe around him. This is a good watchdog, not only with strangers, but any time when he gets the impression that something is not right. This is the type of dog that needs a patient owner that understands him and has the time to spend with him.

This is a dog that is considered to be medium to large and his build is one of an athlete. He is a sturdy dog that is not skinny or weak in appearance. As the name suggests, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon has a coat that is coarse to the touch and the color can be either chestnut or a color called chestnut roan. These are dogs that can weigh 44-60 pounds and reach a height of up to 24 inches. Like I said, medium to large dog.

These dogs do shed ... badly so people with allergies might not want to consider them. The coat does need to be brushed about once or twice a week, that includes cleaning his facial hair (it can get dirty!). Some owners even get their dog’s coat stripped but that is usually for show dogs, dogs that are only simple pets are usually just trimmed and sometimes clipped. It is a good idea to keep the ears dry and clean to prevent infections and other yucky stuff from happening that needs time and money to get rid of. One last thing that needs to be done in the general upkeep of the dog is the fact that the hair around his bottom needs to be trimmed to keep everything clean and neat (especially clean).

The Wirehaired Griffon has few health problems that need to be looked out for…in general they are healthy dogs that have a good life time of about 12-15 years. They are just healthy dogs…I guess the professional breeding community has not managed to limit the gene pool too much yet.

When looking for a puppy, look for a good breeder that cares about his animals, it means that the puppies and parents alike will be well socialized and the puppies would have been handled from the time of birth, along side that they should have health certificates and checkups; they should also have all their vaccines. Try to avoid puppy mills because those puppies are usually unhealthy and ill-kept, not to mention the fact that they usually have health problems. It pays to take your time and look for a puppy that will not disappoint you later on, it might take a little more money but it is worth it!