Wirehaired Pointing Griffon: Dog Breed Info, Pictures, Traits & Care

Are you looking for a dream hunting companion and dog that never wants to stop moving? While it’s certainly not the dream dog for everyone, if you need a pet that can keep up with all your activities, then the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon might be just what you’re looking for. They’re always on the move, are incredibly smart and loving, and if you have a job for them to do, even better!

Breed Overview

Few dogs excel in the field quite like a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. They have tons of energy that you’ll never find the bottom of, they have even more love to give. Plus, their unique physical characteristics mean they can tackle just about any terrain.

If you live a quiet life at home, they’re not the dog for you, but if you are looking for another reason to get out and into the woods or a field, they’re a match made in heaven.

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Characteristics

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Puppies

If you’re in the city, you might find it next to impossible to find a reputable Wirehaired Pointing Griffon breeder, but venture a bit farther out into the country and a breeder is likely closer than you think.

You’ll often find these breeders out in the country and paired with trainers, as most people who want these dogs want them to hunt. Just ensure you’re supporting a reputable breeder and not a puppy mill; that way, you support the breed’s welfare while getting a healthy hunting companion.

We highly recommend reaching out to references to check in on both the dog’s health and their hunting prowess. Finally, get a health guarantee from the breeder to help mitigate any future health problems they might have.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon 🧠

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is an extremely active dog with intense exercise requirements and loves running through the woods or the field. If you meet these exercise needs, they’re incredibly loyal, but if you don’t, they can be a bit temperamental.

Overall, they’re eager to please their owners, so with proper training, you can get these pups to complete a wide range of tasks and tricks. They’re not always the best for first-time pet owners, but this is mostly because of their high-energy tendencies and somewhat independent natures. Ensure you have plenty of space and time for these dogs and they’ll make amazing companions; otherwise, they can be a bit troublesome.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏠

Yes, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are awesome family dogs. They generally get along with kids of all ages and sizes. The more time everyone wants to spend with these dogs, the better, and if everyone is willing to get outside with them, they’ll be as happy as can be.

The only potential drawback is that these dogs have tons of energy, and often, with smaller children, you don’t have quite as much time to get outside or dedicate to training and socializing them. They require time outdoors to run around and burn off excess energy, so ensure you’re planning for some family outings and walks, at the bare minimum, if you’re getting one.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽 

While the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is almost always great with families, we can’t say the same thing about other dogs or pets. They don’t always get along the best with other dogs, and their hunting instincts can create problems with other smaller pets, like cats.

Proper socialization, especially early on, can help, but we highly recommend making introductions before committing to bringing one of these dogs home.

Things to Know When Owning a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

These dogs can vary quite a bit in size, so it’s no surprise that their dietary requirements can vary quite a bit too. Most often, these dogs will require anywhere from 2 to 2.5 cups of high-quality kibble per day. However, this can vary depending on the individual dog’s size, lifestyle, breed, and existing health conditions. It’s always best to talk to your vet about the type of food they’d recommend for your pet specifically.

Exercise 🐕

These dogs have a whole lot of energy, so you’ll need to devote quite a bit of time to getting them out and about. We highly recommend having a large fenced-in yard, ideally an acre or more for them to run around.

Even with all this extra space, they’ll need daily walks or other physically stimulating activities, like hunting. Overall, they need a minimum of 1 hour of high-impact exercise per day. If you can’t meet their exercise needs, it can quickly turn into destructive boredom behaviors, so do your absolute best to get them out as much as possible. If that doesn’t suit your lifestyle, a different breed might be a better fit.

Training 🦮

This breed often gets a bad reputation as tough to train, but that’s not always the case. If you’re meeting their daily exercise needs, know they’re eager to please and want to learn everything you throw their way, even if they can be a bit stubborn from time to time—as is true with many other dog breeds.

They only need one or two training sessions a day, which shouldn’t last more than 15 minutes. Consistency is key; stick solely with positive reinforcement and find some of their favorite treats to lock in their attention during these sessions.

Grooming ✂️

While the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon might look like a dog with extreme grooming requirements, that’s not the case. As long as you brush their coat out two to three times a week, you shouldn’t run into any problems, and they don’t shed a ton either.

In addition to these grooming requirements, we recommend brushing their teeth daily to keep up with their oral hygiene. You should also keep an eye on their nails, but if you’re meeting their daily exercise requirements, you shouldn’t need to worry about trimming them very often. However, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on them regardless.

• You might also be interested in: Best Dog Wipes

Health and Conditions ❤️

Overall, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon has relatively few common genetic conditions you need to look out for. Getting your dog from a reputable breeder can also help reduce the risk of some health conditions, as can frequent checkups at the vet.

Male vs. Female

Male and female Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are incredibly similar in most ways, but one area where they’re very different is their size. Males can stand up to 4 inches taller than females, but what’s even more extreme with the size difference is their weight. Large males can weigh twice as much as smaller females, taking you from a smaller mid-sized dog to a larger-sized dog.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

1. The Griffon’s Past Goes Back to Ancient Greece

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a newer breed, but the original Griffon dates back more than 2,500 years. That’s just when the Griffon first made it into recorded written history, so it’s likely the Griffon dates back much further than that.

2. They Excel in Marsh Hunting

Technically, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon excels in all types of hunting terrains, but their double coat makes them especially adept at marsh hunting. Their undercoat keeps their skin as dry as possible, while their thick outer coat helps protect them from abrasions. It’s the perfect marsh-hunting combo!

3. Grace Kelly’s Husband Had a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Not too many famous personalities opted for a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon because of their intense exercise needs, but the most popular owner might be the husband of Grace Kelly, Prince Rainier III of Monaco. His pup was named Odin, who he owned until the time of his death.

Final Thoughts

There’s no doubt that the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon isn’t well suited to the quiet home life, but if you’re an outdoorsy person who wants a dog that can keep up with their active lifestyle, they might be just what you’re looking for. They’re amazing hunting dogs that are always on the go, and if that sounds like your dream companion, you might want to check one out.

See also:

• Norwegian Elkhound
• English Setter

Featured Image Credit: Brook Robinson, Shutterstock