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Need to Know
- Dog suitable for owners with some experience
- Extra training required
- Generally healthy breed
- Enjoys vigorous walks
- Large dog
- Some drool
- Requires frequent grooming
- Quiet dog
- Welcomes everyone happily
- Generally friendly with other dogs
- Gets along with other pets with training
- Great family dog
- Needs a large yard, either in suburban or rural areas
- Can be left alone occasionally with training
- AKC Registered Breed
Personality
The German Wirehaired Pointer is a rugged sporting dog and a friendly companion. These pups have the energy to spare and need their daily dose of adventure to keep from turning your house into their playground. While they’re usually pretty responsive, some German Wirehaired Pointer dogs might have a bit of a stubborn streak. They’ve retained their guarding instincts so that they might be a little aloof or protective around strangers and unfamiliar dogs.
The German Wirehaired Pointer’s key ancestor, the Pudelpointer—a mix of German Pudel and Pointer—was crossed with the German Shorthaired Pointer, Griffon, Stichelhaar, and Polish Water Dog to create a dog that could withstand the brambles and brush and could do a variety of jobs, including serving as a companion dog. Officially recognized in Germany in the 1920s, the German Wirehaired Pointer arrived in the U.S. around the same time, gaining recognition in 1959. It remains the most popular in its native country.
The ideal owner of a German Wirehaired Pointer (GWP) is tough, active, and loves exploring nature. The German Wirehaired Pointer breed thrives with an owner who enjoys full days of outdoor activities and needs a dog that can keep up with their stamina and energy.
Regular exercise is necessary for the GWP breed, ideally combining it with hiking or opportunities to run and explore outdoors.
This medium to large, active dog thrives outdoors, no matter the weather. Best suited for a rural or suburban home with a spacious, secure garden and access to plenty of walking trails, the German Wirehaired Pointer dog breed loves to explore.
The German Wirehaired Pointer has a thick undercoat and a rough top coat that can grow over 4 cm long. Grooming involves brushing the coat a couple of times a week and stripping out dead hair at least bi-annually or more often if needed. Additionally, check between the paw pads daily for debris and clean the ears several times a week to keep this energetic pup in tip-top shape!
The German Wirehaired Pointer trains well if you understand their motivations and consistently show them that working with you is rewarding. Training should be an ongoing process rather than occasional sessions. Focus primarily on recall and retrieval, as these dogs are independent thinkers bred to retrieve and keep items.
The German Wirehaired Pointer is an excellent match for an active family with older children who love long walks and dog training as a hobby.
The cost of a German Wirehaired Pointer from a breeder is significantly more than the cost of adopting one from a local shelter or rescue. The adoption fee usually covers additional items such as spaying or neutering, vaccines, and microchipping.
Learn more about feeding and caring for your German Wirehaired Pointer on Purina.
Did You Know?
- The German Wirehaired Pointer dog is known for its expressive face, bushy eyebrows, and beard that gives them a distinctive and knowing look. This facial fuzz adds to their unique charm.
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