Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. Nikki Moustaki
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deep roots in the hunting dogs of Europe. As a result, the hunting instinct is very dominant in these dogs, without exception. Puppies will even begin pointing game at seven weeks old. Most people who own and breed these dogs will say, emphatically, that this dog is not a pet. This is not to say that the Griff isn’t a great companion because he is indeed a sensitive family dog, able to read moods and sprawl happily at his owners’ feet at the end of a day of rigorous hunting or running.
The Griff’s hunting style is more “European,” being a close-ranging hunter, bred to hunt with a human on foot, not on horseback. How far WPGs range depends on the type of cover and terrain, and they generally hunt in front of their human companion, though they will fall behind if the hunter passes a tightly sitting bird. Because they range close, voice commands and hand signals are ideal for WPGs.
Though they are known to be close-ranging hunters, some individuals have their own idea of how they should behave in the field. Bill Jensen, an AWPGA member and WPG breeder, once had a dog with an unusual hunting style. “I had one dog that was a ‘run-off,’” said Jensen. “He was absolutely self-driven. He wasn’t a team player. He was a French import and a wild, crazy dog—a very talented dog—but that one characteristic was frustrating. I never used him for breeding.”
With a wiry coat to protect him in the field, the WPG is well suited to working in many types of terrain.
The versatile Griff can be an excellent retriever in water and on land if properly trained.
Breeders are adamant that the WPG does not end up in “pet-only” homes. Not only does that situation eliminate dogs from the preciously guarded breeding pool in the US, it also prevents the dogs from doing what they were created for—hunting. The dog comes alive when he’s hunting. The moment the owner puts on his hunting vest, the dog knows that they are going out into the field.
There are a few Griffs each year that are destined for pet homes, usually those dogs that aren’t “acceptable” in terms of temperament and conformation. These dogs will be spayed or neutered and sold at a lesser price. It’s still important, however, that the dog be allowed to exercise himself by running as if on a hunt; according to WPG breeders and owners, jogging, walking or bicycling the dog around will not do. For the most part, even those dogs with minor conformational faults are still generally sold to hunting families and turn out to be remarkable hunters.
These are not city-dwelling dogs, though they are quite adaptable. They are more suited for country living where wide open spaces afford them the ability to dash around. The breed’s interest in the outdoors will not fade just because its owners do not hunt or hunt only occasionally.
Many hunters compete in AKC hunt tests where the WPGs excel over such dogs as the English Setter, German Shorthaired Pointer and Pointer. The WPGs are often the envy of the owners of other breeds. Marlow remembers fondly the first hunt test he went to with a WPG. “On the second day of the test I came up to the line and some of the fellows who didn’t know the dog with me said, ‘The guy’s got a Poodle! Look at that!’ The other guy turned to the first guy and said, ‘I saw this dog yesterday, and you’re going to wish you had one of those Poodles!’ Well, we started, and we didn’t get 20 feet before my dog was pointing a bird. There weren’t supposed to be any birds for another half mile, but she goes on point anyway, and I was really embarrassed. I pulled on her and said, ‘Let’s go,’ but the judge said I’d better step into the bush, and sure enough a bird took off! We were probably the fifth or sixth brace, so that meant that there were no less than ten dogs that had run right past that quail and never stopped.”
WPG DEVELOPMENTAL TIMELINE
| 1851 | Eduard Karel Korthals born—Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
| 1867 | Mouche whelped |
| 1870–71 | Franco-Prussian War |
| 1873 | Korthals begins serious breeding program |
| 1874–77 | Korthals acquires Mouche, Janus, Junon, Banco, Hector and Satan |
| 1875 | Banco whelped |
| 1877–79 | Korthals moves to Biebesheim am Rhein, Germany |
| 1879 | Donna acquired in Germany—longer coat |
| 1882 | Illness destroys 16 young dogs in Korthals’s kennel |
| 1885 | Vesta leased as a brood bitch. Good producer—rough coat |
| 1887 | Korthals and 16 other breeders sign and publish the breed standard |
| 1887 | Zoletta registered with AKC |
| 1888 | International Griffon Club formed |
| 1895 | Southern German Griffon Club in Bavaria formed |
| 1895 | Royal Belgium Griffon Club formed |
| 1896 | Korthals dies |
| 1901 | Club Français du Griffon d’Arrêt a Poil Dur Korthals formed in France |
| 1911 | De Nederlandse Griffonclub formed in The Netherlands |
| 1916 | The Griffon Club of America (GCA) formed and breed standard adopted |
| 1916 | Sixteen Griffons exhibited at Westminster Kennel Club |
| 1917 | New Country Life magazine article published, peaking interest in the breed |
| 1939–45 | World War II—serious breeding activity stopped due to war—GCA ceases to exist |
| 1951 | New club formed—Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Club of America (WPGCA) |
| 1980s | WPGCA splits into two groups; those wanting to crossbreed with Cesky Fousek and those who don’t |
| 1991 | American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association formed by those choosing not to crossbreed (AWPGA) |
| 1991 | AKC recognizes AWPGA as official national parent club for Griffons in the US |
*Chart courtesy of the American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association
Overall, the WPG is an energetic hunter and a charming companion, often surprising in his abilities. For the avid hunter, this breed is a blessing, an exceptional instrument and a winning cohort, achieving successes worthy of ample bragging rights.
The handsome chestnut-marked dog with the huge expressive eyes, bushy eyebrows and beard and that charming, characteristic disheveled coat could only be one animal—the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. But that furry face is deceiving; under the Benji-like tousled tresses is a determined hunter whose magnetism is outweighed only by his superb instincts, high energy level and keen desire to please.
The strong hunting instinct and tousled look of the WPG is passed from generation to generation by responsible breeders.
PHYSICAL TRAITS
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a medium-sized, double-coated hunting dog typically used for pointing and retrieving upland game but will track fur-bearing animals as well. The male weighs 55–70 pounds on average and is 22–24 inches at the shoulder; the female is generally 45–55 pounds and 20–22 inches at the shoulder. Only the French disqualify for height, meaning if the dogs don’t fall within range, they are disqualified—50–55 cm for females (with a “tolerance” for a 56-cm bitch if she’s exceptional) and 55–60 cm (with a tolerance of 61 cm for males). The dogs aren’t measured in the show ring in the United States—if a dog falls half an inch or so above the height for the standard, the judge would have to have a keen eye to notice it. Some of the European WPGs, often the German-bred dogs, are much larger than their American (or French) counterparts, though this is considered a fault. The dog should be slightly longer than it is tall, giving it a “rectangular” shape; it should not be a “square” dog.
The WPG’s outer coat is shaggy and coarse, and the undercoat is soft and insulating, a perfect combination for a hunting dog who works in heavy cover, marsh and water. The coat is resistant to burs and other prickly woodsy objects, though owners should go over the coat after each run in the field to make sure that it’s clean and