Description: The German Wirehaired Pointer is a well balanced dog standing 22-26 inches in height and weighing 60-70 lbs. They should have long, thin legs leading up to a well proportioned body. They have a long neck and a rather square head. Their faces should be brown with oval eyes, and rounded ears that hang close to the head. Their coat colouring should be either liver and white, with ticking, or roan and spotted, they can also be solid liver, whichever marking though their head should be liver, with or without a white blaze, and their ears should be liver. The coat is this breeds most distinctive feature, they have an undercoat that should be thin in the summer and profuse in the winter, and their outer coat is harsh and wiry making them weather resistant and almost waterproof.

History: Originating around 150 years ago in Germany, the German Wirehaired Pointer was developed to be a versatile hunter capable of working anywhere from mountains to forests and open plains. Its ancestry has never been completely agreed on but it is thought that the Wirehaired Griffon, Pudelpointer, Stichelhaar, and Deutsch-Kurzhaar were the main breeds used. They are used for many things such as hunting water fowl, searching for game, and as a gun dog, tracking wounded animals and even non hunting things such as guard dogs. On top of all this though they were also designed to make a great companion and pet.

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Temperament: The German Wirehaired Pointer is a loyal family companion who is affectionate and intelligent. They are very active dogs, though, and so need plenty of exercise without which they can become bored and hard to manage. They should be socialised from a young age or they can become aloof with strangers, they also need an owner who the dog knows is in command. You should never be aggressive or violent towards a dog, however if they think they are in charge they can become dominant. Due to the level of loyalty they have to their family, they can sometimes become jealous of other pets, however because they are such intelligent dogs training them shouldn’t be difficult even if they’re having a stubborn 5 minutes.

Health Issues: Although usually a healthy dog, the German Wirehaired Pointer is prone to a few illnesses and diseases these can include ear infections, hip dysplasia, genetic eye disease, bloat and skin cancer. Their average life expectancy is between 12 and 14 years. Another condition they can suffer from is bladder control disease; this is an exceptionally rare illness that can cause unfortunate accidents. They can also get Lymposarcoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes, and hemangiosarcoma, a cancer of the blood vessels of the spleen, right atrium and the liver.

Grooming: The German Wirehaired Pointer should be brushed 2-3 times a week, to be kept looking their best, and they should also be hand stripped occasionally when it is needed. They are an average shedder and should only be bathed when needed; their coat should have a rough texture so over bathing them could soften their fur. It’s also important to regularly clean their ears, and check their paws for any debris they may have picked up.

Living Conditions: Due to the fact that they are such energetic dogs, they are not suited to apartment life and are defiantly not suited to being kept in a kennel. They would do best with an active family who have a big garden so that they can run around and keep themselves amused.