The German Wirehaired Pointer is a medium-large hunting dog, slightly longer than they are tall and with a harsh wire coat that protects the body. They come with distinctive eyebrows and a distinguished-looking beard. These dogs are full of stamina, so they like to be kept active with lots of walks and games.
The German Wire-Haired Pointer breed can suffer from:
- Hip dysplasia
- Gastric dilatation volvulus
- Von Willebrand's disease which is where a dog produces insufficient or faulty clotting factors which can result in uncontrolled bleeding.
- Hypothyroidism¹ where the thyroid gland is underactive and does not product enough thyroid hormone. This can result in low energy levels, weight gain and skin problems.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
- Hip dysplasia screening scheme
- DNA test for Von Willebrand's Disease which tests whether or not a dog has the potential to be affected by this condition.
¹R. F. Nachreiner, 'Prevalence of serum thyroid hormone autoantibodies in dogs with clinical signs of hypothyroidism', 2002, American Veterinary Medicine Association.
Gentle and even tempered, the German Wire-Haired Pointer is a friendly, hard-working companion, and while they lack a little of the speed of their smooth coated cousins, they are the stronger, more rugged of the German Pointers, and really can go all day. Keen to learn and affectionate to their loved ones, the GWP needs to be well exercised mentally and physically, and to spend quality time with their family to remain happy and well-balanced.
| Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 5/5 |
| Easy to train: | 4/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 2/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 3/5 |
| Energy level: | 5/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
| Shedding: | 2/5 |
Germany has a long history of hunting with dogs and particularly with wire-coated multi-function dogs that are hardy, resilient and can point, flush, and retrieve in all weathers. It is hard to pin-point the GWP’s exact ancestry, as breeders were more interested in function than appearance and so bred from dogs with good working records that suited their needs rather than dogs that looked the same! As the GWP was one of the less speedy gundogs, they nearly died out as a type, until a local breeder who recognised their value set out to save them in 1865. It wasn’t until 1970 however that the breed was officially recognised.
It is possible the German Wirehaired Pointer has links to Airedale Terriers, Foxhounds, possibly even French Griffons as well as other German pointing breeds.
GWP owners are tough and active, enjoy walking over any terrain and need a dog that is equally robust and has tons of stamina for a full days activity. Ideally you’ll be involved in some type of gundog work, this is very much a working breed, and needs an outlet for those breed traits. Grooming is easy, a quick brush and check through for thorns and scratches after each walk, and the GWP is reasonably easy going with other dogs and children. You’ll need a large and secure garden and ideally a rural or at least semi-rural home.
This is the ultimate in all-terrain, all-weather outdoor dogs. The German Wirehaired Pointer needs at least two hours of daily dog exercise, ideally involving some scent work, free running and training across a variety of routes. If you enjoy running, gundog sports, working and field trials, agility, even falconry, this may be the ideal breed for you. They will enjoy sharing the sofa with you as well, but only after a full day out and about, working their nose, legs and brain! A bored GWP however will find their own entertainment and can become destructive.
This is a medium to large active dog that wants to be out and about in all weathers. Not ideally suited to small homes or town/city homes, but excellent in the rural or rural-suburban home with a large secure garden and access to a variety of interesting walking routes.
Large breed dogs, such as the German Wirehaired Pointer, as well as having large appetites, benefit from a different balance of nutrients including minerals and vitamins compared to smaller-breed dogs. Discover more about how to offer your dog a balanced diet with our easy-to-follow guide.
The undercoat of the German Wirehaired Pointer is thick, and the top coat is harsh and about 4cm-plus in length. Dog grooming involves brushing the coat a couple of times a week and stripping out the dead hair at least twice a year, more if the coat needs it. Check between the paw-pads daily for foreign bodies and ensure ears are clean several times a week.
The German Wire-Haired Pointer is easy to train if you understand their motivation (hunting, retrieving, carrying things in the mouth, food) and are willing to work hard to have them believe that working with you will lead to all the good things in life. Dog training for this breed will be an on-going daily thing for life rather than something you do in one-hour sessions at the local village hall. Pay particular attention to recall, and retrieve as GWP’s are independent thinkers and can cover a lot of ground and adore carrying things in their mouths which can lead to conflict if not understood.
A great companion for the active family with older children who enjoy long walks and dog training as a hobby. Not ideal for those with very young families or those who do not have the time to commit to the GWP’s exercise and training needs.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
In Britain in the 1800’s the trend was to develop specific dogs for each hunting task, hence the wide variety of spaniels, setters and pointers we have today! In mainland Europe however breeders focused on producing all-rounders, the ‘Hunt/Point/Retrieve’ or HPR breeds. These dogs, of which the German Wire-Haired Pointer is one example, were excellent at hunting, pointing, flushing, springing and retrieving, meaning all those jobs could be done by one dog. European efficiency at its best!
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