The German Wirehaired Pointer

The GWP was first imported into GB shortly after World War II. Among its ancestors are the pudelpointer, the Griffon, the German broken coated pointer (Stichelhaar) & the English pointer. In Germany at the end of the 18th century a robust versatile dog was created from the best dogs of the existing coarse hair hunting breeds mentioned earlier, crossbred with some short hair blood. 
The German Wirehaired Pointer is known as the Deutsch Drahthaar in its homeland, and is a member of the Gundog Group under the UK's Kennel Club. It is one of the Hunt, Point and Retrieve (HPR) breeds & is the most widely used hunting dog in Germany. 
This is a good sized, robust, extremely powerful and versatile working dog, which has a well muscled body that is built for performance. 
The average male should stand about 23.5 to 26.5 ins at the shoulder with females standing at about 22 to 24.5 ins at shoulder. 
The German Wirehaired pointer should have a confident, biddable and balanced temperament showing no sign of aggression.  
The GWP coat should be wiry with a thick undercoat to offer optimal protection from the elements and hard cover, it should be no longer than 1.5 ins in length and contour the body structure & muscles tightly but without concealing them. A correct coat requires very little care, the combing out of dead hair daily with a grooming pad or stiff brush, and a comb through the beard should be all that is needed. 
GWPs have a variety of coat colours, liver & white, black & white and solid liver. The eyebrows as the beard should be strong but not over long or fluffy. Eye colour can vary, but as a rule they should be hazel or darker and have a faithful kind expression. 
GWPs are a healthy breed and rarely suffer from serious hereditary health problems. However some health concerns which any     potential owner should be aware of are, Hip Dysplasia and von Willebrand’s Disease, Hypothyroidism, Entropion and Epilepsy.
As with every genuine working dog, they need consistent training and guidance. Early training is very important, they must learn the basics sit, stay and recall. Their early training should also include some retrieving and water work. In the right hands they can be one of the most rewarding breeds we have known. The GWP are excellent water dogs, tireless hunters with a good nose, and will easily track over long distances. 
A word of warning, They are not a novice ride, they are challenging, strong willed, stubborn and have endless energy. 
When you get it right however, they are, loving, loyal, extremely versatile and eager to please, they make excellent working dogs and can be suitable as a  family dog.

                                                                  IS THE GWP FOR YOU?