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German Wirehaired Pointers trace their origins back to the late 1800s. They originated in Germany, where breeders wanted to develop a rugged, versatile hunting dog that would work closely with either one person or a small party of people hunting on foot in varied terrain; from the mountainous regions of the Alps, to dense forests, to more open areas with farms and small towns. The breed the Germans desired had to have a coat that would protect the dogs when working in heavy cover or in cold water yet be easy to maintain. The goal was to develop a wire-coated, medium-sized dog that could search for, locate and point upland game; work both feather and fur with equal skill; retrieve waterfowl; be a close-working, easily trained gun dog; be able to track and locate wounded game; be fearless when hunting “sharp” game such as fox; be a devoted companion and pet; and be a watch dog for its owners’ family and property. In 1959, the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club and the German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America (GWPCA) was established.
 
Breed Standard The AKC breed standard describes GWPs

as wellmuscled, medium-sized dogs with their most

distinguishing characteristics being their weatherresistant

coat and facial furnishings. The standard calls for males to

be 24-26 inches tall and females to be smaller, but not

under 22 inches tall. The written standard describes what

an ideal dog of the breed should look like and is the guideline

by which responsible breeders judge their dogs. 
 
 
GWPs In American Today Wirehairs today have many roles. They are excellent dogs for the everyday hunter who, much like the Germans of 100+ years ago, want a dog that can literally do it all. It is not uncommon for hunter and their Wirehairs to jump-hunt ducks in the morning, hunt quail, pheasant, or chukar in the afternoon, and wait in a blind for an evening flight of geese. Wirehairs serve as companions who’d rather sleep on their owners’ feet than anywhere else. They compete successfully in conformation shows, horseback field trials, AKC hunting tests, agility, obedience, and every type of performance event you can name. It is not uncommon to find the same dog participating in several of these events concurrently! They also serve individuals and communities in the form of therapy dogs, drug detection dogs, and much more.
 
Temperament and Training Along with the intelligence and

will the Wirehair possesses, the breed also has the capability

to be very creative and somewhat independent. They prefer

to work for who they like and will often create their own

rules of engagement. Wirehairs generally are high energy,

high drive, though not “hyper,” breed and the need for a “job”

is a must! Even if the job description includes only retrieving

newspapers and slippers, this breed needs to be given

meaningful work.
 
©2008 German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America
GWP’s are extremely devoted dogs. In fact, they crave human companionship, doing best in a home where they are permitted a very warm, close relationship with “their people.” They are breed that typically does not make a good kennel dog, nor a dog that lives all its life in a backyard with little human contact. When raised in a home with one owner, they become very definite one-person dogs. When raised in a home with several people, including children, they adopt the whole family, although some dogs may attach more strongly to one member of the household.
©2008 German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America
 
Young GWPs are typically fun-loving and

playful, and with proper supervision for

both children and animals, GWP’s and

kids do very well together. On the other

hand, an adult GWP that has not been

raised with children may need strict

supervision if sent to a home with young

children. And, as with any dog, very young

children should be taught to properly

handle a puppy, as well as to understand

the difference between playing with a dog

and hurting it.
 
The breed’s high prey drive may not make it the best choice for families with cats and other small animals. Some Wirehairs raised as puppies with cats do just fine, accepting the family cat as part of the pack. Even some adults make the transition form a non-cat to a cat-owning family. But it is not a given and most breeders caution against it.
 
Since this can be a strongwilled and independent breed, the GWPCA supports permanent identification in case the dog becomes lost or separated form its family. 
 
Health Concerns for the GWP Generally,

GWP’s are healthy, long-lived dogs, with

many individuals reaching 14-16 years

of age. As with any large-breed dog, hip

dysplasia may be a concern. Buyers should

verify that the breeder of their new pup

has screened for this crippling joint disease

and that the dog’s family includes animals

that are certified by OFA (the Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals) or PennHip.

Additional genetic testing which reputable

breeders conduct should include OFA

thyroid, elbow dysplasia, cardiac clearances

and Von Willebrand’s Disease. For more

information on and of these diseases,

visit www.offa.org.
 
Many GWPCA members support health research through the AKC Canine Health Foundation – a nonprofit charitable organization whose mission is to help dog’s live longer, healthier lives. For more information, visit www.akcchf.org
 
Learn More The GWPCA is composed of approximately 500 German Wirehaired Pointer owners. We encourage new members and try to serve the needs of our members in a wide variety of areas. Please visit www.GWPCA.com to find information about joining the club, member breeders, breed rescue and much more. The GWPCA licenses local clubs in most areas of the country; publishes a regular journal, the Wire~News, for its members, donates money to health research that impacts our breed; hosts the Nationals Events each year; and handles many more tasks in support of the breed. If you live in the Southeastern US you may also consider joining the Suncoast GWP Club. This club brings together GWP owners in this area of the country.