The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (often just 'Griff') is a 35-70 pound versatile gundog bred to do everything a hunter needs from one dog — point, retrieve, work water, and stay close — with a harsh, low-shedding wire coat and a trademark mustache and eyebrows. Among versatile breeds it is known as the close-working, biddable one: where a German Wirehaired Pointer ranges hard and wary, the Griff tends to hunt within gun range and bond softly. That temperament difference is the single most important thing a prospective owner should understand, because it makes the Griff one of the more livable versatile gundogs as a family dog. The Griff is friendly, devoted, sensitive, and notably trainable for a hunting breed, with an eagerness to please that responds far better to praise than pressure. It is also a true working dog: athletic, energetic, and happiest with a daily job. A Griff with insufficient exercise becomes restless, vocal, and destructive — not from stubbornness, but from a frustrated working drive with nowhere to go. Who the Griff is right for: an active owner or hunter who wants a deeply bonded, sensitive, trainable companion, will provide 60-90 minutes of vigorous daily exercise plus engagement, and can manage the wire coat. They suit hunters, runners, and dog-sport homes, and families that are genuinely outdoorsy. Who it is wrong for: sedentary or frequently-absent households, owners who want a hands-off pet, or anyone expecting a low-energy dog. The Griff repays an active, affectionate owner generously and quietly punishes neglect. Match it to your weekly activity, not to its rugged looks.
Life Span
12–15 years
Weight
16–32.7 kg
Height
50.8–61 cm
low
Exercise
moderate
Grooming
moderate
Shedding
Yes
Good with Kids
Yes
Good with Pets
Friendly
Apartment
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was developed in the 1870s-1880s by Dutch sportsman Eduard Karel Korthals, which is why the breed is also called the Korthals Griffon. Working primarily in Germany and France with breeding stock drawn from several spaniel, setter, pointer, and griffon-type dogs, Korthals deliberately engineered a single versatile, close-working gundog with a harsh weatherproof coat for a hunter of modest means who could keep only o…
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon dog breed portrait
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon belongs to the Sporting Group.
The average lifespan of a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is 12 to 15 years.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon dogs are valued for their friendly, devoted, trainable nature.
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Griff care centers on daily work and the wire coat. Plan 60-90 minutes of vigorous activity a day — running, swimming, retrieving, hiking, or hunting — plus training or scent games, because this is a working gundog that needs a purpose. An under-exercised Griff becomes anxious, vocal, and destructive, so a consistent routine is prevention, not a luxury. The harsh double coat is low-shedding but needs management. Brush weekly and hand-strip (pluck dead hair) two to three times a year rather than clipping; clipping softens the coat and degrades its water and brush resistance. Budget either learning to strip it or $40-$70 per professional session. Wipe the beard after meals and water so it does not sour, and dry the ears after every swim. Post-outing checks matter: after fieldwork or water, inspect ears, between toes, and the groin for burrs and grass awns, and dry the drop ears to prevent recurrent infections. Weight: feed two measured meals and keep the dog lean — you should feel ribs easily. A working appetite plus off-season inactivity is how Griffs gain weight that stresses hips and elbows. Mental engagement: the Griff is sensitive and people-focused; isolation and harsh correction backfire. Train with reward-based methods and keep the dog socially included. Decision rule: a deep-chested Griff with a distended abdomen, unproductive retching, or restless pacing after eating is a same-day emergency — treat suspected bloat (GDV) as life-threatening and go straight to a vet.
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Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Care Guide
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