German Wirehaired Pointers originated in the late 1800s when German hunters needed a versatile breed that could 'do it all'. The Germans set out to create a breed who would hunt on foot with a single person or small group across varied terrain and on varied game. The resulting dog was to be medium sized, have a harsh wiry coat, be able to locate and point upland birds, retrieve across land and water, track wounded game, and work feather or fur with equal skill.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) fully recognized the GWP in 1959 and the German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America (GWPCA) was established. Since being accepted into the Sporting group, there have been at least 36 GWPs to reach the highest honor in the conformation show ring, Best in Show. Lookout Kennels has been fortunate to have bred or owned 6 of those prestigious winners.
The breed's most distinctive feature is the harsh, wiry coat that helps protect the dog from the terrain and elements when out hunting. A correct coat is 1 - 2 inches in length across the body, tighter fitting on the head and ears, with furnishings on the legs, chest, beard, and eyebrows. Dogs with a correct coat are able to better repel dirt and mud and keep insulated against the cold air or water. In order to maintain this type of coat, the hair must be stripped - either by hand or with the use of tools. The GWPCA has published a grooming tutorial for owners to better understand the unique care and maintenance for the wire coat.
GWPs are generally a healthy breed but with any breed there are certain problems that are seen. The Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) and the GWPCA recommend all breeding stock be checked for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, autoimmune thyroiditis, congenital cardiac database, and eye certification, with optional DNA testing for vonWillebrand's disease. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) maintains a complete database of health testing results for canines. Results can be searched for a kennel or individual dog, as well as tracking statistics for each breed. As of 2014, GWPs had 9.9% abnormal results for thyroid testing and 8.9% abnormal results for Hip Dysplasia - the two biggest concerns for the breed at this time. To learn more about this breed click on some of he links below.
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Suggested websites:
German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America (GWPCA) - www.gwpca.com
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) - https://www.ofa.org/
Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) - http://caninehealthinfo.org/
Thyroid Disease: A Coat of Many Colors, by Robin K. Nelson, DVM - http://gwpca.com/Health/ThyroidDisease.pdf
The American Kennel Club's page on the GWP - http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/german-wirehaired-pointer/
Grooming Tutorial - http://gwpca.com/Forms/GWP_Grooming_Tutorial.pdf