General Breed Advice
The German Wirehaired Pointer, known as the Deutsch Drahthaar in it’s homeland, is a member of the Gundog Group under the UK’s Kennel Club. It is one of the Hunt, Point and Retrieve Breeds, the ultimate in versatility.
The GWP is not just a German Shorthaired Pointer with a coat. There are a number of differences between the two breeds that must be appreciated.
The GWP is of heavier build and an overall bigger dog than the GSP and the GSP is square in outline. The GWP should not appear square having a slightly longer length in the back than the measurement from the ground to his withers.
The GWP’s coat is a most distinctive feature of the breed. It should be harsh, close fitting and completely covering the skin. There is a softer more dense coat underneath the outer coat, but this is more prevalent in Winter than in Summer.
The facial furnishings of the GWP should not be over-long and should not be soft and fluffy to touch. There should be hair above the eyes to give the appearance of eyebrows and a bear that should not be too long.
It is normally the case that a puppy that has very few facial furnishings as a baby will usually grow to have a correct wire jacket. Whereas the cute fluffy faced puppies are likely to have a longer coat with less texture when they mature.
In the UK, the German Wirehaired Pointer is a relatively new breed, only being recognised by the Kennel Club since the late 1970′s. It is not over popular in the UK and therefore has a generally good cross section of breeders around the country who are maintaining the breed characteristics, good temperament and health of the GWP.
There are many longstanding breed fanciers who are actively maintaining the versatility of the breed. Be it as a show dog, working dog, agility, obedience or family dog. There is no doubt the GWP is one of the most talented of the canine family and it is this quality that makes it a truly versatile gundog breed.
Living with the GWP by Sharon Pinkerton
Living with a GWP is certainly an experience! When I first became involved with GWPs in 1980, I had no idea how much a part of my life the breed was to become. They are funny, loving, loyal and challenging, but most of all they are part of my family. My dogs are my dogs for life. From puppy to crumbly – different stages, different experiences and different paces. Puppies are funny and entertaining but the oldies are probably even funnier!
The GWP is a very adaptable and energetic fellow and benefits greatly from training and structure within his/her life. An obedient, sociable responsive, well-mannered dog is a better dog to live with. They can be stubborn, they do have ‘attitude’, they can be difficult hormonal teenagers and they can be sulky. But they are well worth the perseverance! They are, in large part, what you make them. Training starts immediately!
Always be firm, fair and consistent with your puppy. He or she will need firm boundaries that are consistently enforced. Try to be calm and repetitive from the outset and endeavour to ensure the puppy always ends up doing your bidding and not the other way round. Use simple, short commands and from and early age ensure that the puppy responds to his/her name both on and off lead. Join a local basic obedience training class and ensure that your baby is well socialised with adults, children and other dogs and animals that he or she may encounter ie. cats, sheep, cattle etc. They should also get used to traffic and other everyday noises.
Remember the GWP is a hunting dog to the core and when running free the nose all too often rules the head and you need to be able to stop your dog. They can cover the ground much faster than you can! Training your dog to a whistle is advisable.
There are various schools of thought on training. You can use good old food as reward, vocal praise, clicker training etc. Decide which method suits you, and your dog, best and stick to it.
The GWP revels in being occupied and challenged, and will rise to most challenges you can set. You may wish to consider pursuing advanced activities with your GWP that will require more specialised training above and beyond basic obedience and socialisation. These could include:
- Showing at Open or Champ level
- Gundog Working Tests/Field Trials
- Advanced obedience
- Agility
- Working Trials
- Gundog work/Hunting/Falconry
- PAT work
- Good Citizen Awards
Whatever you decide to do with your GWP basic training is strongly recommended!
