German Wirehaired Lab

55-70 lbs
22-23"
Unknown
German Wirehaired Pointer
Labrador Retriever
German Wirehaired Labrador Retriever

Strong-willed, water-lovers, and willing to please describe the medium size, well built German Wirehaired Lab. A cross between the German Wirehaired Pointer and Labrador Retriever, these dogs are hunters and trackers; they are friendly, and do well with other children and pets. Due to their high energy levels, they are best suited to active families. Owners of the German Wirehaired Lab say he is intelligent, kind and loves a job to do.

purpose Purpose
Sporting
history Date of Origin
2000s
ancestry Ancestry
German Wirehaired Pointer and Labrador Retriever

German Wirehaired Lab Health

Average Size
Male German Wirehaired Lab size stats
Height: 22-25 inches Weight: 65-80 lbs
Female German Wirehaired Lab size stats
Height: 22-23 inches Weight: 55-70 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
Minor Concerns
  • Entropion
  • Cataracts
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Allergies
  • Obesity
  • Ear Infections
Occasional Tests
  • X-Rays
  • Fluorescein Test
  • Full Physical Examination

German Wirehaired Lab Breed History

Bred for sporting and hunting, the German Wirehaired Pointer originated in Germany during the 1800s. These game dogs were said to have developed from many other breeds such as crosses between other Pointers, Poodles, Polish Water Dogs, Foxhounds and more. The main reason so many breeds were used in the creation of the German Wirehaired Pointer is because enthusiasts at that time wanted to create a strong, versatile dog who could withstand adverse climates and traverse difficult terrain. He was a sought after hunting partner because he was as comfortable on land as he was in the water. He arrived in the United States in the 1920s and joined the American Kennel Club roster of dogs in 1959 in the sporting dog category. The Labrador Retriever is sporting breed as well, designed for the purpose of retrieving prey from water. He is said to have originated in Canada, most likely Newfoundland, during the 16th century and is thought to have originated from another large breed dog known as the Newfoundland. The American Kennel Club  recognised the Labrador Retriever in 1917 and he is currently the most favored dog in the United States according to AKC records. Not much information is currently documented about the German Wirehaired Lab hybrid. However, based on parental history it is speculated that this hybrid was designed for the purpose of hunting, tracking and retrieving game from water, as well as for companionship. They have likely been developed within the last 15 years (early to mid-2000s) and are currently only registered with the Dog Registry of America.

German Wirehaired Lab Breed Appearance

Your German Wirehaired Lab can take on the physical characteristics of one parent more than the other, but in general, these hybrids, like their parent breeds, will have water and weather resistant coats that are dense. There coats may be a mixture of wiry or straight fur with  feathering of the wiry coats focused on the muzzle area, often giving the dog a bit of a moustache. His ears will be flat and flopped down with a rounded tip. His head will be medium in length and slightly broad. His kind, dark eyes always will be alert and generally almond shaped. The German Wirehaired Lab will be muscular and may have a slightly arched neck. His chest may be deep and his legs will be athletically built and strong in form. He will hold his tail high - there may be feathering present here, in addition to on the legs and underbelly.

Eye Color Possibilities
brown German Wirehaired Lab eyes
Brown
amber German Wirehaired Lab eyes
Amber
Nose Color Possibilities
black German Wirehaired Lab nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black German Wirehaired Lab coat
Black
brown German Wirehaired Lab coat
Brown
white German Wirehaired Lab coat
White
pied German Wirehaired Lab coat
Pied
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
German Wirehaired Lab wiry coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

German Wirehaired Lab Breed Maintenance

Labradors tend to be heavy, seasonal shedders so this may be a trait inherited by your hybrid. German Wirehaired Pointers tend to shed year-round as well but not as much as the Lab. For the most part, your German Wirehaired Lab is a low maintenance dog; he will need to be brushed weekly at least twice in order to remove dirt and loose hairs. They have water and weather resistant coats, and won’t need regular bathing unless he runs through the mud or rolls in something unpleasant as most dogs love to do. If kept active, most dogs will wear down their nails. Check them a few times a month for length and condition. Brush his teeth three times a week to avoid tartar buildup and to keep his gums healthy.

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Brushes for German Wirehaired Lab
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
German Wirehaired Lab requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

German Wirehaired Lab Temperament

Both parent breeds are outgoing, playful, people pleasers. You can expect that your hybrid will retain many of these personality traits. This high-spirited hybrid makes a great addition to a household with children and other pets but due to their size should be monitored when interaction is taking place. They are gentle and generally not considered aggressive towards people. When strangers approach, your hybrid, if more like a German Wirehaired Pointer, will show some form of aggression and will alert you through vigorous barking. But if your dog is more like a Labrador Retriever, then chances are he will simply greet a stranger. 

German Wirehaired Lab Activity Requirements

An outgoing water-lover, this hybrid is a speedy, playful dog that has oodles of energy. He'll need an active family who will take him to the lake or for a run, and who are willing to spend time bonding with him through a game of fetch. Give him a chance to try out obedience classes and maybe enter a few trials. He has the power and intelligence to succeed at flyball and activities such as these will allow him to use his mind, too. Your German Wirehaired Lab is most suited to urban and rural living; an apartment may be too small for his temperament - he likes to run, so home with a fenced back yard is the best bet.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
12 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
120 minutes
activity minutes

German Wirehaired Lab Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00
food bag monthly cost

German Wirehaired Lab Owner Experiences

Steve
5 Months
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
Swim
Hike
Fetch
Steve has been the best dog I’ve ever had! Although he has his moments, his energy level isn’t very high for a 5 month old puppy. He has all lab features except for a patch of wavy hair down his spine. His favorite thing to do is go to the lake and run around. As soon as I open the truck door he’s in the passenger seat waiting. He doesn’t growl, except when he’s asleep and another dog lays on him and wakes him up. He an inside dog but love going outside!
6 months, 3 weeks ago
Rawley
12 Months
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing Ball
Family we got him from had labeled him as a labradoodle but he clearly had no doodle in him. Our vet took one look at him and identified him as a German wirehaired pointer/lab mix. When we saw pictures, we knew we'd found his real 'tribe'. :) He can be a bit of a bully when it comes to playing and (not) sharing. We also have a 8 yr old lab/Newfoundland mix who is polar opposite of him; pretty sedentary, good-natured boy who is very tolerant of Rawley's puppy energy. Nightly zoomies crack me up every time.
5 years ago
Justice Mackrill
10 Months
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Very intelligent mix. Hard working, and versatile for all sort of disciplines. Supper excited for this pup to get bigger, and I can start in on some retrieving training.
5 years, 10 months ago
Griffin
5 Months
5 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Hiking
Walks
swimming
We've only had him for 5 months but it's the best months ever! He's completely changed my aspect on life cause he's so friendly and loveable. He's zoomies around the house make me want to come home everyday, he's great with kids and other dogs this breed has to be one of my favourites
5 years, 3 months ago
Colt
9 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
We adopted our GWL when he was 9 years old. We have two children ages 7 and 11, and he is very gentle with them. His energy; however, is off the charts. He is obsessed with fetching tennis balls; although, he does not chew them -- he handles them with care. I have taken him on 10 mile runs and he still has energy to play fetch with the kids for hours. He is good around children. He can be aggressive/dominate towards dogs he doesn't know. Training is a chore, but he will eventually catch on -- he is stubborn. The dog has a natural tendency to run ahead of you in a zig-zag pattern -- so keeping him on trail is near impossible without a leash. His wirehair is perfect for bushy terrain, water, and cold Utah winters. He is an outside dog because of his energy level, but is well suited for it. He does get smelly, sheds, and drools when he sees a tennis ball.
4 years, 10 months ago
Artemis
9 Years
6 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Hunting,
Catch balls,
Fetch bumper
Catch treats
Tug-of-war
swimming
Tag
Running
She is sweet and affectionate. Always wants to play. Well behaved. Thinks she's the alpha female of the neighborhood.
4 years, 7 months ago
Roxie
10 Weeks
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Road trip
Tug-of-war
Running
Tracking
swimming
Walks
Roxie is an amazing and amusing pup. She loves to lay in bed at night, (notice she doesn't have accidents anymore... Knock on wood.) She would prefer not to be touched when she's sleeping (just like me) but loves to cuddle when she's tired. Towards the evenings, she will have these sudden bursts of energy and will speed through every room in the house jumping on and off couches and beds, (she just learned how to jump on furniture 😕) and she will finally flop on my bed after several minutes. I always call her "my little lunatic" because she acts like one. But she's my baby, and even though times are ruff with her, I know she's a sweetheart.
4 years, 5 months ago
Otis
7 Years
4 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
We love Otis! He is obsessed with his toys and food! He loves his dog dad and doing anything with him! He is a little fearful of new dogs and babies but is very nice!
4 years, 4 months ago
Hudson
5 Years
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He is loving, gentle with our boys, loves snuzzles, and protective of our children. He follows the boys wherever they go! He’s acutely aware of anything in the sky, and hates hot air balloons. He tracks well and is an excellent hunting dog that’s always eager to please!
4 years, 1 month ago
Koda
2 Years
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He loves to follow me everywhere. Is extremely affectionate and acts like a lap dog. Thrives off of other peoples attention and has an infinity towards small children. Not so friendly toward other male,large dogs/can be very aggressive towards large male dogs. Sleeps cuddled into me every night and is protective as will bark/growl if hears a noise at the door. Is muscular and benefits from having long (2hour) walks. Is hard headed at times and loves to stray from woodland paths to look for prey.
3 years, 10 months ago
Bootz
20 Weeks
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Walks
Tricks
Tug
Interactive Toys
Obstacles
Bootz is an awesome pup! He is very intelligent and loves to play. He has boundless energy- would not recommend for a "9-5" household. Curious and inquisitive, he loves to explore. He can cause a bit of mischief now and then, but follows commands very well. He is very affectionate and loves cuddles and kisses.
3 years, 10 months ago
Bo
4 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Bo is extremely eager to please, great with other dogs and kids, loves to go for rides, he will give up food, treats or toys to people or kids with absolutely no signs of aggression. Bo is extremely loving and dedicated to his owners. I would love to find a non papered female to breed him with.
3 years, 9 months ago
Molly
4 Months
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Rides
Trackin
Kid parks, slides
4 months
swimming
Fetch
Walks
Running
Lots of energy. Super smart and equally naughty. 4 months and has gone backwards in potty training. Loves being outside. Not fond of strangers & dies not like other dogs. Snuggles and affectionate. She lives to jump in the tub with the youngest while I'm not looking. Absolutely loves any water. Barks at the cats, she wants to play. Endless energy. I need to be consistent with her.
3 years, 5 months ago
Bear
5 Months
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Cuddles
Tug-of-war
Walks
Our Bear is a friendly pup full of energy he loves to be outside and to play with his gsd sister super lovable with the most beautiful almond shaped eyes he does love to chew and shred stuff around the house but he is learning and can sit so far also
3 years, 4 months ago
Animal Expert Question Icon
Question - Behavior
Question

Bootz, our wore haired lab is 11 months old, and bored. We walk 1-2 miles almost every day. He doesn't care about most of his toys, seems to have outgrown tugging. He does enjoy the frisbee but loses interest quickly. Any tips on how to hold his attention and fulfill his needs? We try to engage with him but it's unclear what he wants.

Answer
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
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