German Wirehaired Pointer

55-71 lbs
22-25"
Germany
Drahthaar, Deutsch Drahthaar

The German Wirehaired Pointer is a medium sized dog with a very sturdy build and should be well muscled. His most well-known characteristics are his wire-like coat that is also weather resistant, and his beard and eyebrows. The German Wirehaired Pointer was originally bred to be a hunter and he is a high energy dog who needs a job to do in order to be completely happy. He should be supervised with children and other pets. His family will benefit from structured training and daily exercise to wear him out. Originally bred in the 19th century in Germany, the German Wirehaired Pointer can hunt on any terrain and point on water or land.

purpose Purpose
general hunting
history Date of Origin
1800s
ancestry Ancestry
griffon-type

German Wirehaired Pointer Health

Sketch of German Wirehaired Pointer
Average Size
Male German Wirehaired Pointer size stats
Height: 24-27 inches Weight: 60-71 lbs
Female German Wirehaired Pointer size stats
Height: 22-25 inches Weight: 55-71 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Entropion
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Von Willebrand's Disease
Minor Concerns
  • Cataracts
Occasional Tests
  • Eye
  • Hip
  • Dna For Vwd
  • X-Rays
  • Eye Examination

German Wirehaired Pointer Breed History

The German Wirehaired Pointer is said to have originated in Germany in 1870. Hunters wanted a dog that was a versatile and rugged hunting dog that could easily hunt on rough terrain. The German Wirehaired Pointer came to be by making careful cross breedings with the German Pointer, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Pudelpointer, Deutscher-Kurzhaar and Stichelhaar. Their goal was to develop a wire-coated dog that was medium sized and had the ability to work closely as a gundog and search, locate and point upland game. As the breed developed, he was able to work both feather and fur game with great skill and also retrieve water fowl. He is also a devoted companion and family pet as well as a watchdog for his owner’s property.  The German Wirehaired Pointer is a versatile hunting dog who also excels at conformation and obedience trials. In 1920, the first of this breed were imported into the United States. He was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1959. The German Wirehaired Pointer is not an ideal companion for a first time dog owner. He requires a significant amount of training and exercise as he is a high energy dog. Owners who do not provide enough exercise or mental stimulation will have a dog that becomes destructive and difficult to live with. He was originally bred to be in the field tracking and hunting game. This meant he was tracking, stalking and running much of the day. A German Wirehaired Pointer requires that his owner spend time training him and interacting with him throughout the day.

German Wirehaired Pointer Breed Appearance

The German Wirehaired Pointer’s most distinctive characteristic is his wiry coat. His coat must be weather resistant and somewhat water repellent. The undercoat is dense and will provide great insulation during the cold months. The undercoat does shed out for the summer months. The outercoat should be wiry, harsh to touch and straight. It should lay flat and be one to two inches in length. His eyebrows should be comprised of straight hair that is slightly longer than the hair on his skull. His beard should be medium length. The German Wirehaired Pointer comes in liver, liver and white, liver roan. He is usually liver and white spotted or liver and white with ticking or roaning. It is acceptable for him to have a white blaze. The head and ears are generally liver in color with no ticking or roaning. Black used to be undesirable; however, a black and white color is beginning to be accepted outside of the show ring.

Appearance of German Wirehaired Pointer
Eye Color Possibilities
brown German Wirehaired Pointer eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
brown German Wirehaired Pointer nose
Brown
isabella German Wirehaired Pointer nose
Isabella
Coat Color Possibilities
black German Wirehaired Pointer coat
Black
brown German Wirehaired Pointer coat
Brown
red German Wirehaired Pointer coat
Red
white German Wirehaired Pointer coat
White
pied German Wirehaired Pointer coat
Pied
brindle German Wirehaired Pointer coat
Brindle
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
German Wirehaired Pointer wiry coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

German Wirehaired Pointer Breed Maintenance

The German Wirehaired Pointer’s coat is easy to care for but it does have a few special needs to maintain a healthy, wiry double coat. The coat must be stripped or plucked. The dead hair can either be plucked by hand or by using a stripping knife. Stripping the coat can be a very time consuming task. He will generally need to be stripped twice per year. He will rarely need a bath unless he has come in contact with something smelly. Any dirt, debris or mud can be brushed out once he has fully dried. It is recommended to bathe a German Wirehaired Pointer twice a year, preferably after stripping him. Only use a shampoo that is made specifically for wirehaired dogs. Regular ear cleaning and nail trimming should be completed every 1 to 2 weeks; nails may not grow as often so every 2 to 3 weeks may be sufficient. Be sure to comb out his beard and mustache daily using a steel comb. This will remove any food that is stuck in there and causing odor.

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

German Wirehaired Pointer Temperament

The German Wirehaired Pointer will be very loyal and loving to his entire family but will be aloof to any strangers. While he bonds with the entire family, he will pick one person in the family as his special person. This person is generally the one who takes him for his walks, does his training and spends the most time with him. He does need appropriate training and should not be left unsupervised with young children and small pets. Early socialization is a must for a German Wirehaired Pointer. He is high energy and requires a lot of time to exercise and wear himself out. He is a great watchdog and will sound the alarm when strangers approach his property. He is very possessive of his things, including his toys. He can be aggressive when he is defending his property. Do not allow children to handle his toys or food dish to ensure that everyone is kept safe and he does not perceive that the child is trying to steal his possessions.

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

German Wirehaired Pointer Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.5 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.75 - $2.25
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$52.50 - $67.50
food bag monthly cost

German Wirehaired Pointer Height & Weight

6 Months
Sketch of German Wirehaired Pointer at six months
Male German Wirehaired Pointer size stats at six months
Height: 22.0 inches Weight: 47.5 lbs
Female German Wirehaired Pointer size stats at six months
Height: 21.0 inches Weight: 42.5 lbs
12 Months
Sketch of German Wirehaired Pointer at 12 months
Male German Wirehaired Pointer size stats at 12 months
Height: 23.0 inches Weight: 57.5 lbs
Female German Wirehaired Pointer size stats at 12 months
Height: 22.0 inches Weight: 55.0 lbs
18 Months
Sketch of German Wirehaired Pointer at 18 months
Male German Wirehaired Pointer size stats at 18 months
Height: 25.5 inches Weight: 65.0 lbs
Female German Wirehaired Pointer size stats at 18 months
Height: 23.5 inches Weight: 62.5 lbs

Top German Wirehaired Pointer Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable German Wirehaired Pointer breeders of 2024.
Top German Wirehaired Pointer breeder Jim & Marje Yerkes
Jim & Marje Yerkes
Marysville, California
Top German Wirehaired Pointer breeder Willamette German Wirehaired Pointers
Willamette German Wirehaired Pointers
Portland, Oregon
Top German Wirehaired Pointer breeder Blue Line Kennel German Wireharied Pointers
Blue Line Kennel German Wireharied Pointers
Waxhaw, North Carolina
Top German Wirehaired Pointer breeder DJ Bar Ranch
DJ Bar Ranch
Belgrade, Montana
Top German Wirehaired Pointer breeder Wingfield German Shorthaired Pointers
Wingfield German Shorthaired Pointers
Bloomington, Indiana
Top German Wirehaired Pointer breeder Claddagh German Wirehaired Pointers
Claddagh German Wirehaired Pointers
Horicon, Wisconsin
Top German Wirehaired Pointer breeder Reece Kennels
Reece Kennels
Polk City, Florida
Top German Wirehaired Pointer breeder Thunderhill Kennels
Thunderhill Kennels
Superior, Wisconsin
Top German Wirehaired Pointer breeder Three Devils Kennel
Three Devils Kennel
Nampa, Idaho
Top German Wirehaired Pointer breeder Idawire German Wirehaired Pointers
Idawire German Wirehaired Pointers
Rochester, Washington

German Wirehaired Pointer Owner Experiences

13 Weeks
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
The German Wirehaired pointer is affectionate, lively, very determined, active and intelligent. Eager to learn and loyal to its family, it needs a handler who is consistent in approach. They like to be occupied, are vigorous and enjoy working for their owners. They are friendly with those they know, but are sometimes aloof with strangers and should be socialized at an early age. They often don't do well in a kennel environment. German Wirehaired pointers are happiest and most well behaved when they are part of the family and can spend time with their people. They can be rather willful. Some dogs have a tendency to roam. Powerful and energetic, they can become bored and hard to manage without enough exercise. The German Wirehaired pointer is a good all-around gun dog, able to hunt any sort of game on any sort of terrain. This dog has a good nose and can track, point, and retrieve on both land and water. Loyal and playful, the German Wirehaired Pointer thrives on human companionship. These dogs should have the correct temperament to live with children of all ages. Although they are generally accepting of other dogs, they tend to focus upon the people in their family.[3]
6 years, 9 months ago
2 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Explore the city
barking
Meet Lady Bird! I wasn't sure why Lady Bird was named Lady Bird and just assumed she was named after former first lady “Lady Bird” Johnson - her mom confirmed this after the walk. I'm obsessed with JFK so I'm probably one of the few people who instantly thought of former Vice President turned President LBJ and his wife. I decided to show Lady Bird around to some of the places her namesake also saw and visited while in office. Lady Bird and I visited the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument by the way of the National Mall. We also stopped for a few pictures. We were going to swing by the White House but we decided that the carousel at the National Mall was a better circus to visit.
6 years, 9 months ago
2 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Explore the city
barking
Meet Lady Bird! I wasn't sure why Lady Bird was named Lady Bird and just assumed she was named after former first lady “Lady Bird” Johnson - her mom confirmed this after the walk. I'm obsessed with JFK so I'm probably one of the few people who instantly thought of former Vice President turned President LBJ and his wife. I decided to show Lady Bird around to some of the places her namesake also saw and visited while in office. Lady Bird and I visited the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument by the way of the National Mall. We also stopped for a few pictures. We were going to swing by the White House but we decided that the carousel at the National Mall was a better circus to visit.
6 years, 9 months ago
2 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Explore the city
barking
Meet Lady Bird! I wasn't sure why Lady Bird was named Lady Bird and just assumed she was named after former first lady “Lady Bird” Johnson - her mom confirmed this after the walk. I'm obsessed with JFK so I'm probably one of the few people who instantly thought of former Vice President turned President LBJ and his wife. I decided to show Lady Bird around to some of the places her namesake also saw and visited while in office. Lady Bird and I visited the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument by the way of the National Mall. We also stopped for a few pictures. We were going to swing by the White House but we decided that the carousel at the National Mall was a better circus to visit.
6 years, 9 months ago
1 Year
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
This particular German wire-haired pointer was very energetic. He most likely needs about two walks a day. He is very prey -driven and instinct-driven. He sniffs out intricate winding trails almost obsessively on walks. He pulls a lot and is very strong so he wears a pinch-chain. He enjoys playing with toys and is very excitable and high-energy. These are heavy-duty hunting dogs and are looking for optimal attention, praise, and reinforcement of training. They burn a lot of calories from their hyperactivity and need more food and water than one would expect so it is best to bring water along on hot walks.
6 years, 9 months ago
Griffin
1 Year
5 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Bird watch
Going on drives
Go to lake
He's the first I've had of this breed and he's the best dog I've owned
4 years, 6 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd