Where the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon came from
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was created by Eduard Karel Korthals, a Dutchman who set up his Ipenwoud kennel in Biebesheim am Rhein, Germany. Around 1873 he set out to build an ideal all-purpose hunting dog that was tough, loyal, and eager to work close to the hunter.
His breeding line began in 1874 with a foundation bitch named Mouche. A first international griffon club formed in 1888. The breed is also called the Korthals Griffon, and its rough, wiry coat is made for thick brush and water.
The AKC recognized the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon in 1887. The breed is still fairly rare in North America. Griffons are soft, people-loving dogs that do poorly with harsh training.
- About 1873 Eduard Karel Korthals begins developing the breed
- 1874 Korthals starts his breeding line with the foundation bitch Mouche
- 1887 AKC recognizes the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
- 1888 The first international griffon club is formed
The job a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was bred for
Griffons were bred to point, flush and retrieve in thick undergrowth and around water. That is why many Griffons love to sniff, swim and stay near their person. They want to work with you, not for you from far away.
What you may see at home
Velcro dog, soft and sensitive, loves water and mud, sniffs everything.
Give them: Scent work, swimming and retrieves, long line walks, and gentle training.
Sports that fit a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
- Hunt tests. The job the breed was designed for
- Dock diving. Their coat and water drive suit it
- Scent work. A calm, focused job for a clever nose
- Tracking. Uses stamina and scent skills
- Fast CAT. A fun sprint outlet for an athletic dog
Training tips for a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
- Use gentle, reward based methods. Griffons do not do well with harsh training.
- Include them in family life. Kennel life does not suit this breed.
- Teach a solid recall on a long line before off-leash time.
- Give a daily outlet for the nose and for retrieving.
Body and health
Medium and sturdy, with a harsh coat that needs regular brushing and occasional hand stripping. Ears and beard need cleaning. Griffons shed less than many breeds but are not non-shedding.
Fun fact. One of the first Griffons registered with the AKC, in 1887, was recorded under the name Russian Setter (Griffon).
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.