SportingNetherlands

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Tireless outside, tender inside.

Weight: 35–70 lbs
Height: 20–24 in
Lifespan: 12–15 yrs

In short

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a large sporting dog from the Netherlands, 35–70 lbs and 20–24 in, living 12–15 years. A wiry-coated versatile hunter developed by Eduard Korthals, it needs 60–90 minutes of vigorous daily exercise, weekly brushing with hand-stripping, and CHIC health screenings for hips, elbows, thyroid and eyes.

Is it right for you?

A great match if you…

you want a tireless versatile gundog for field and water
you can give 60–90 minutes of vigorous exercise every day
you want an eager, cooperative training partner

Think twice if you…

you live in an apartment or want a low-energy dog
the dog would be alone all day — separation anxiety is a real risk
you want a wash-and-go coat — the wiry coat needs weekly brushing and hand-stripping

The daily plan

Exercise: 60–90 min
Training: 2–3 × 5–10 min
Treat limit: 80–130 kcal

At a glance

TrainabilityQuick study9.0/10

EnergyAthlete9.0/10

Calm at homeSettles well7.5/10

SheddingSheds seasonally6.5/10

What sets it apart

01
Harsh wiry coat, beard and eyebrows
A harsh, wiry outer coat over a dense undercoat, with the breed’s trademark furnishings: bushy eyebrows, a full beard and a mustache. The nose is always brown.
02
Strong, square sporting build
A medium-large, slightly longer-than-tall frame built for all-day work — 20–24 inches at the shoulder, with the substance to push through cover and water.
03
Keen, cooperative expression
Dark oval eyes set under the heavy brow give an alert, eager look; this is a dog bred to work closely with its handler, not independently.

Size & coat

Specification	Male	Female
Weight	50–70 lbs	35–50 lbs
Height	22–24 in	20–22 in
Daily calories	1,020–1,685 kcal	780–1,310 kcal
Lifespan	12–15 yrs
Coat	Harsh, wiry, straight outer coat with dense fine undercoat

Side profile 20–24 in at the shoulder

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Personality

The bearded versatile: tireless in the field, devoted at home. Highly trainable and eager to cooperate, great with children and generally good with other dogs, a sensible watchdog, and happiest with near-constant human company — long days alone are a poor fit.

With children

A wonderful family pet and great with children — sturdy, playful and affectionate. As with any dog, supervise play with small children.

With other pets

Generally good with other dogs and can live peacefully with household pets, but the strong prey drive means cats, rabbits and other small animals need careful introduction and supervision.

With strangers

A sensible watchdog that will quickly alert its owner; welcoming once introduced, not a guard dog.

Alone time

Poor alone-time tolerance — this breed wants to spend all its time with its people and can develop separation anxiety. Not a fit for long workdays away from home.

Training

How often

2–3 sessions daily, 5–10 minutes each.
Socialize early (8–16 weeks)

Socialize between 8–16 weeks with strangers, children, other dogs, traffic sounds and new surfaces.
Self-control

Teach a reliable recall on a long line before trusting it off leash, since the strong prey drive can override training; channel the hunting instinct into structured field drills.
What it works for

Use small, high-value food pieces in short, upbeat sessions; this breed is sensitive, so keep corrections light and count every piece against the daily treat budget.

Exercise

Exercise a day 60–90 min

CouchModerateAthlete

Good outlets

60–90 minutes of vigorous exercise daily
Field work: pointing, retrieving and tracking drills
Swimming and water retrieves

Brain work

Gun-dog training drills
Nose work and tracking games
Food puzzles and scatter feeding

Watch for An under-exercised Griffon turns destructive, so the daily 60–90 minutes is a floor, not a target. The strong prey drive can override recall — train recall on a long line and keep it leashed outside fenced areas. Feed 2–3 smaller meals daily and rest after eating to reduce bloat risk.

Feeding

A high-energy sporting breed that runs lean when worked; feed measured meals twice a day — smaller, split meals help guard against bloat — and keep treats to 10% of daily calories. Rest after meals; avoid vigorous exercise right after eating.

Puppy (4–12 Mos)

Daily calories: 675–1,730 kcal
Protein: 28%
Fat: 18%
Treat limit, all treats: 70–175 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 3–9 pieces a day

Adult Maintenance

Daily calories: 780–1,310 kcal
Protein: 26%
Fat: 15%
Treat limit, all treats: 80–130 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 4–7 pieces a day

Active / Working

Daily calories: 1,000–1,685 kcal
Protein: 30%
Fat: 20%
Treat limit, all treats: 100–170 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 5–8 pieces a day

Senior (8+ Yrs)

Daily calories: 670–1,125 kcal
Protein: 28%
Fat: 12%
Treat limit, all treats: 65–115 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 3–6 pieces a day

Compare every life stage

Life stage	Daily calories	Protein	Fat	Treat limit (all treats)	Saylor's liver, suggested / day
Puppy (4–12 Mos)	675–1,730 kcal	28%	18%	70–175 kcal	3–9 pieces
Adult Maintenance	780–1,310 kcal	26%	15%	80–130 kcal	4–7 pieces
Active / Working	1,000–1,685 kcal	30%	20%	100–170 kcal	5–8 pieces
Senior (8+ Yrs)	670–1,125 kcal	28%	12%	65–115 kcal	3–6 pieces

The treat limit is the 10% rule for every treat combined. Saylor's liver is suggested at about 2% of daily calories, as a small topper: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should not become a staple. Check with your vet if your dog has a health condition or a special diet.

Health & grooming

Watch for	Ask the breeder or vet for	When
Eye disease	ACVO Eye Exam — Eye Examination once 12 months old	Yearly
Elbow dysplasia	Elbow Dysplasia — OFA Radiographic Elbow Evaluation	Once
Hip dysplasia	Hip Dysplasia — OFA Radiographic Hip Evaluation or PennHIP Evaluation	Once
Autoimmune thyroiditis	Autoimmune thyroiditis evaluation (required for CHIC since Aug 2017)	As advised by a vet
Bloat	Feed 2–3 smaller meals daily; rest after eating	Daily
Obesity	Weight and body-condition scoring	Every vet visit
Dental disease	Dental exam	Yearly
Ear infections	Ear checks and cleaning	Weekly

Official health tests for breeding dogs

The OFA's CHIC program asks Wirehaired Pointing Griffon breeders to test for these. Ask to see the results before you buy a puppy.

ACVO Eye Exam
Elbow Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia
Autoimmune thyroiditis

See the full list on OFA.org

Grooming Low shedding year-round

Brush weekly (1–2 times), hand-strip the harsh coat 2–4 times a year — never clip, which softens the coat — check and clean the ears weekly, and trim nails every 3–4 weeks.

History

Origins

Korthals’ Dutch gundog

In 1873 the Dutch sportsman Eduard Karel Korthals (1851–1896) began developing a versatile pointing dog in the Netherlands, working from his kennel at Biebesheim am Rhein, Germany, from 1877.
Standardization

A standard of its own

Korthals and sixteen fellow breeders published the first official breed standard in 1887, and the AKC recognized the breed that same year. The Griffon Club of America formed in 1916, adopting a US breed standard.
Modern Companion

The versatile family gundog

The AKC recognized the American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association as the official parent club in 1991. Today the breed is the AKC’s 51st most popular by 2025 registrations — a tireless versatile gundog in the field and a devoted family companion at home.

Questions owners ask

Are Wirehaired Pointing Griffons easy to train?

Yes — they are known for trainability and a high degree of cooperation, so they learn fast in short, positive sessions of 5–10 minutes. They are sensitive by nature, so keep corrections light; harsh methods make them headstrong.

How many calories does a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon need per day?

An adult Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (35–70 lbs) typically needs about 780–1,685 kcal per day across adult maintenance to active work: about 780–1,310 kcal for maintenance and up to 1,000–1,685 kcal when active. Adjust to body condition and your vet’s advice.

What is the best diet and training treat for a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon?

Small, fast-eaten, high-value pieces. Keep every treat inside the 10% limit: about 80–130 kcal a day in total for an adult Wirehaired Pointing Griffon of typical size. If you use Saylor's freeze-dried liver, keep it to a small share of that, roughly 4–7 pieces a day: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should stay a topper, not a staple. Adjust for your own dog's size and body condition, and ask your vet if there is a health condition or special diet.

Are Wirehaired Pointing Griffons good for apartments or first-time owners?

Not ideal for apartments: they need 60–90 minutes of vigorous exercise every day and turn destructive without it. A committed first-time owner who can meet the exercise demand does well — they are eager, cooperative and devoted.

How much exercise does a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon require daily?

Most adults need 60–90 minutes of vigorous exercise daily — field work, retrieving, swimming — and hunting days run longer. Train recall on a long line, since the strong prey drive can override training, and keep it leashed outside fenced areas.

What health issues are Wirehaired Pointing Griffons prone to?

Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, eye conditions, ear infections, hypothyroidism and bloat. Ask for the CHIC tests: hip, elbow, thyroid and eye evaluations.

Freeze Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats

Back in stock soon

We're restocking. When it's back, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon needs only 4–7 pieces a day, well inside the 80–130 kcal treat limit.

See the product

Where the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon ranks

Health tests follow the OFA's CHIC program. The treat limit is 10% of daily calories for all treats combined. Every dog is different, so use this as a starting point and ask your vet about yours.