German Pointer (Wirehaired)
Group: Gundog
Size: Large
Coat length: Medium
Grooming required: More than once a week
Coat sheds: No
Home size: Large House
Garden size: Large
Lifespan: Over 10 Years
Exercise: More than an hour per day
They are a medium-sized, well-proportioned dog. The German Pointer actually comes in three coat types, the shorthaired, the longhaired and the wirehaired (for a description of the Shorthaired and Longhaired Pointers click here). All coat types come in combinations of liver, white and black. Wirehaireds are between the Short and Longhaireds in terms of size. Their coat is more weather repellent and helps to protect them against prickly undergrowth; it is about 4cms long and gives them a rather bearded look.
They were bred in Germany for hunting so had to be good at tracking, pointing and retrieving across both land and water, but they were also bred to be a family pet and watchdog. Affectionate, intelligent and eager to learn, they are very trainable and excel at gundog work but also at obedience and in the show ring. They are happiest when they have a job to do and are normally good natured with all people and animals. They are extremely energetic and need plenty of opportunity to run and swim on a regular basis.
The coat is fairly easy to groom but does need occasional stripping. They can be prone to eye and ear problems and skin cancers but are usually a healthy breed because breeders are encouraged to have breeding stock hip scored and eye tested. When looking for a puppy the questions about health testing should be asked of the breeder.