Plate 144 · Continental Europe
German Wirehaired Pointer
德国刚毛指示犬
“Germany's all-weather pointer.”
- Origin
- Germany
- Country of origin
- The point is a reference position in the country of origin.
- Era
- Late 19th century
- Today
- Gun dog · Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Germany
A versatile German hunting dog with a harsh, weatherproof wire coat and a beard.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
An all-round gun dog for work in the field, woods and water, before and after the shot.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
German hunters of the 19th century bred wire-coated pointing dogs; the early Drahthaar combined Griffon, Stichelhaar, Pudelpointer and German Shorthair blood. The FCI accepted it in 1954.
04 · Today
Gun dog · Companion
One of Germany's most numerous hunting dogs, and a companion for active owners.
Personality
- Affectionate
- Eager
- Enthusiastic
- Versatile
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- High energy: long walks, hikes and work in the field.
- Grooming
- Low maintenance: weekly combing; check the ears.
- Training
- Intelligent and eager to please; early socialization.
Living with one
- Size
- Medium
- Lifespan
- 14–16 years
- Coat
- Harsh, flat, wiry, water-repellent coat with a beard; liver and white or solid liver
Field note
According to the German kennel club (VDH), about 3,000 Drahthaar puppies a year were registered in Germany from 2010 to 2024.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Sporting Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (Group 7, standard 98), VDH (Germany)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Sporting Group, recognized 1959.
In Germany it made up about 4% of all puppy registrations in 2010–2024, according to the German kennel club (VDH). AKC registrations: ranked 58 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- German Wirehaired Pointer — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/german-wirehaired-pointer/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- German Wirehaired Pointer — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Wirehaired_Pointer
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Griffon-type German pointer, FCI 1954, German registration figures 2010–2024.
- German Wire-haired Pointing Dog — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/GERMAN-WIRE-HAIRED-POINTING-DOG-98.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Germany; Group 7, section "Continental Pointing Dogs"; accepted 1954.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions.
