Mychelle Klose - Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Dogs are very devoted, loyal and great friends with their owners. When you come home you can see the delight from your dog. He is so happy to see you. He loves to do anything you want to do even if it is just vegging on the couch. Owning a dog is a big commitment. You are responsible for this little bundle of fur for a long time. You have to feed him, train him, take him to the vet and make sure he stays healthy, keep him off the streets, keep him from disturbing the neighbors and many more responsibilities. Dog ownership is a long term financial and emotional commitment for up to 18 years with some breeds.

Is your lifestyle able to include a dog? Are you home enough to look after a dog? All dogs are different and you have to make sure that you get a dog that will fit into your lifestyle. If you are a runner you probably wont want a couch potato dog. If you dont like to vacuum dont get a dog that sheds a lot.

Decide what characteristics that you want in a dog. You have to decide on what size of dog you want, his temperament, guard dog or lap dog, energy level, how easy is he to train and how much grooming he will need. If you have picked the wrong dog and it doesnt fit into your lifestyle or family he could end up in an animal shelter looking for a new home. I am sure this is not what you want. Choose your dog carefully.

Wire Haired Pointing Griffon

Dog Group: Sporting

Height: Males 22 - 24 inches at the shoulder

Females 20 - 22 inches

Weight: 50 - 70 pounds

Life Span: 12 - 14 years

Coat Colors: steel gray with brown, white and orange, white and solid brown, white and brown

The Wire Haired Pointing Griffon is a medium sized dog. They hunt birds and waterfowl. They are handsome with a very distinguishing look. They have thick eyebrows, beards and moustaches. The beard is about 2 inches long. The head has a slightly rounded top. The eyes are yellow or brown. The nose is brown with wide open nostrils which help his powerful sense of smell. The nose has 25 times more smell receptors than humans. The teeth meet in a scissor bite. The ears are pendant shaped and set at the top of the head and hang down, lying against the head. The tail is carried high and in countries that allow docking, the tail is docked. When the tail wags it means that the dog is on to something. When the dog freezes the dog has found it. The feet are webbed for easy swimming and well padded for going in the bush. This dog is longer than he is tall. The coat is wiry, dry and stiff. It continues to develop until the age of three. It is a double coat and the undercoat is soft and thick. The outer coat is about 2 inches long. The coat is water resistant and protects them for brambles. This dog handles cold weather really well. The head of the dog is always liver or black colored and the body is roan or ticked. These dogs are extremely rare with the American Kennel Club registering only 92 litters in 2007.

Temperament

This dog is known as the 4 wheel drive of hunting dogs. It is a superb companion dog in rough terrain and weather. It retrieves and tracks game fowl. This dog loves to swim and if it sees a lake it will jump in. They are dogs that love people. They should be comprehensively socialized starting as a young pup. Take them out to meet new people, children, other pets and loud noises. This will make them a calmer dog. Let them know that you are the pack leader. If you don't the Griffon will have dominance problems and they will become stubborn and not easy to handle. These dogs are very determined trackers. They need to be kept physically and mentally fit. They are not suitable for apartment living. They need to be able to run and get exercise. If you can give them the exercise that they need they are very good natured dogs. Even very affectionate and they are very loyal. They are very good with children. This dog is a very good watchdog and can think for himself. The Griffon is a gentle dog but is high energy and needs lots of exercise. This dog is an all-around gun dog that can track, point and retrieve. This dog needs to be with his family, he is very family oriented. He should not be left alone outside. Your yard should be properly fenced. They are highly trainable and very easy going in nature. They are not as excitable when they are not out in the field which makes them a great companion in the house. They are slow to mature so it has been said "The nice thing about a Griffon is that you get to have a puppy for a long time and a bad thing about a Griffon is that you get to have a puppy for a long time.

Health

The Wire Haired Pointing Griffon as with other breeds of dogs can be prone to certain health problems. It is very important that you select a reputable breeder. Not all Wire Haired Pointing Griffons will get these health problems but it is important that you know about them.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia is a genetic flaw in all dogs. It can happen to a dog at any age but usually happens in larger dogs that grow quickly. Find out about your puppies parents. Dog breeders should have a set of x-rays taken of the mother and the father taken at 2 years of age to see if their dogs have hip dysplasia. If they do they have hip dysplasia they should not be bred. The results of these x-rays can be seen at www.offa.org The breeder should also be able to show certificates that the parents are okay. With Hip Dysplasia the hip joint fits poorly into the socket. As the dogs gets older the joint will become wobbly making the joint have tenderness and pain. All activity for the dog is painful. The dog will be less mobile and will have difficulty getting up. This condition can be treated medically or surgically. The veterinarian will decide depending on how severe it is. Griffons should not be allowed to get over- weight.