German Wirehaired Pointer: breed description, care, and photos

When hunting, humans aren't always key. Hunters often rely on a dog as an assistant, and this animal must be resilient and able to sniff out prey from long distances. The German Wirehaired Pointer (Drahthaar) perfectly meets these requirements. It doesn't require much explanation.

Therefore, when taking this dog hunting, a person can be confident they won't return empty-handed. This dog is loved not only for its well-developed hunting skills. It also makes a wonderful companion for the whole family, loved even by small children.

History of the breed's origin

The first specimens of the Drahthaar breed were bred in Germany in 19th centuryThen breeders set themselves the goal of creating a purebred dog with hunting skills that could maintain its strength for a long time. To achieve the desired appearance, It was necessary to cross several breeds: the Stichelhaar, the Poodle-Pointer and the KurzhaarAnd the breeders were right to take this step—they succeeded in creating an entirely new breed with unique hunting skills, which has long enjoyed great popularity in many countries.

German Wirehaired Pointer: Breed Description

These dogs are extremely versatile, being equally effective at hunting in the forest and on water. They are excellent swimmers, making them capable of easily retrieving game that has fallen far from shore. A valuable quality is a firm and balanced character., so they obey commands without question and are ready to rush in search of prey immediately after a shot. No game can frighten them; they will pursue it until they find a rabbit or a duck.

According to the description, the Drahthaar is a wire-haired animal with a coat 2–4 cm long. Therefore, grooming is not a problem. These dogs are highly intelligent and excel as guard dogs, as they easily learn all commands and are ready to carry out any order from their owner without hesitation.

Adults of this breed stand 60–69 cm tall and can weigh up to 35 kg. The head is in excellent proportion to the body. This animal is incredibly powerful.When walking or running, this four-legged hunting companion makes very smooth and graceful movements. A distinctive feature of this breed is a strong jaw with well-developed teeth. Their muscular body is also striking, making it difficult to see wrinkles. Traditionally, purebred representatives of this breed have a coat color of a mixture of brown and white or black and white.

Advantages

Caring for a German Wirehaired Pointer is fairly easy, as it thrives in a city apartment, where a small corner is all it takes. A German Wirehaired Pointer can be kept in a kennel or indoors, where your family can interact with it. These dogs are social animals., so they need to interact with people. Therefore, it's not advisable to leave this animal alone for long periods of time, as this can lead to depression.

These dogs require a high level of activity, so you'll keep him happy by taking him on morning runs, swims in the lake, or afternoon walks in the park. The Drahthaar has a balanced character., which many owners will appreciate. After all, with this animal, you can remain calm even when encountering stray dogs or cats on the street.

A valuable hunting skill for the German Wirehaired Pointer is its remarkable sense of smell, making it easy for it to locate prey. When hunting with a German Wirehaired Pointer, you can be sure your prey won't escape.

Dog character

Purebred Drahthaars are distinguished not only by their highly developed intelligence, but also by their extraordinary activity. In his person a person will find a sincere assistant, who will offer their services even when their help isn't needed. But to calm your dog's ardor and avoid worrying about the house being disrupted by your pet's running around, take them for walks every day.

You should regularly monitor your pet's condition: if you notice that he is barking or doing mischief, then most likely something has frightened him or he is bored. A long separation will not pass without leaving a trace for him., as this could damage your personal belongings or relieve themselves on the carpet. While you shouldn't hold a grudge against your pet, you should also let them know that this behavior isn't appropriate.

The German Wirehaired Pointer is an excellent candidate for a guard dog role. This is clearly demonstrated by its excellent characteristics. But To train him to be a guard, you will have to put in a lot of effortThat's why it's best to start teaching your dog basic commands while he's still a puppy. This process is lengthy, but if you practice regularly, you'll eventually succeed.

German Wirehaired Pointers are wary of strangers and will watch them closely when they approach. It's crucial to anticipate your pet's potential actions. To do this, You must change his attitude towards strangers, so take care of its socialization. Try to take it for walks in places where there will be other people. If possible, introduce the dog to your friends and acquaintances. Over time, the German Wirehaired Pointer will no longer be wary of new people and will become receptive to even new acquaintances.

Drahthaar: reviews and care recommendations

Dogs of this breed have very dense, wiry fur and can groom themselves. This eliminates the need for owners to bathe their dogs frequently. you can limit yourself to water treatments once or twice a yearThe Drahthaar can also do without clipping, which can be replaced by regular brushing with a stiff brush.

The German Wirehaired Pointer is a great breed to show with. But to do so, you must prepare your pet. First and foremost,It is important to pay attention to the head and neck, which need to be trimmed regularly to remove any loose hairs. Don't forget about their claws and teeth, which also need to be well-groomed.

Drahthaar puppies are generally not very troublesome, but if you keep them in a small apartment, try to take them for walks as often as possible.

Diseases

To keep your puppy happy and less likely to get sick, you should take him for walks every day. But at the same time, you we must not forget about physical activityThese dogs are full of boundless energy that needs to be put to good use. However, if they aren't given enough attention, they're at risk of developing a number of health problems:

• Hip dysplasia;
• Diabetes;
• Otitis;
• Bloating;
• Hypothyroidism;
• Eczema;
• Dermatitis.

All of these painful conditions can be avoided by regularly monitoring your puppy's condition and having regular checkups with your veterinarian.

Nutrition

The basis of this hunting dog's diet should be natural foods. German Wirehaired Pointers are not picky eaters, so they will happily consume:

• porridge with meat;
• fermented milk products;
• vegetables and fruits.

It wouldn't be a mistake to include specialized dry food in your pet's diet. You should be especially careful with young puppies. because their diet should include at least 5-6 meals, and portions should be small. After all, at this stage of development, they haven't yet developed the necessary skills to control their food intake. If you don't monitor this, there's a risk of overfeeding them. If this happens, there's a risk of volvulus.

As your puppy gets older, feed him less frequently, while increasing his portion size. Make it a rule to clean his bowl after each meal, as leftover food can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria.

Make sure that the diet contains protein, which the animal’s young body needs so much. A small puppy's diet should definitely include mineral supplements and food., rich in chondroitin. These substances are essential for the normal development of dog ligaments.

Education and training of the Drahthaar

Any small puppy in the house makes the owner want to have fun with it. However, remember that you are dealing with a hunting dog, so it's important to train it accordingly. Therefore, you should create a training program for it so that it begins to develop its natural instincts from the very first days it lives in your home.

Teaching him basic commands isn't enough. A young hunter shouldn't be afraid of gunshots or water. In animals of this breed the ability to swim is inherent from birth, but sometimes there are individuals who, even with time, are unable to overcome their fear of water. What should one do in this situation?

How to accustom a puppy to water?

Forget about using brute force or raising your voice at the dog right away. You can help him cope with his fears, if you are patient and help him develop swimming skills with affection and love.

• To do this, you should find a small body of water, go to it with the puppy and sit down by the water;
• your pet will not ignore your activity and will definitely join you;
• Next time, try going into the water up to your ankles and then call the dog.

A simple game of ball can help the German Wirehaired Pointer get used to water: start throwing the ball into the water, and then ask the German Wirehaired Pointer to retrieve it. A puppy who loves to chase a ball, will likely overcome his fear and comply with your request. And over time, he'll gradually be able to move further into the water, which will eventually help him start swimming.

Don't be discouraged if he doesn't demonstrate the skills of a skilled swimmer at first. Just be patient and wait, and soon he'll be able to retrieve game for you from even the deepest waters with ease.

What else do you need to know?

Many owners fall so deeply in love with dogs of this breed that some even want to breed them. But there are a few things to keep in mind. Forget about crossing brown wirehaired pointers with black and silver ones or two silver and black dogsThis decision was made by the German breeding code. The main reason given is that the offspring of such dogs will inherit their maternal characteristics, resulting in them being more similar to Poodle-Pointers.

Although no one will control how you fulfill this requirement, still try to choose the other parent for mating.

Conclusion

German Wirehaired Pointers were originally bred as hunting dogs, but today many people want to acquire these animals to add a companion to their family. Now, this goal is achievable, and it won't be a problem. After all, even in a city apartment A dog of this breed can feel comfortable. However, it's important to remember that these dogs are incredibly active creatures that need to expend their energy somewhere. Therefore, unless you're an avid hunter, you'll need to take your pet for walks regularly.

It's good if you maintain an active lifestyle and regularly go for morning jogs. Then the dog will keep you company. Try to keep your German Wirehaired Pointer in company at all times, as this is one of the important requirements for its normal developmentBut be careful, as he's wary of strangers and in some cases may even show aggression. However, if you start introducing him to new people from an early age, this won't be a big problem.