Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer Dog Breed Information
Also known as: Slovenský hrubosrstý stavač, Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer
A versatile wire-coated HPR gundog developed in Slovakia after WWII from Weimaraner, German Wirehaired Pointer and Cesky Fousek crosses. Very rare in NZ.
A highly affectionate, highly trainable, great with young children dog. On the practical side: minimal drool and low shedding.
About the Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer.
The Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer is a rare wire-coated HPR gundog with the classic Weimaraner grey colour, used by serious gundog handlers across Central Europe and only present in tiny numbers in NZ. The breed combines Weimaraner trainability, German Wirehaired Pointer toughness and Cesky Fousek versatility into a single all-weather working dog.
Personality and behaviour
Affectionate with the family and a one-handler dog at work. Reserved with strangers in a quiet, observing way rather than barking. Pack-oriented enough to work alongside other dogs in the field, particular about which household dogs it shares space with.
Care and exercise
90 minutes a day of off-lead exercise minimum. The wire coat hand-strips twice a year and brushes once a week the rest of the time. Watch for bloat by splitting meals and avoiding heavy work around feeding. Best suited to a NZ lifestyle block or farm where the breed has paddock access and a job.
The Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 4.0Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Dogs
Physical
avg 2.0Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Drooling
Social
avg 3.5Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Watchdog / Protective
Adaptability
Personality
avg 4.3Trainability
Energy Level
Barking Level
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer costs about
$308per month
$71
$10
$53,050
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$117 / mo
$1,400/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$87 / mo
$1,040/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$44 / mo
$530/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$23 / mo
$280/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$38 / mo
$450/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $4,500 + setup $450) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer compare?
This breed
Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer
$53,050
13-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$4,950
- Food (lifetime)$18,200
- Vet (lifetime)$6,890
- Insurance (lifetime)$13,520
- Grooming (lifetime)$3,640
- Other (lifetime)$5,850
Reference
Average NZ medium dog
$38,920
12-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,200
- Food (lifetime)$13,200
- Vet (lifetime)$6,000
- Insurance (lifetime)$11,400
- Grooming (lifetime)$2,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,720
A Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer costs about $14,130 more over a lifetime than the average nz medium dog, mostly higherfood and higherpurchase + setup.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZKC breeders test for these conditions and share results without being prompted. If a breeder won't share screening results, that is itself an answer.
Occasional
2 conditionsHip dysplasia
An occasional condition in the Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer. Worth asking about and DNA testing where available.
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)
An occasional condition in the Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer. Worth asking about and DNA testing where available.
Rare but urgent
1 conditionHypothyroidism
Rare in the Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer but worth knowing the warning signs.
The Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer in NZ.
- Popularity: Extremely rare. Under 5 NZKC registrations in most years if any.
- Typical price: NZ$3500–5500 from registered breeders
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Wire coat handles wet South Island shooting; manage Northland summer heat.
- Living space: Lifestyle block or farm with serious gundog work.
Who the Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer is for.
Suits
- Versatile gundog handlers wanting a wire-coated grey breed
- Active rural households
Less suited to
- Apartment living
- Sedentary households
Common questions.
How is it different from a wirehaired Weimaraner?
Are there any in NZ?
If the Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Weimaraner
Tall, athletic German pointing breed with a distinctive silver-grey coat and very high drive. Suits experienced active households and gundog homes; does not suit quiet apartment life or long workdays.
German Wirehaired Pointer
The wirehaired version of the GSP. A versatile German hunting dog with a weather-resistant beard-and-eyebrow coat, popular in NZ rural and gamebird hunting circles. All-weather all-terrain working dog with serious daily exercise needs.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
The versatile Dutch-French wire pointer developed by Eduard Korthals in the late 19th century. Steady, biddable, all-weather all-terrain hunting dog with a steel-grey and brown wire coat. Increasingly visible in NZ rural hunting circles.
Italian Spinone
A large, hairy, droll-faced Italian versatile gundog. Famously calm in the home, surprisingly active in the field, and one of the gentler-tempered continental pointers held by NZ gundog and lifestyle-block households.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.