Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Dog Breed Information

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, often called the Korthals Griffon after its 19th-century Dutch developer Eduard Karel Korthals, is a versatile continental pointer that is increasingly visible in NZ rural hunting circles. The breed sits in the same broad space as the German Wirehaired Pointer (a wire-coated weatherproof continental gundog with a beard, eyebrows and serious working pedigree) but with a noticeably steadier temperament, better openness to strangers and a more relaxed adolescence. NZ owners coming from a GWP often describe the WPG as the gentler half of the wire-pointer pair.

Adults stand 50 to 60 cm at the shoulder and weigh 22 to 32 kg, smaller and lighter-built than a GWP. The wire coat is harsh, 5 to 6 cm long, with a softer undercoat, and presents the breed’s signature steel-grey base coat with brown markings, a brown beard and bushy eyebrows. Some lines run more brown roan or chestnut. Lifespan is 12 to 15 years, on the longer side for a sporting breed.

The breed is registered as the Griffon d’arret a poil dur Korthals in France (which considers itself the country of origin under FCI rules), and as the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon under NZKC, the AKC and the UK Kennel Club. Korthals himself was Dutch and developed the breed at kennels in Germany and later France, which is why the breed’s nationality is shared.

Personality and behaviour

WPGs are deeply affectionate with the household, friendly with strangers and good with kids and other dogs. The breed is one of the more biddable continental gundogs and tends to be easier to live with than a GWP through the first two years. Around children the breed is patient and tolerant; around toddlers, supervise the energy of an adolescent dog.

The trait that surprises new owners is the steady disposition. Where a GWP shows a noticeable territorial streak and reserved-with-strangers temperament, the WPG is generally more open at the gate, settles faster after greetings, and reads as a calmer dog overall. This is breed temperament, not faulty individuals; reputable NZ breeders see it consistently across litters.

Loneliness sits hard. The breed is bonded to the household and does not handle long workdays alone routinely. Daycare, a midday walker, working from home or a second dog for company is the realistic plan for most pet households.

The pointing and scenting drive is real. Off lead in paddocks or scrub, even pet-line dogs lock onto game scent, point and stop hearing recall for a stretch. The breed’s water-retrieving instinct is a touch stronger than the GWP and the breed enjoys swim work as part of the exercise routine. Around chickens, cats and small pets the breed needs careful introduction; lifestyle-block owners with poultry should plan early.

Care and exercise

Plan on 75 minutes of structured daily exercise, more for working dogs in roar season or duck season. The breed needs off-lead running, scent work, retrieve games, swim sessions or gundog training. Two on-lead 30-minute walks tire the body but not the brain. The breed is built for sustained pace and suits owners who tramp, hunt, run or bike with a dog.

Grooming is genuinely low-maintenance for a wire-coated breed but with one technical detail. Brush weekly with a slicker to remove dead undercoat hair. Hand-strip or use a stripping comb every 4 to 6 months to maintain the harsh outer coat texture; clipping the coat softens it over time and degrades the weatherproof function. Trim the beard, eyebrows and moustache as needed but do not shave. Bath every 6 to 8 weeks or after a muddy hunt. Most NZ pet owners learn to hand-strip at home or pay NZ$80 to NZ$130 for a professional strip every 4 to 6 months.

Check ears after every swim and rural walk. The dropped ear plus the beard combination traps moisture and grass seeds, and otitis is one of the more common claim types on NZ pet insurance for the breed.

The breed is moderately deep-chested. Bloat risk is lower than a GWP or a Vizsla but still meaningful; feed two smaller meals a day rather than one, avoid hard exercise within an hour of feeding, and use a slow-feeder bowl if the dog eats fast.

The wire weatherproof double coat is the breed’s selling point in NZ. Wellington wind and rain, Canterbury frosts, Otago and Southland winters are all comfortable for the breed without a coat. The breed performs particularly well in Southland and Otago hunting country, where NZ Deerstalkers Association and gamebird hunters work WPGs alongside GSPs and GWPs as primary dogs. Upper North Island summer heat needs management with shade, water and earlier walks; the double coat insulates more than it looks.

Where to find a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon in New Zealand

Three reasonable paths.

1. Registered NZKC breeders. The Dogs NZ breeders directory lists the small but growing number of registered WPG breeders in NZ. Expect a 12 to 24 month waitlist, NZ$2,800 to NZ$4,800 per puppy, and parent health screening (hip and elbow scores, eye certificates, thyroid panels, PRA DNA where relevant). Working-line breeders may also offer trial and hunting pedigree information.
2. Working-line and hunting networks. A meaningful share of NZ WPGs come through hunting and gundog networks (NZ Gundog Trial Association, regional gundog clubs, NZ Deerstalkers contacts) rather than general puppy advertising. Pedigrees emphasise hunting performance over conformation. Ask explicitly about parent temperament, hereditary issues and DNA testing the breeder has done.
3. Australian, UK and continental imports. The breed’s small NZ gene pool means imported semen and adult-dog imports from Australia, the UK and Europe are common ways to widen options. NZKC will recognise FCI and AKC papers from imported lines.

Avoid Trade Me listings without parent health screening and any breeder who can’t show you the dam in person. The breed’s small numbers in NZ make breeder accountability central; a confident, calm parent dog with hip and elbow scores and current eye certificates is the strongest single signal you can take from a breeder visit.