Wirehaired Pointing Griffon – Korthals Griffon

Breed Profile

Initially named the Korthals Griffon after E.K. Korthals of Holland who developed the breed, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is of Dutch origin but mainly seen as a French breed because the majority of the development of the breed took place in France. The Korthals was developed as a sporting dog that could rival the performance of English gun dogs. He was, however, bred to be better adapted to working in extreme cold, on marshy ground and in thick undergrowth. He is an all-purpose sporting dog, developed for hunting upland game, waterfowl, furred game, as well as for tracking deer and wild boar. He is spirited, rugged, athletic and energetic.

The Wirehaired Griffon is known to be very trainable, intelligent and eager to please, as well as being very people oriented and affectionate. Because of these characteristics, he makes a good companion as well as a hunter.

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is excellent in the field and in the water. His keen sense of smell also makes him a natural at tracking. Other than being a wonderful companion and hunting dog, he is also successful in the show ring, obedience, agility, and search and rescue.

Physically, the Pointing Griffon is of medium size with a noble, square-shaped head. He has an unkempt appearance, wears a mustache and eyebrows. His expressive eyes are either brown or yellow and his nose is always brown. His outer coat is harsh, dry, stiff and protective, while he also has a downy undercoat. His colours are either steel grey with chestnut splashes, grey white with chestnut splashes, chestnut, or dirty white mixed with chestnut.

Health Issues

If you are considering the adoption of a Griffon puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy’s parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main General Information.)

Additional Health Resources:

• Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) — Providing a source of health information for owners, breeders, and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs. CHIC is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
• Health and Nutrition — Growing section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website which includes information on several health and nutrition related issues.
• AKC Canine Health Foundation — Working towards developing scientific advances in canine health.
• Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF)
• Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
• Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
• University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip)
• HealthGene — HealthGene Corporation is the leading provider of veterinary DNA diagnostic services in Canada.
• Labgenvet — Laboratory of Veterinary Genetics is a Canadian diagnostic laboratory that offers a comprehensive service of DNA tests for veterinary genetic diseases.

Grooming Information

• Grooming — This section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada.

Training Resources

• Training — For training information, see this growing section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.

Additional Information

• Clubs, Sports & Activities — For information on the many sports and activities you can get involved in with your dog.
• Working Dogs — The Working Dogs section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website provides information and listings of organizations that are involved in various dog jobs, such as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, Protection Dogs, and much more.

*NOTE 1: CHIC – The Canine Health Information Center “is a database of consolidated health screening results from multiple sources. Co-sponsored by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Health Foundation, CHIC works with parent clubs to identify health screening protocols appropriate for individual breeds. Dogs tested in accordance with the parent club established requirements, that have their results registered and made available in the public domain are issued CHIC numbers.” To learn more, visit: www.caninehealthinfo.org

*NOTE 2: The Fédération Cynologique International (FCI) is the World Canine Organization, which includes 91 members and contract partners (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI recognizes 344 breeds, with each being the “property” of a specific country. The “owner” countries write the standards of these breeds in co-operation with the Standards and Scientific Commissions of the FCI, and the translation and updating are carried out by the FCI. The FCI is not a breed registry nor does it issue pedigrees.