01/25/2024
The GWP is not a German Shorthaired Pointer with different hair. The two breeds were developed separately (the Shorthair is slightly older), and there are significant differences. The Wirehaired has a slightly larger and sturdier build with a longer body, and its head is also shaped differently. The GWP’s brows should be well developed, while the GSP’s brows should be moderately developed. People who’ve hunted with both say that a Wirehairs’ point tends to be less angular and more solidly balanced, as if the dog is growing out of the ground. We read one article that opined that “if the German Shorthaired Pointer is the sports car of the dock-tail pointing breeds, then consider the German Wirehaired Pointer a muddy ranch pickup.” Vivid.
These Pointers trace their origins back to the late 1800s in Germany. There, breeders wanted a rugged, versatile hunting dog that would work closely with either one person or a small party of people hunting on foot in varied terrain; from the mountainous regions of the Alps, to dense forests, to more open areas with farms and small towns.
In 1959, the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Photo of Norman by Cindy Rodeback
