The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon: temperament, price, health, and breeders

The Griffon Korthals is an ancient breed of pointing dog whose similar types were already mentioned in Antiquity. Its modern development is however associated with the work of Eduard Karel Korthals in the 19th century, who established the breed through selection with the objective of obtaining a rustic, versatile and effective hunting dog. The FCI definitively recognized the Griffon Korthals in 1954, and France is linked to the origin of the breed in current canine references.

The Griffon Korthals is a medium-sized dog, solid and vigorous, registered in a format a little longer than tall. Its long and expressive head is marked by bushy eyebrows, a moustache and a characteristic beard that give it a determined look. Its coat is harsh, coarse, neither curly nor woolly, with a fine and dense undercoat, with coats often steel grey marked with brown, brown roan, white and brown or white and orange.

Lively, gentle and affectionate, the Griffon Korthals is very attached to its owner and readily seeks to please him. It is an intelligent dog, with a true working temperament, a strong hunting instinct and a good sense of territory. At home, it is pleasant and close to its family, including with children, while keeping a sufficiently assertive character to require a consistent framework.

The Griffon Korthals needs movement, exploration and regular activities to stay balanced. It thrives clearly better in a house with a garden and long daily outings than in an apartment. An outdoor dog at heart, it likes wide open spaces, the countryside, the undergrowth and wet terrain, and can become noisy or frustrated if its need for exercise is not respected.

Its training must be firm, consistent and fair, because the Griffon Korthals is intelligent but not always very obedient. Early socialization and regular learning help it to properly channel its energy, its hunting instinct and a possible tendency toward dominance over certain fellow dogs, especially between males. It responds better to an available, active and consistent owner than to harsh or irregular training.

The Griffon Korthals generally remains in an affordable price range for a medium-sized purebred dog, but the price depends heavily on the seriousness of the breeding kennel, the origins and the selection work carried out on the breeding dogs. A consistent price must come with health monitoring, compliant identification and good initial socialization.

The Griffon Korthals is overall a hardy and solid dog, well equipped against cold and bad weather thanks to its robust build and protective coat. Like many medium-sized working breeds, it nevertheless remains important to monitor its locomotor system and to maintain good veterinary follow-up throughout life.

The Griffon Korthals needs good-quality food, adapted to its medium size, its high activity level and its physiological condition. As an active pointing dog, it benefits from a stable, digestible ration that is sufficiently rich to support endurance without promoting unnecessary weight gain.

The Griffon Korthals is also known under several similar names in the canine literature, but the name used here is Griffon Korthals. Its beard, moustache and abundant eyebrows make it one of the most recognizable pointing dogs. Its hardiness and versatility on varied terrain explain its lasting reputation among hunters.