How They Look

The German Wirehaired Pointer (GWP) is a large hunting breed with a coarse, wiry coat that’s the most obvious feature of the breed. Color of the hair coat should be liver and white or black and white, ticked or roan although an occasional solid liver color is possible. Their tails are generally docked to roughly forty percent of full length.

How They Grow 

German Wirehairs are large dogs and grow at a fairly rapid pace. For adult dogs, height usually ranges from 22 to 26 inches from the ground to the highest point of the shoulders and weight usually ranges between 55 and 75 pounds. While you don’t want them to grow too fast it’s important to keep them well fed as they can become too lean.

How They Hunt

The German Wirehaired Pointer is a good all-around gun dog that’s proficient in hunting many types of game on a broad range of terrain. It’s a versatile hunting breed that will track, point, and retrieve on land and water. They’re generally sturdy, well muscled and fairly athletic despite a sometimes stocky appearance. Their wiry, durable coat makes them a natural and determined hunter even in rough and rugged cover.

How They Behave

The German Wirehair is an affectionate hunting companion to the immediate family but can seem aloof or standoffish to strangers. They’re very loyal and make excellent family and hunting companions provided they’re kept active. They’re a common choice for people looking for a solid hunting companion that have allergies to hair from dogs.

What To Feed

Hunting GWPs are about equally likely to struggle to maintain weight as to easily maintain it. We generally recommend starting on the Power 30K formula and possibly switching to the Active 26K formula if your dog seems to be putting on more weight than desired.