Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. Nikki Moustaki
become gun-shy with poor training methods, though in no greater numbers than in any other breed. In other words, there’s no real temperament problem in the WPG, and this gun-shyness can be solved using desensitization methods.
Proper training will yield a top-notch hunting dog who will stop at nothing to please his owner. The WPG is poetry in motion in the field.
Training must be done with a light hand. Heavy-handed and rough training methods do not work with this dog and will only succeed in taxing the relationship between dog and owner. The Griff will hold a grudge and remember exactly the treatment afforded him. Someone who can’t control his temper should think of getting another breed or no dog at all. This breed is particularly intelligent and doesn’t need an extreme training protocol. It does require, however, a lot of positive reinforcement and praise.
Many breed enthusiasts seem to prefer females to males, finding them more eager to learn, less stubborn and more physically agile than males. But there’s no definitive way to choose a Griff puppy, male or female, that will be easily trainable or make a great hunter. Simply choose the sex of the puppy that you want and pick the one from the litter that most attracts you. You’re as likely to get a good dog or a fair one whether you use this method or sit around for days watching the pups. There are temperament tests, however, that might separate the slackers from the go-getters, but whether or not a puppy performs well during these tests has a lot to do with whether or not the pup is tired from playing in the morning, what it has eaten and several other factors. Many male hunters prefer to work with female pups and female hunters like to work with male pups, so this is also a factor in how people choose their new Griff.
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIP DYSPLASIA?
X-ray of a dog with “Good” hips.
X-ray of a dog with “Moderate” dysplastic hips.
Hip dysplasia is a fairly common condition found in pure-bred dogs. When a dog has hip dysplasia, his hind leg has an incorrectly formed hip joint. By constant use of the hip joint, it becomes more and more loose, wears abnormally and may become arthritic.
Hip dysplasia can only be confirmed with an x-ray, but certain symptoms may indicate a problem. Your dog may have a hip dysplasia problem if he walks in a peculiar manner, hops instead of smoothly runs, uses his hind legs in unison (to keep the pressure off the weak joint), has trouble getting up from a prone position or always sits with both legs together on one side of his body.
As the dog matures, he may adapt well to life with a bad hip, but in a few years the arthritis develops and many dogs with hip dysplasia become crippled.
Hip dysplasia is considered an inherited disease and can be diagnosed definitively by x-ray only when the dog is two years old, although symptoms often appear earlier. Some experts claim that a special diet might help your puppy outgrow the bad hip, but the usual treatments are surgical. The removal of the pectineus muscle, the removal of the round part of the femur, reconstructing the pelvis and replacing the hip with an artificial one are all surgical interventions that are expensive, but they are usually very successful. Follow the advice of your veterinarian.
Training a pup or young dog for hunting includes socializing (introducing) him to all of the situations he will encounter, and potentially be afraid of or confused by, in the field. These include water, gunfire, different types of cover and terrain and, of course, birds and other game. Obviously, the pup also has to learn the recall (come) command and to retrieve as well as other basic obedience exercises.
Griff pups house-train very easily and will learn to do their “business” outside in a matter of two or three weeks. Settling down inside the house is another matter. A WPG pup is an energetic bundle of pure exploration, and an owner should take care that the tyke doesn’t get into anything he shouldn’t. Puppy-proofing a home is important when a Griff pup is present. Crate-training is great for this breed, although it is important to remember that the crate is not a prison but a comfortable place where the pup can go to relax.
OFA Hip Dysplasia Numbers* (1071 dogs tested)
| Excellent: | 21.8% |
| Good: | 60.7% |
| Fair: | 9.6% |
| Mild: | 3.6% |
| Moderate: | 3.0% |
| Severe: | 0.6% |
*from 2003 statistics
HEALTH CONCERNS
The WPG breed is lucky—it has relatively few genetic concerns. There are incidences of hip dysplasia, a hereditary defect of the hip joint, but responsible breeding has lowered the occurrence of the condition to 10% for the entire breed. No puppy is immune to the genetic condition, but making sure that the pup’s parents have been certified as being “excellent” or “good” by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or the University of Pennsylvania’s Hip Improvement Program (PennHIP) is the best way to try to avoid the condition. Between “good” and “mild” hip status is a class of dogs called “fair.” Some people believe that these “fair” dogs should not be bred, so use your best judgment when buying a pup.
Panosteitis, or growing pains, can sometimes affect the Griff. The long bones can become inflamed, causing pain and sudden lameness. Diagnosis is done by x-ray.
Griffs are very affectionate dogs, responding positively to loving attention and approval from their owners.
Entropion can occur in the WPG’s eyelids, causing the eyelashes to rub against the sensitive tissues of the eye. This is a genetic problem and is very painful to the dog, requiring surgery to correct it. A dog affected by entropion which has been surgically corrected cannot compete in dog shows.
THE IDEAL GRIFF OWNER
The ideal owner for a WPG is an individual avid hunter or a hunting family. Many people see photos of the Griff and decide that they would love to wake up every day to that charming, woolly face. The reality is, however, that not everyone is the ideal owner for this breed, no matter how cute its fuzzy face is or how good the prospective owner’s intentions are. This dog loves—and lives—to hunt. He will not be content as a house dog, nor will any amount of jogging satisfy his energy level. He needs to burn off hunting energy, not just physical energy.
Breeders are producing better, faster and more instinct-driven dogs. Bringing one of these dogs into a pet-only home is like lighting matches in a gasoline refinery. These dogs want and need to hunt. Most are only truly happy running 5 miles or more through cover each day, following scents and pointing game. This doesn’t mean that you have to hunt every day—or that you have to hunt at all—but you have to allow the dog to hunt, no matter if you’re going to shoot a bird or not. According to some breed enthusiasts, the WPG that isn’t allowed to hunt will get flabby and soft and will lose some of his personality. The Griff is happiest when working hard.
These dogs also like to retrieve and find great pleasure in doing a good job for their owners. They are great at retrieving a ball (when there’s no dead bird to bring back) and will play ball tirelessly with the kids until the kids are exhausted.