Breed library

German Wirehaired Pointer

German Wirehaired Pointer photograph.
Dan vom hardenberg (cropped).jpg - JainaKo. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dan_vom_hardenberg_(cropped).jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Breed overview

The German Wirehaired Pointer, or Deutsch Drahthaar, is a German pointing breed of Griffon type.

  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: GermanyBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • Deutsch Drahthaar is the German name for the German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • The FCI definitively accepted the breed in 1954.
  • It belongs to the German pointing-dog family and is related to the German Short-haired Pointer, German Long-haired Pointer and Large Munsterlander.

Size and appearance

The source records male heights of 61-68 cm and female heights of 57-64 cm. These are breed-reference ranges, not measurements of an individual dog.

  • Height reference: 57 cm or moreBreed reference height. female, minimum.
  • Height reference: Up to 64 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum.
  • Height reference: Up to 68 cmBreed reference height. male, maximum.
  • Height reference: 61 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum.
  • Height category: tall

Personality and behavior

Care planning: record what your dog enjoys, how they greet visitors, and how they respond to new places. Add notes after walks and training so you can see their habits over time. Where this profile includes behavior research, use the same named measures when comparing your shortlist.

  • Attachment and attention seeking (C-BARQ mean): 2.14 / 4Owner-reported attachment and attention seeking factor mean for US reference population German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Chasing (C-BARQ mean): 2.74 / 4Owner-reported chasing factor mean for US reference population German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Dog-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.65 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Dog-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.62 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed fear factor mean for US reference population German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Energy (C-BARQ mean): 2.57 / 4Owner-reported energy factor mean for US reference population German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Excitability (C-BARQ mean): 2.36 / 4Owner-reported excitability factor mean for US reference population German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Familiar-dog aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.36 / 4Owner-reported familiar-dog aggression factor mean for US reference population German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Non-social fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.50 / 4Owner-reported non-social fear factor mean for US reference population German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Owner-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.11 / 4Owner-reported owner-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Separation-related problems (C-BARQ mean): 0.70 / 4Owner-reported separation-related problems factor mean for US reference population German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Stranger-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.49 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Stranger-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.52 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed fear factor mean for US reference population German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Touch sensitivity (C-BARQ mean): 0.49 / 4Owner-reported touch sensitivity factor mean for US reference population German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Trainability (C-BARQ mean): 2.75 / 4Owner-reported trainability factor mean for US reference population German Wirehaired Pointer.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

Health and lifespan

A 2024 UK study found a median longevity of 13 years for the breed, close to the average of 12.5 for all dogs.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

Compare breeds

Compare supported adult height and weight ranges, matching research measures and sourced coat and care categories.

Add German Wirehaired Pointer to a comparison

Breed history

The FCI definitively accepted the breed in 1954. German registration figures in the source cover 2010 to 2024; they describe registrations in that country, not worldwide popularity.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  2. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  3. File:Dan vom hardenberg (cropped).jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Dan vom hardenberg (cropped).jpg - JainaKo. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dan_vom_hardenberg_(cropped).jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0.
  4. German Wirehaired Pointer - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, German Wirehaired Pointer, revision 1369336556. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_Wirehaired_Pointer&action=history
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.