The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Presented By:American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association

American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association

The American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association, also known as theAWPGA, was formed April 22, 1990. This was in response to theimplementation of a breed restoration program by the Wirehaired PointingGriffon Club of America. The WPGCA was founded in 1951 by BrigadeerGeneral Thomas Deforth Rogers. Initially the WPGCA relied heavily onAKC input and approval but as time passed they drifted further away fromthe AKC’s standards for purebred dogs. In the early 1980’s the WPGCAfelt the Griffon, as a breed, was in serious trouble. They felt there were 3possible ways to rejuvenate, what they termed a “failing breed.” Themethods they examined were the use of salvaged material from theremaining population, the use of imports of the same breed, or the use ofrelated breeds. They settled on the third method-the use of related breeds.In 1986, after several years of trying to determine the best breed for theinfusion of new blood, they settled upon the Czech Fousek and the firstbreeding of the “improved Griffons” took place. With the implementationof this regenerative refreshment program, the purebred Griffon enthusiastsdecided to break away. Hence the formation of the American WirehairedPointing Griffon Association. The AWPGA then went on to become theAKC recognized parent club for the breed.

The goals of the American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association are asfollows:

• To encourage and promote quality in the breeding of the purebredWirehaired Pointing Griffon.

• To promote the natural hunting qualities of the breed.

• To urge members and breeders to accept the AKC approved standardas the only standard of excellence by which the breed shall be judged.

• To protect and advance the interests of the breed by encouragingsportsmanlike competition at field events, obedience trials, andconformation shows.

The History of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

The Griffon is an international breed of dog whose earliest originsare lost in the mists of antiquity, though some believe the breed originatedin Ancient Rome. Fortunately, its most recent history is complete and welldocumented.

The Dutch sportsman and hunter, Eduard Karel Korthals, who livedfrom 1851 to 1896, is credited with the development of the modernWirehaired Pointing Griffon. The strain he developed was a coarsely wirehaired dog of medium size with excellent hunting ability. He systematicallynarrowed his breeding stock down to eight specimens that bred true and canbe said to be responsible for the foundation of this international breed.

In the United States, the first imported Griffons appeared in 1887 andby August 1916 the first American club: The Griffon Club of America,was founded. Mr. Louis A. Thebaud of Morristown, New Jersey was thefirst president and a very active imported and breeder. By 1929 WirehairedPointing Griffons were registered in the American Field Dog Stud Bookand were a recognized presence in hunting and pointing events around theUS.

Official Standard of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

GENERAL APPEARANCE:

Medium size, with a noble, square-shaped head, strong of limb, bred tocover all terrain encountered by the walking hunter. Movement showing aneasy catlike gracefulness. Excels equally as a pointer in the field, or aretriever in the water. Coat is hard and coarse, never curly or woolly, witha thick undercoat of the fine hair, giving an unkept appearance. His easytrainability, devotion to family and friendly temperament endear him to all.The nickname of “supreme gun dog” is well earned.

SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE:• Size: 22-24 inches for males, 20-22 inches for females. Correct size

is important. Oversize is to be severely penalized.• Proportion: slightly longer than tall, in a ration of 10 to 9. Height

from withers to ground: length from point of shoulder to point ofbuttocks. The Griffon must not evolve toward a squareconformation.

• Substance: medium, reflecting his work as an all terrain hunting dog.

Official Standard of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (cont.)

HEAD:The head is to be in proportion to the overall dog. The skull is of

medium width with equal length from nose to stop and from stop toocciput. The skull is slightly rounded on top, but from the side the muzzleand head are square. The stop and occiput are only slightly pronounced.The required abundant mustache and eyebrows contribute to the friendlyexpression. The eyes are large and well open, more rounded than elliptical.They have an alert, friendly and intelligent expression. Eye colour rangesin all shades of yellow and brown.

Haws should not show nor should there be protruding eyes. The earsshould be of medium size, lying flat and close to the head, set high, at theheight of the eye line. Nose: well open nostrils are essential. Nose colouris always brown. Any other colour is a disqualification. Bite: scissors.Overshot or undershot bite is a serious fault.

Official Standard of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (cont.)

NECK, TOPLINE, BODY:• Neck: rather long, slightly arched, no dewlap.• Topline: the back is strong and firm, descending in a gentle slope

from the slightly higher withers to the base of the tail.• Body: The chest must descend to the level of the elbow, with a

moderate spring of rib. The chest must neither be too wide nor toonarrow, but of medium width to allow freedom of movement. Theloin strong and well-developed, being of medium length. The croupand rump are stoutly made with adequate length to favor speed. Thetail extends from the back in a continuation of the topline. It may becarried straight or raised slightly. It is docked by one third to one-half length.

FOREQUARTERS:

Shoulders are long, with good angulation, and well-laid back. Theforelegs are straight and vertical from the front and set well under theshoulder from the side. Pasterns are slightly sloping. Dewclaws should beremoved. Feet are round, firm, with tightly closed webbed toes. Pads arethick.

Official Standard of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (cont.)

HINDQUARTERS:The thighs are long and well-muscled. angulation in balance with the

front. The legs are vertical with the hocks turning neither in nor out. Thestifle and hock joints are strong and well-angulated. Feet as in front.

COAT:The coat is one of the distinguishing features of the breed. It is a

double coat. The outer coat is medium length, straight and wiry, nevercurly or woolly. The harsh texture provides protection in rough cover.The obligatory undercoat consists of a fine, thick down, which providesinsulation as well as water resistance. The undercoat is more or lessabundant, depending upon the season, climate and hormone cycle of thedog. It is usually lighter in colour. The head is furnished with a prominentmustache and eyebrows. These required features are extensions of theundercoat, which gives the Griffon a somewhat untidy appearance. Thehair covering the ears is fairly short and soft, mixed with the longer harshhair from the coat. The overall feel is much less wiry than the body. Thelegs, both front and rear, are covered with denser, shorter and less coarsehair. The coat on the tail is the same as the body; any type of plume isprohibited. The breed should be exhibited in full body coat, not strippedshort in pattern. Trimming and stripping are only allowed around the ears,top of head, cheeks and feet.

Official Standard of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (cont.)

COLOUR:Preferable steel-gray with brown markings, frequently chestnut

brown, or roan, white and brown; white and orange also acceptable. auniformly brown coat, all white coat, or white and orange are less desirable.A black coat disqualifies.

GAIT:Although close-working, the Griffon should cover ground in the

efficient, tireless manner. He is a medium-speed dog with perfectcoordination between front and rear legs. At a trot, both front and rear legstend to converge toward the center line of gravity. He shows goodextension both front and rear. Viewed from the side, the topline is firm andparallel to the line of motion. A smooth, powerful ground covering abilitycan be seen.

TEMPERAMENT:The Griffon has a quick and intelligent mind and is easily trained.

He is outgoing, shows a tremendous willingness to please and istrustworthy. He makes an excellent family dog as well as a meticuloushunting companion.

DISQUALIFICATIONS:Nose any other colour than brown. Black coat.

NOTES

Judging Considerations

Prioritization

1) Breed Type2) Soundness, movement, and overall balance3) Coat4) Size

Deceptive Handling and Grooming Practices

Dog should be shown at an easy trot

Overgrooming-need for unkempt appearance

Use of texture altering substances

Judging Problems

Coat, proportion

Breed Comparisons

G.W.P. Spinone Italiano W.P.G.

Teeth Scissor Level Scissor

Eyes Oval Almost Round Rounder Brown Yellow to Lt. Br. Brown to Yellow

Head Shape Broad-Longer Large and long Longer than wide

Head - Side Planes-equal Planes-equal Planes-equal

Stop Medium Shallow Very little

Jaw Parallel to jaw Square Square

Neck Medium Medium Long

Body Square 10 to 9 10 to 9

Croup Rounded Rounded Stroutly MadeTail Set High Level Level

Size Males 24” to 26” 20” to 26” 22” to 24” Females Over 22” same 20” to 22”

Coat -Length 1” to 2” Not Stated 2”to 3”[preferred]Texture Harsh-Wire Short,rough,wiry Harsh-WireUndercoat not mentioned smooth-dense soft-denseDensity Dense Dense Dense

Colour White w/brown White or White w/ Steel-gray w/brownWhite w/black yellow or brown white w/orange

Black disqualifies

Info AKC Standard AKC Misc. Standard AKC Standard

Discussion

When you first look upon a Griffon you should see that a Griffon is aGriffon. He is not a pointer in a wire coat or a setter with a bad head. Hisis not a GSP or GWP wanna be. His average body structure should displaybalance front and rear. The impression the Griffon gives is one ofmoderation. He is of medium size and medium substance. His head is ofmedium width with ears of medium size. His coat is of medium length. Heshould display the feelings of both energy and calm, attributes that providean aptitude for the work it was bred to do.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

Medium size, with a noble, square-shaped head, strong of limb, bredto cover all terrain encountered by the walking hunter. Movement showingan easy catlike gracefulness. Excels equally as a pointer in the field, or aretriever in the water. Coat is hard and coarse, never curly or woolly, witha thick undercoat of the fine hair, giving an unkept appearance. His easytrainability, devotion to family and friendly temperament endear him to all.The nickname of “supreme gun dog” is well earned.

Discussion (cont.)

Skeletal anatomy and terms commonly used in describing a dogs outwardappearance.

SizeMales 22 to 24 inchesFemales 20 to 22 inches

Correct size is important. Oversize to be severely penalized.Why is size important? How was proper size determined? Korthals

set out to create a breed that would be at home hunting in the marsh. Theyare known for their uneven terrain and large assortment of game dependingon water level. The dog needed to be a size that was large enough to workthe marshy terrain and heavy cover but manageable enough to be broughtinto a boat after a retrieve. He should be resistant to fatigue and able carrygame that may weigh almost 20 lbs. Korthals felt the height should be 21 _to 23 _ inches for males and 19 _ - 21 _ inches for females. When ourstandard was revised in 1991 the height was raised by _ inch. It was feltwith the advent of better canine nutrition that the dogs were achieving theirfull genetic potential. When evaluating size equal consideration should begiven to the dogs within the 22 to 24 inch range and the same considerationgiven to the bitches within the 20 to 22 inch range. The size ranges translateinto a weight range of 55 to 65 lbs for males and 40 to 55 lbs for females.It is important to note that size is one of the distinguishing characteristics ofthe breed. Note: Just as the French have a slightly smaller size range theGermans had a (until 1968) a slightly larger size range.

Discussion (cont.)Proportion

Slightly longer than tall, in a ratio of 10 to 9. Height from withersto ground: length from point of shoulder to point of buttocks. The Griffonmust not evolve towards a square conformation.

Included here is a table which demonstrates the actual measurementsof Griffons in inches comparing height to length.

Height Length20 inches 22.22 inches21 inches 23.33 inches22 inches 24.44 inches23 inches 25.55 inches24 inches 26.66 inches

Proper proportion, with a little more length of body than height atthe withers is necessary in order to be able to coordinate drive from the rearwith reach in the front.

Square body structure promotes a natural tendency to avoid leginterference by pacing rather than trotting. If the dog attempts to trot it isawkward and he is forced to “crab” to avoid leg interference, crabbing orsidewinding is a common fault in which the dog moves with is body at anangle to the line of travel.

If the dog has more height than length, this may cause him to overreach.

Dogs that are built well and properly proportional can stand a longday of hunting.

Discussion (cont.)

SubstanceSubstance: medium, reflecting his work as an all terrain hunting dog.

According to the definition of a Griffon by the Viscourt de la Neurlle theGriffon is described as a dog with a well-balanced frame, light andmuscular, with legs that are long but not too thin. Castaing describes theGriffon with long lines of the thighs, legs and forelegs not cobby, square orstocky.

HeadThe head is to be in proportion to the overall dog. The skull is of

medium width with equal length from nose to stop and from stop toocciput. The skull is slightly rounded on top, but from the side the muzzleand head are square. The stop and occiput are only slightly pronounced.The required abundant mustache and eyebrows contribute to the friendlyexpression.

EyesThe eyes are large and well open, more rounded than elliptical. They

have an alert, friendly, and intelligent expression. Eye color ranges in allshades of yellow and brown. Haws should not show nor should there beprotruding eyes.

Any discussion of the eyes would not be complete without exploringboth shape and color.

The more rounded shape rather than the elliptical adds a soft, trustyintelligent affectionate expression that is so characteristic of the breed.There should be no evidence of entropia or ectropia. The haws are sensitivemucous membrane and should not show. If showing it can become driedout, irritated and collect seeds/debris. The eyes should not protrude (toad’seye). Protrusion of the eyes increase the risk of injury while hunting.

Discussion (cont.)

Ears

The ears should be of medium size, lying flat and close to the head,set high, at the height of the eye line.

The Griffon’s ear is almost the same shape as that of a Pointer. It isimportant to tote that it is not as short as a pointer’s ear. The closeness tothe head, the flatness and set of the ear canal while doing water work orwhen hunting is heavy cover. The ear should never curl.

Nose

Well open nostrils are essential. Nose color is always brown. Anyother color is a disqualification.

Bite

Scissor. Overshot or undershot bite is a serious fault.Proper bite aids ease of retrieval of game and contributes to the

characteristic soft mouth. From the standpoint of mastication it is self-evident.

Neck

Rather long, slightly arched, no dewlap. Good neck lines mergegradually with strong withers at the base of the neck, and form a pleasingtransition into the back.

The longer neck of the breed allows the Griffon to use his nosecomfortably whether ground scenting or air scenting.

Discussion (cont.)

Topline

The back is strong and firm, descending in a gentle slope from theslightly higher withers to the base of the tail.

When evaluating the Griffon’s topline, there should be no evidenceof a sunken back (saddle back) or roached back. Too much arch in the dogsback restricts action of the croup muscles. This may cause pacing. Pacingis often referred to as a “fatigue” gait because the dog has to switch to thelateral movement to relieve strain.

If the dog is lower at the withers than the hindquarters, it may givehim the appearance of running downhill even though they are on levelground.

If the back is not strong and firm, the topline will not be parallel tothe line of motion merely detracting from the tireless efficiency of his gait .The slope of the topline should be extremely gentle, never exaggerated.

Body-ChestThe chest must descend to the level of the elbow, with a moderate

spring of rib. The chest must neither be too wide nor too narrow, but ofmedium width to allow freedom of movement. The loin is strong and welldeveloped, being of medium length. The croup and rump are stoutly madewith adequate length to favor speed. The tail extends from the back in acontinuation of the topline. It may be carried straight or raised slightly. Itis docked by one-third to one-half length.

The chest should be neither slab-sided or barrel chested. If the chesthas too much rib spring it tends to push the elbows out. An example of adog that is normally broader in the front quarters is the bulldog. Theincreased width with a narrower rear causes a characteristic swaggering orrolling action. This motion is not economical for a field dog.

Width and depth of chest affect the relationship of the shoulder blade(scapula) and the upper arm (humerus) and the angle at which they join.

Discussion (cont.)

Angulation

Essential to the appearance and qualities of endurance in the Griffonare the structural features that govern balance and angulation. Goodangulation gives the dog the ability to move freely with an effortless stridewith smooth action viewed from the side, front or rear. The action shouldbe smooth.

Angulation deals with the start of the bones and the size of the anglesat certain joints. The joints that influence structure and gait the most, are atthe shoulder and the hip joints. The front of the dog normally carries about60% of the total body weight and acts as a shock absorber as it coordinateswith drive from the hind quarters and absorbs impact from the ground.

Excessive angulation in any part of the Griffon’s body isdetrimental to proper joint support and endurance. The proper amount ofangulation is the amount needed for functional efficiency.

Good angulation also goes hand-in-hand with a strong middle piece,and with a rib cage that extends well back. Correct placement of thescapula, called “good shoulder layback”, contributes to reach of neck andgood head carriage, and gives the neckline a pleasing transition into thewithers and topline. In conformation terms, this is referred to as a “neckwell-set-on” or “setting well into the shoulders”. Steep shoulders detractfrom the dog’s overall appearance because the neckline joins the withersabruptly and tends to make the neck look short.

Balance

Balance of a Griffon is not only dependent on the proportion of head toneck, depth of chest to length of legs, and overall length of body to height.It is also dependent on a front end that matches the rear. Standing naturallythe angle of the shoulder joint should be approximately equal to the hipjoint. This is necessary to provide the same amount of reach in the forelegsas in the rear. Note: it is possible for a dog that is equally steep/straightfront and rear to be in balance. However, he will not have the quality ofmovement that is achieved when balance is combined with good angulation.

Discussion (cont.)

Forequarters & Shoulders

Shoulders are long, with good angulation, and well laid back. Orfaulty placement of the shoulders against the chest wall reduces themuscular support needed for firm control of the limbs. This may lead torocking, crossing, padding or tailing in. Loose shoulders should not beconfused with front end flexibility necessary for the working posture. Inbalanced front structure the scapula slants at approximately 30 degrees. Shoulders that are too straight with too much thrust from the rearmay cause padding as a compensation action or pounding causes the frontfeet to hit the ground hard. This impact has a pile driving effect throughpasterns and should produces abrupt chopping action at the withers. Lengthand set of the upper arm determine the position of the elbow against thechest wall. Elbows that are set too far back or too far forward can throwthe front assembly out of balance and adversely affect the dogs way ofmoving. 2 Examples are elbows out and its opposite of elbows in orpaddling. Paddling – severely restricts front motion by causing the frontlegs to swing forward on a stiff outward arc. The dog is said to travelbasewide and the body rocks from side to side. Constant pounding maytend to bruise joint cartilage and eventually cause the dog to break down inthe front. Griffons with steep shoulders will eventually not fare well forthe ardourous job of hunting. Form allows for function.

Hackney – also caused from more angulation and drive in the rearthan in the front but instead of over reaching the dog produces extra higaction of the forelegs in an effort to keep the paws out of the way of theoncoming back feet overall action appears bouncy. Hackney gait wastesenergy and is very tiring.

Forelegs

The forelegs are straight and vertical from the front and set wellunder the shoulder from the side.

Discussion (cont.)

PasternsPasterns are slightly sloping. Dewclaws should be removed. Pasterns

angled slightly forward may be indicative of a dog with sickle hocks.If the pasterns are strong it usually means the front is good. Strong

pasterns provide spring and resilient and important characteristic whendealing with rough terrain.

In a dog with a straight front and low wither the constant poundingand strain on the ligaments and tendons in the pasterns may cause them tobend too far as the dog weight passes over the front quarters. This isknown as down at the pasterns.

FeetFeet are round, firm, with tightly closed webbed toes. Pads are thick.The feet are an example of a special anatomical adaptation that relates

to the function of the dog. The characteristic is the webbing. The webbingallows the dog to be an accomplished swimmer as well as resistant tofatigue on rough terrain. This is an important attribute for a dog designedto be working in marshy areas. The foot should be round (described as acat’s foot) in contrast to that of an elongated or hares foot. The foot shouldnever have separated toes (described as crushed foot).

Discussion (cont.)

Hindquarters

The thighs are long and well muscled. Angulation in balance withthe front. The legs are vertical with the hocks turning neither in nor out.The stifle and hock joints are strong and well angulated. Feet as in front.

Rear angulation is influenced by the length and attachment of thepelvic assembly in relation to the spinal column and by the relative lengthof the leg bones. The action of the stifles and hocks is hinge-like.Interaction of all the joints in the rear provide strength and drive forlocomotion. The whole propelling force of the hindquarters is dependenton the ability of the dog to straighten the leg from the start of angulation tocomplete extension as forceably and as rapidly as may be required. Thisaction depends entirely on the muscle -power of a well-developed secondthigh. Of note – a short leg is incompatible with the speed and extent ofstrides which allows the Griffon to use less movement to cover themaximum distance with the minimum fatigue.

Hocks should not show evidence of being:

1) Sickle hocked – action is stiff and shuffling with almost no use of thehock joint for forward propulsion.

2) Cow hocked – hocks turned in – stifles turned out – causes the dog tomove close in the rear and throws the stifle out of line. Action ofthis sort places severe stress on ligaments and muscles and seriouslyweakens rear thrust.

3) Sratching hocks – causes rocking in the rear and is indicative ofproblems with the stifle.

4) Spread hocks – or hocking out causes feed to toe in, opposite ofcowhocks.

5) Twisting hocks – known as weak hocks - joints twist both ways asthey flex or bear weight, twisting joints mean wear and tear onligaments and muscles – move than sufficient reason for completeexhaustion on after a day in the field.

Discussion (cont.)

Tail

The Griffon’s tail should be one of the longest tails found in theversatile sporting breeds. If however, you look around the ring you will seetails of varying lengths. This is due to a misprint in a popular veterinarytext where the rule of thumb was given as 1/3 to 1/2 remaining – not theopposite as our standard states. The tail must not pass the point of the hockbut can reach that point. The Griffons tail is docked for both practical andaesthetic reasons. If the Griffon’s tail was left undocked it would resemblethat of a pointer. This long whiplike tail is more easily injured by bramblesand may take a long time to heal. Also, if left long this happy tail may stirthe fowl into flight. Aesthetically it provides a refined silhouette and makesthe rest of the body stand out.

Coat

The coat is one of the distinguishing features of the breed. It is adouble coat. The outer coat is of medium length, straight and wiry, nevercurly or woolly. The harsh texture provides protection in rough cover.The obligatory undercoat consists of a fine, thick down, which providesinsulation as well as water resistance. The undercoat is more or lessabundant, depending upon the season, climate, and hormone cycle of thedog. It is usually lighter in color. The head is furnished with a prominentmustache and eyebrows. These required features are extensions of theundercoat, which gives the Griffon a somewhat untidy appearance. Thehair covering the ears is fairly short and soft, mixed with longer harsh hairfrom the coat. The overall feel is much less wiry than the body. The legs,both front and rear, are covered with denser, shorter, and less coarse hair.The coat on the tail is the same as the body; any type of plume isprohibited. The breed should be exhibited in full body coat, not strippedshort in pattern. Trimming and stripping are only allowed around the ears,top of head, cheeks and feet.

Discussion (cont.)

Coat (cont.)The coat is another example of a unique adaptation designed to help

the dog perform the function it was bred for. The hair on the head is extended to protect the face and eyes against

thorny bushes. For this to be achieved the coat needs to have a certainthickness and a certain length. By certain length we do not mean anexaggerated length. If the length is exceedingly long the hair would assumea woolly texture. The facial hair is an expansion of the undercoat. Thiswas demonstrated by breeding the German griffon for extra-wiry coat andthinning out the undercoat until it disappeared. The result was an almostcomplete disappearance of the bear and moustache. On the opposing hand –a dog with and excess of undercoat will have an excess of bear andmoustache. The eyebrows must not cover the eyes. If they do, two factorscome into play. First it is an indication of a coat that is too soft. The coatshould possess the necessary wireness to stay upright. Secondly it obstructsthe dog use of its eyes to the full extent. Korthals uses the same expessionto denote that coat as he does head coat. The limbs also require protectionfor work in the brush and marshlands. The limb coat should be dense andshorter. Limb coat is also an expansion of the undercoat. It is not as roughas the hair on the back and must not form a fringe (have feathers) on theback of the legs or on the rump where the leg and back meet.

It is the goal of the breeder to strive for the perfect balance betweenundercoat and overcoat.

Discussion (cont.)

Proper Evaluation of Coat

When evaluating a Griffon for coat the best place to check is the coaton the croup. This is the location of the oldest most mature coat on thedog. It is important to note however, that if a patch is present on the croupthe coat to either side of the patch should be checked, not the patch itself.The Griffon coat does not reach its complete adult maturity until after theage of 2 _ years.

When evaluating a puppy or young dog you need to keep in mind thatthe coat has not reached its full maturity. This however does not mean thatany puppy coat is acceptable and will mature into the perfect double coat.A puppy that is well-furred will produce an adult coat with a woollytendency. Puppies or young dogs with long silky coats or fluffy coats willnot enjoy the benefit of maturity and their coats will not take on thisimportant characteristic of the breed. However, do no rule out a puppy withshort harsh hair as he will eventually mature into the perfect wiry Griffoncoat.

Discussion (cont.)

Color

Preferably steel gray with brown markings, frequently chestnutbrown, or roan, white and brown; white and orange also acceptable. Auniformly brown coat, all white coat, or white and orange are less desirable.A black coat disqualifies.

The fundamental colour of the Pointing Griffon seems to be whiteand maroon (chestnut); it is also the primitive colour of the othercontinentals. But the grey shows at a very young age frequently onGriffons. The ‘Patriarchs’ almost all were white and maroon (chestnut) orgrey and maroon (chestnut); only one had a black coat; but this last one wassuspected of having Pointer blood. It was to eliminate this hypotheticalinfluence and to prevent the infusion of Pointer blood in the future thatKorthals carefully eliminated all traces of black in his breeding andbanished it in the standard. Outside of black, all other colours areadmitted; but some are preferential. The colour to look for is steel grey, nottoo clear, with stains of true-tint maroon (chestnut). This maroon(chestnut) can therefore fluctuate from clear chestnut to darker chestnut; butchestnut too clear going towards beige is not sought, as it indicates adepigmentation often following a generative consanguinity of a beginningof degeneration; the chestnut which is too dark, going towards black, lets usassume an alliance with the German Griffons (stichelhaar), especially if it isaccompanied by a body which is too short and clear yellow eyes.

The white was not rare, at the beginning; the volumes of the G.S.B.contain quite a few photos of Griffons of this tint, more or less mixed withchestnut spots. We also know that most subjects coming from Korthal’skennel, or having in their veins pure Korthals blood, were more or lesswhite.In an article that appeared on the Bulletin de Royal Saint-HubertClub of Belgium in May 1947, Mr. O’Breen points out and reproduces aBelgian lithography of 1836 representing two “white French Griffons” thatseems to show that the uniformly white colour was current in the first halfof the 19th century, at least in France.

Discussion (cont.)

Color (cont.)This colour still shows up once in a while today; it can come from a

recall of distant blood of one of the white orthodox ancestors (observed upto the eight generation) or it can also be a sign of a beginning ofdegeneration by consanguinity if it is accompanied by an insufficientlypigmented eye or mucous membrane; that is why it is consideredundesirable.

In addition, the white is not to be sought because it is oftenaccompanied by traces of orange. So although the standard still admitswhite and orange, there have been questions of abolishing this coat in orderto eliminate the possible influence of the Guerlain Griffons, who had astrong share of Pointer, wherein the white-orange was one of thecharacteristics. This colour was also current on the spinone, and this latter,as we have seen, represents certain undesirable characteristics on theWirehaired Pointing Griffon, and so it is better to avoid it.

Finally, the unicolour chestnut coat is equally less desirable, becauseit generally indicates an infusion of drathaar or German Hound. As for thefiery tint, in spots or traces, it is also to be forbidden, for it also indicates abad match which was more or less distant, probably with a “Black and Fire”Setter or an Irish Setter.

The pups are born with a coat of white foundation with traces ofmaroon (chestnut). A few weeks old, the white becomes grey, then thisgrey darkens more or less as the dog gets older.

The tint of the coat is subject to vary. The food, climate, the habitat,the temperature of the country, the sea breeze or mountain air make the tintvary, even on the same dog. It seems that it is under a continental climate,but far from the sea and altitudes, that the colour best conserves its true,even tint.

Discussion (cont.)

Temperament

The Griffon has a quick and intelligent mind and is easily trained.He is outgoing, shows a tremendous willingness to please and istrustworthy. He makes an excellent family dog as well as a meticuloushunting companion.

The Griffon is a very people oriented dog known for his trainabilityand high degree of cooperation. His outgoing personality makes him awonderful family pet and great with children. Because of his desire to bewith people he does not make a good kennel dog. His ability to be bothenergetic and calm without being hyper makes him an excellent huntingcompanion. He is quick to learn but responds best to positivereinforcement.

Disqualifications

Nose any color other than brown.Black Coat **.

** Indicates a certain lack of genetic purity as the color differences areonly evidenced by a misalliance with another breed.

NOTES

Resources

National Parent ClubAmerican Wirehaired Pointing Griffon AssociationSecretaryCathie Jarnot1924 Sweetwater Rd.Gypsum, CO 81637

Judges’ EducationLinda GagnonP.O. Box 981Wendell, MA 01349

AWPGA Websitehttp://www.awpga.com/

AKC Breed Video - AKC Breed of the Month August 1999

Books• Le Griffon D’Arret A Poil Dur Korthals by Jean Castaing

This is the recognized reference in the International community forall breed information. It is currently only available in French. It canbe obtained through the French Griffon Club.(linked to the AWPGAweb page)

• A Celebration of Rare Breeds-Vol 2

• The New Dogsteps by Rachel Page Elliot

• Sporting Dogs by Carl P. Wood

ArticlesNew Country Life Magazine, November 1917

The Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon by Walter A. Dyer

Resources (cont.)

Contributors• Barbara Smith-Young• Patricia Loomis• Elaine Hunsicker• June Markle• Philippe Roca• Jonathan Pease

Some of the photographs used were provided by Archive Photos fromFrance

Thank you for attending our seminar. If you find an error in thisinformation, please inform the AWPGA Sec. so that it can and will becorrected.