Information on AKC Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Puppies
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Breed Standard
General Appearance
Medium sized, with a noble, square-shaped head, strong of limb, bred to cover
all terrain encountered by the walking hunter. Movement showing an easy catlike
gracefulness. Excels equally as a pointer in the field, or a retriever in the
water. Coat is hard and coarse, never curly or woolly, with a thick undercoat
of fine hair, giving an unkempt appearance. His easy trainability, devotion
to family, and friendly temperament endear him to all. The nickname of "supreme
gundog" is well earned.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size--22 to 24 inches for males, 20 to 22 inches for females.
Correct size is important. Oversize to be severely penalized. Proportion--Slightly
longer than tall, in a ratio of 10 to 9. Height from withers to ground; length
from point of shoulder to point of buttocks. The Griffon must not evolve towards
a square conformation. Substance medium, reflecting his work as
an all-terrain hunting dog.
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 to occiput.
The skull is slightly rounded on top, but from the side the muzzle
and head are square. The stop and occiput are only slightly pronounced.
The required abundant mustache and eyebrows contribute to the friendly expression.
The eyes are large and well open, more rounded than elliptical.
They have an alert, friendly, and intelligent expression. Eye color ranges in
all shades of yellow and brown. Haws should not show nor should there be protruding
eyes. The ears should be of medium size, lying flat and close
to the head, set high, at the height of the eye line. Nose--Well
open nostrils are essential. Nose color is always brown. Any other color is
a disqualification. Bite scissors. Overshot or undershot
bite is a serious fault.
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-Chest-- The 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 of medium width to allow freedom
of movement. The loin is strong and well developed, being of medium
length. The croup and rump are stoutly made with adequate length to favor speed.
The tail extends from the back in a continuation of the topline.
It may be carried 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.
The forelegs are straight and vertical from the front and set well under
the shoulder from the side. Pasterns are slightly sloping. Dewclaws should
be removed. Feet are round, firm, with tightly closed webbed toes.
Pads are thick.
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.
The stifle 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, never curly or woolly.
The harsh texture provides protection in rough cover. The obligatory undercoat
consists of a fine, thick down, which provides insulation as well as water resistance.
The undercoat is more or less abundant, depending upon the season, climate,
and hormone cycle of the dog. It is usually lighter in color. The head is furnished
with a prominent mustache and eyebrows. These required features are extensions
of the undercoat, which gives the Griffon a somewhat untidy appearance. The
hair covering the ears is fairly short and soft, mixed with longer harsh hair
from 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 is prohibited. The
breed should be exhibited in full body coat, not stripped short in pattern.
Trimming and stripping are only allowed around the ears, top of head, cheeks
and feet.
Color
Preferably steel gray with brown markings, frequently chestnut brown, or roan,
white and brown; white and orange also acceptable. A uniformly 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 an efficient, tireless
manner. He is a medium-speed dog with perfect coordination between front and
rear legs. At a trot, both front and rear legs tend to converge toward the center
line of gravity. He shows good extension both front and rear. Viewed from the
side, the topline is firm and parallel to the line of motion. A smooth, powerful
ground-covering ability can 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 is trustworthy. He makes an excellent
family dog as well as a meticulous hunting companion.
Disqualifications
Nose any color other than brown.
Black coat.
Approved October 8, 1991
Effective November 28, 1991
