The AKC has grouped all of the breeds that it registers into seven categories, or groups, roughly based on function and heritage. Breeds are grouped together because they share traits of form and function or a common heritage.
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.
The head is to be in proportion to the overall dog. TThe 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Griffs are medium-sized, all-purpose gundogs standing no higher than 24 inches at the shoulder. They’re known for an extremely harsh and bristly coat that gives them a natural, unkempt appearance. The preferred color is steel gray with brown markings. A lavish mustache and eyebrows frame large, rounded eyes that gleam with a keen intelligence. Griffs are the very picture of an honest, hardworking sporting dog, whose handsome looks are the result of a noble and unaffected ruggedness rather than fussy grooming.
It’s important to feed a high-quality dog food for an active hunting breed. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.
The minimally shedding Griffon coat has a harsh outer coat with a soft, insulating undercoat. The breed requires weekly brushing or combing, regular nail trimming, and tooth brushing as well as occasional trimming around the feet and ears. Some coats may need to be hand stripped periodically to encourage growth of new coat. Like all dogs with drop ears, a Griffon’s ears are susceptible to infection, so regular cleaning and plucking of ear-canal hair is recommended.
Griffons are social animals who require a great deal of attention, consistent training, time, and patience. Griffons do not make good full-time kennel dogs. They are especially active as puppies and are very intelligent, social, and physically powerful as adults. They require considerable mental and physical challenges on a daily basis or they can become bored, unhappy, and/or destructive. The ideal Griffon household is one where the people are active and include the dog in their daily routines. A Griffon whose mental, emotional, and physical needs are met on a daily basis can be an exceptionally pleasant and easy-to-live-with companion.
The modern WPG still possesses the qualities that Korthals envisioned over a century ago. A versatile gundog with a high degree of trainability, the Griffon excels in hunting upland birds, waterfowl, and furred game. He is a deliberate, thorough, and tireless worker with a strong desire to please his master. Early introduction to game birds and exposure to hunting conditions will bring out the best in this hunting companion. Local AKC pointing-breed clubs as well as North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association chapters can help owners maximize the Griffon’s hunting potential with expert training advice for hunting all kinds of game birds. Positive and consistent training is best for the Griffon.
There are several health and genetic screening considerations specific to the Griffon. While the occurrence of hip dysplasia in the Griffon is relatively low, it is still important that dams and sires obtain either OFA or PennHIP clearances. Some breeders also obtain medical clearances for eye, heart, elbow, and thyroid conditions.
Recommended Health Tests from the National Breed Club:
Read the Official Breed Club Health Statement.
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.
The head is to be in proportion to the overall dog. TThe 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
| Description | Standard Colors | Registration Code |
| BROWN & GRAY | Check Mark For Standard Color | 306 |
| CHESTNUT & GRAY | Check Mark For Standard Color | 307 |
| BROWN | 061 | |
| CHESTNUT | 070 | |
| WHITE | 199 | |
| WHITE & BROWN | 204 | |
| WHITE & ORANGE | 213 |
| Description | Standard Markings | Registration Code |
| ROAN | Check Mark For Standard Mark | 036 |
| TICKED | Check Mark For Standard Mark | 013 |
