German Wirehaired Pointer
The German Wirehaired Pointer was bred at the turn of the twentieth century by hunters who wanted one German pointer breed able to do everything: quarter for birds, point…
About the German Wirehaired Pointer
The German Wirehaired Pointer was bred at the turn of the twentieth century by hunters who wanted one German pointer breed able to do everything: quarter for birds, point, retrieve from water and track wounded deer through cover that would strip a soft coat off a dog. Function drove every decision, and the harsh jacket is the proof of it.
That jacket is wiry, flat-lying and two to four centimetres long over a dense undercoat, with bushy eyebrows and a beard, in liver and white, solid liver, or black and white. Dogs stand 60 to 67 cm. This is a demanding breed with a protective streak, and a stud that is stable with people and with other dogs is worth more than one carrying a longer list of field awards.
The DNA test for von Willebrand's disease type II is well established here and should be produced without argument. Hip and elbow scores and an annual eye examination go with it. Because this is a deep-chested working animal, ask about bloat in the family, ask whether any relative has had seizures, and ask about skin and ear health, which a wire coat hides rather well.
Health & breeding
We check every hip, elbow, eye and DNA result you give us against the Royal Kennel Club’s public records by hand, and we record who checked it and when. The Royal Kennel Club’s public records may not include all the screening a dog has had, so a dog with no Royal Kennel Club record showing is not necessarily untested.
Breed Right’s summary — under The Royal Kennel Club Health Standard
Health tests for the German Wirehaired Pointer
This panel is Breed Right’s summary of the testing that matters for the breed under The Royal Kennel Club Health Standard. The Health Standard is the Royal Kennel Club’s guidance for breeders, not a registration rule. It describes tests to ask about — it is not a report on any individual dog. The Royal Kennel Club’s public records may not include all the screening a dog has had, so a dog with no Royal Kennel Club record showing is not necessarily untested.
Best Practice — further tests it recommends
Completing these as well as the Good Practice tests is what the Royal Kennel Club calls Best Practice.
| Test | Type | Scheme | What’s involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNA test — vWD2 (von Willebrand Disease type 2) | DNA test | Laboratory | The result printed on the laboratory certificate. |
| Hip score (BVA/KC) | Screening scheme | BVA/KC | Total of both hips, 0–106. Lower is better. |
| Elbow grading (BVA/KC) | Screening scheme | BVA/KC | Grade 0–3. The dog is graded on the worse of the two elbows. |
| Eye testing (BVA/KC/ISDS) | Screening scheme | BVA/KC/ISDS | Result printed on the eye certificate. |
Breed hip median
Breed median 8 (BVA Hip Dysplasia Scheme breed statistics 2025 — 5 years, 186 dogs scored). Lower is better. Source · How hip scores work
At stud now
German Wirehaired Pointer stud dogs
No German Wirehaired Pointer studs are listed right now
When a German Wirehaired Pointer on the Royal Kennel Club Breed Register is listed at stud, it will appear here.
Also available
German Wirehaired Pointer litters
No German Wirehaired Pointer litters are listed right now
Litters appear here as breeders list them. Check back soon, or browse other breeds.
