GWP's trace their origins back about 120 years. They originated in Germany, where breeders wanted to develop a rugged, versatile hunting dog that would work closely with either one person or a small party of persons hunting on foot in varied terrain - from the mountainous regions of the Alps, to dense forests, to more open areas with farms and small towns. The breed the Germans desired had to have a coat that would protect the dogs when working in heavy cover or in cold water, yet be easy to groom.

The goal was to develop a wire-coated, medium-sized dog that could:
1.search for, locate and point upland game;
2.work both feather and fur with equal skill
3.retrieve water fowl
4.be a close-working, easily trained gun dog
5.be able to track and locate wounded game
6.be fearless when hunting 'sharp' game such as fox
7.be a devoted companion and pet; and
8.be a watchdog for its owners family and property.
 

By crossing the old German Pudels (water retrieving dogs, ancestors of today's Poodles) and the English Pointer, a breed called the Pudelpointer was developed. It became the primary ancestor of the GWP. Selectively crossing the Pudelpointer to a variety of continental hunting breeds (Griffons, Stichelhaars, Polish water dogs, early German Shorthairs, etc.) eventually developed the type of dog that the German hunters desired. Today, the German Wirehaired is the most popular dog in its homeland. Because of its ruggedness and unique, close-fitting, harsh, protective coat, the breed is well able to withstand hunting in cold climates, and is, therefore, also extremely popular in the Scandinavian countries.

General Appearance: The German Wirehaired Pointer is a well muscled, medium sized dog of distinctive appearance. Balanced in size and sturdily built, the breed's most distinguishing characteristics are its weather-resistant, wire-like coat and its facial furnishings. Typically pointer in character and style, the German Wirehaired Pointer is an intelligent, energetic and determined hunter.
 

Size, Proportion, Substance: The height of males should be from 24-26 inches at the withers. Bitches are smaller but not under 22 inches. To insure the working quality of the breed is maintained, dogs that are either over or under the specified height must be severely penalized. The body is a little longer than it is high, as ten is to nine. The German Wirehaired Pointer is a versatile hunter built for agility and endurance in the field. Correct size and balance are essential to high performance.
 

Head: The head is moderately long. Eyes are brown, medium in size, oval in contour, bright and clear and overhung with medium length eyebrows. Yellow eyes are not desirable. The ears are rounded but not too broad and hang close to the head. The skull is broad and the occipital bone not too prominent. The stop is medium. The muzzle is fairly long with nasal bone straight, broad, and parallel to the top of the skull. The nose is dark brown with nostrils wide open. A spotted or flesh colored nose is to be penalized. The lips are a trifle pendulous but close to the jaw and bearded. The jaws are strong with a full complement of evenly set and properly intermeshing teeth. The incisors meet in a true scissors bite.
 

Neck, Topline and Body: The neck is of medium length, slightly arched and devoid of dewlap. The entire back line showing a perceptible slope down from withers to croup. The skin throughout is notably tight to the body. The chest is deep and capacious with ribs well sprung. The tuck-up is apparent. The back is short, straight and strong. Loins are taut and slender. Hips are broad with the croup nicely rounded. The tail is set high, carried at or above the horizontal when the dog is alert. The tail is docked to approximately two-fifths of its original length.
 

Forequarters: The shoulders are well laid back. The forelegs are straight with elbows close. Leg bones are flat rather than round, and strong, but not so heavy or coarse as to militate against the dog's natural agility. Dewclaws are generally removed. Round in outline, the feet are webbed, high arched with toes close, pads thick and hard, and nails strong and quite heavy.

Hindquarters: The angulations of the hindquarters balances that of the forequarters. The thighs are strong and muscular. The hind legs are moderately angulated at the stifle and hock, and, as viewed from behind, parallel to each other. Dewclaws are generally removed from the hind feet, as in front.
 

Coat: The functional wiry coat is the breed's most distinctive feature. A dog must have a correct coat to be of correct type. The coat is weather resistant and, to some extent, water repellent. The undercoat is dense enough in winter to insulate against the cold but is so thin in summer as to be almost invisible. The distinctive outer coat is straight, harsh, wiry and flat lying, and is from one to two inches in length. The outer coat is long enough to protect against the punishment of rough cover, but not so long as to hide the outline of the dog. On the lower legs, the coat is shorter and between the toes it is of softer texture. On the skull the coat is naturally short and close fitting. Over the shoulders and around the tail it is very dense and heavy. The tail is nicely coated, particularly on the underside, but devoid of feather. Eyebrows are of strong, straight hair. Beard and whiskers are of medium length. The hairs in the liver patches of a liver and white dog may be shorter than the white hairs.
A short, smooth coat, a soft wooly coat, or an excessively long coat is to be severely penalized. While maintaining a harsh, wiry texture, the puppy coat may be shorter than that of an adult coat.
Coats may be neatly groomed to present a dog natural in appearance. Extreme and excessive grooming to present a dog artificial in appearance should be severely penalized.
 

Color: The coat is liver and white: usually either liver and white spotted; liver roan; liver and white spotted with ticking and roaning; or solid liver. The head is liver, sometimes with a white blaze. The ears are liver. Any black in the coat is to be severly penalized.

Gait: The dog should be evaluated at a moderate gait. The movement is free and smooth, with good reach in the forequarters and good driving power in the hindquarters. The topline should remain firm.

Temperament: Of sound, reliable temperament, the German Wirehaired Pointer is at times aloof but not unfriendly towards strangers; a loyal and affectionate companion who is eager to please and enthusiastic to learn.

Approved July 9, 1985 Reformatted May 14, 1989
Board of Directors American Kennel Club