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Korthals Griffon Dogs
Breed Rating (2 Reviews)
| Appearance | |
| Friendliness | |
| Hardiness | |
| Garden |
History
The Korthals Griffon is also known as the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and was first bred by the Dutch breeder Eduard Korthals in the 1870's. He crossed German Griffons, French and German Pointers, Setters and Spaniels to produce the breed standard we know today. They excel at hunting small game such as quail, partridge and hare and have a very keen nose. They also do well as gun dogs and seem to like being around water, catching water fowl such as ducks. They are still reasonably rare in the UK and USA.
Behaviour
The WHPG is a people dog that does best living in close quarters to it's family, rather than living in a kennel as many working dogs do. They are very affectionate and loyal and get on well with other dogs and children. Given enough exercise, it is calm and friendly towards strangers in the home. They can suffer separation anxiety and owners should start leaving them alone for short periods from a young age, or else they can show destructive behaviour.
The Pointing Griffon is a worker and likes being out and about with a job to do. Bred to work closely with it's owner, they rarely wander far and are good at looking at you for direction, but can also work independently. To track and scent they need consistent training, but never harsh words as they will withdraw. They want to please you, but it might take a bit of time for them to understand what is expected of them. Once behaviour is learnt, it will be remembered forever. They do well in agility, tracking and other types of competition and will relish the attention that doing well brings from their owner.
They enjoy being out for long walks and allowed off lead to track and scent, even though they have a tremendous sense of smell, it rarely causes them to run away. Recall is usually excellent once trained. They will need a long daily walk, preferably somewhere like woodland where they will have the opportunity to get into dense undergrowth and have a good sniff, as this really makes them happy. Their high energy needs can be met by jogging along with their owner or a long swim.
Their dense coat is ideal for working in dense undergrowth, but is quite low maintenance. A thorough weekly brush should be enough to keep it looking good and remove dead hairs. Stripping or professional grooming a couple of times a year is needed to remove the old coat. They shed very little hair.
Sometimes Canine Hip Dysplasia is seen, but they are generally very healthy.
Temperament
Korthals Griffons have a companionable and devoted temperament. They are athletic dogs who love to bound along side you in the contryside. Because of their devoted personality they dislike being left alone and may develop a seperation anxiety if alone too much. They are impartial to meeting strangers and the same goes for meeting new dogs. They can be noisy and tricky to train but are always willing to please.
Health Problems
Health problems that may affect Korthal Griffons include canine hip dysplasia (CHD), entropion (inward rolling of the eyelid which can irritate the eyeball), progressive retinal atrophy (PRA: degeneration of the retina which can lead to blindness), allergies, hypothyroidism and heart disease.
Breed Details
- Status: Common
- Life Expectancy: 10 - 12 years
- Weight: 23 - 27 kg
- Height: 20 - 24"
- Rare: No
- Coat: Medium - Double
- Grooming Requirements: More than once per week
- Town or Country: Country
- Minimum Home Size: Large House
- Minimum Garden Size: Large Garden
- Breed Type: Gun Dog
- Size: Large
- Energy Level: Medium
- Exercise Required: Over 2 hours
More to love
Korthals Griffon Pictures
Latest Reviews For Korthals Griffon (2 of 2)
- Alice,
I have a griffon mix with germand shephard and he is the best dog I have ever had. He shows his love and talks to us daily. He loves meeting people and is happy to see my family as well. He is my protector and gets between us if we are too close. His love is pure and special and we love each other very much. He is 11 years old and I got him at the SPCA in Montreal, Quebec.
Best dog ever! - Regan,
I own a 3-year-old Griff and believe this is the best dog ever. I've had other breeds (Golden Retriever, Australian Shepard, and others). None compare to this breed. They are friendly, smart, have a good nose, respond well to training and are devoted to their owners. I disagree that they are not suited for apartment life. They are perfectly happy in small quarters and without a yard as long as they get plenty of exercise or walks during the day. The weight given is also wrong. These days it's more like 60-65 pounds for females and 70-75 for males.