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History
The Korthals griffon
Wirehaired Pointing Griffons will track nearly any game, making them ideal for pheasant hunters who often wound a bird still capable of escape by running through the fields when downed. Since Wirehaired Pointing Griffons track, they are also good for following mammals as part of a complete hunting experience.
And Wirehaired Pointing Griffons were bred to retrieve birds in rough water, so they function well in all sorts of waterfowl hunting. With an open and rough outer coat and a denser undercoat, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons dry very quickly and thus do not suffer long from being wet and cold. That rough outer coat is wonderful protection in thickets and brush and it does not collect or become entangled in burrs. Since Wirehaired Pointing Griffons do not truly shed (all animals cast off hairs), they are vastly superior in homes to other dogs that are constantly and seasonally dropping large clumps of hair.
In 1873, at age 23, Edward Karel Korthals undertook serious breeding of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. In his breeding program he noted the dog to have a high intelligence, robust attitude, and resistance to foul weather. He described them as excellent for hunting waterfowl and working in all terrain. His breeding stock started with 20 dogs which were composed of: three spaniels, two water Spaniels (Barbet), seven Griffons, a French Pointer (Braques), and a Pointerized Setter. From these – the seven patriarchs of his breeding program were established and recorded in the Griffon Stud Book (GSB). Less than 10 years later, the Griffon type was established. On November 15th, 1887, Edward Korthals and 16 other breeders signed and published an agreement on the breed standard. This is the standard used by the Korthals Griffon Club of America. This standard is published in the book by Jean Castaing.
In the field, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons point solidly and work closely, crossing the terrain in front of the hunter and making frequent directional changes in coordination with the hunter as he or she chooses areas of focus.