JUDGING THE GERMAN WIREHAIRED POINTER
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By Judy Cheshire
he German Wirehaired Pointer is first and fore- most a versatile hunting dog. It was developed by a pragmatic people to find game, point it
ity for muscling? As you put your hands on the dog to evaluate him, remember that this dog should be sound, both physically and mentally, and functional. “Function” is the key to all aspects of the standard. For example, if you have a dog with a light eye and one with a soft, open coat, keep in mind that the dog can see with an undesir- able colored eye, but cannot be protected in dense, harsh cover or in cold water with a bad coat. Approach the dog from the
front so that it can see you and confidently put your hands on him. Wirehairs usually have a strong sense of self and their per- sonal space. Not a breed you should stare at or “coo” at! From the side, the head should give a rectangular appearance, the impression of two rectangles with parallel planes and relatively equal length. Facial furnishing (beard and eyebrows) should be present, in order to be protective, but not over-
and retrieve it on both land and in water and to blood track wounded game as well. Its quarry was varied and ranged from upland birds and waterfowl to rabbit, fox and roe deer. Th e terrain that these dogs hunted was diverse and besides versatility, adaptability was a key goal in its develop- ment. In this breed, a good percentage of the dogs that you’ll see are in some way utilized in the field. Th erefore, prioritiz- ing by function is the most positive way that you can judge. Th e essence of the breed is a rough coated, athletically built, versatile hunting dog—practical, low maintenance, e ffi cient. Many judges don’t see significant numbers of German Wirehaired Pointers. Th is, in itself, makes it a di ffi cult breed for some to evaluate. Additionally, it’s often misrepresented as a German Short- haired Pointer with a rough coat and furnishingss—it is, rather, a breed onto itself and not, nor was it ever, a “variety”. Our standard, just like many other breed standards, doesn’t always present a crystal clear picture of its intent and interpreta- tion can be di ffi cult. Th ere are also no disqualifications in our standard. Th at doesn’t mean that “anything goes” or that no matter how much an individual dog deviates from the standard, it should be awarded championship points. When a class of German Wirehaired Pointers enters the ring, get a first impres- sion of the dog that you’re judging. Th e silhouette of the dog should be immedi- ately identifiable as a GWP. Is the outline pleasing, is the dog balanced, is there sub- stance without coarseness? Do you get the impression of athleticism and good capac-
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