The German Wirehaired Pointer is a versatile hunter built for agility and endurance in the field. To understand the heritage of the breed, you must understand that there were a wide variety of retrieving pointers, all of which were more or less interbred. The early Deutsch-Drahthaar Club at first catered to all varieties of Wirehaired pointing dogs. After time, they thought it was best to separate their activities into four subdivisions catering to the advancement of the Deutsch-Drahthaar, the Pudelpointer, the Stichelhaar, and the Griffon.

Most of the early Wirehaired Pointers represented a combination of Griffon, Stichelhaar, Pudelpointer, and German Shorthair. The Pudelpointer was a cross between a Poodle dog and an English Pointer, while the Griffon and the Stichelhaar were composed of Pointer, Foxhound, Pudelpointer, and a Polish water dog. There were great hunting skills that were incorporated into the Wirehaired Pointers of a century or more ago.

Coat has always been emphasized throughout the development of the breed. The coat is weather-resistant in every sense of the term, and is also water repellent. It is straight, harsh, wiry, and flat-lying. One and a half to two inches in length, it is long enough to shield the body from rough cover, yet not so long as to hide the outline. The coat of the German Wirehaired Pointer should be brushed about twice a week with a firm bristle brush. Some stripping of the coat is needed, but this isn't very difficult. The hairs should be hand plucked occasionally depending on the condition of the coat. It is usually thinned in the spring and fall. Bathe only when necessary. The hair of the coat should be as hard as possible but must not look untidy. Check the ears to make sure they are clean. The feet should be checked after the dog has been out working. This breed is an average shedder.

Males should be 24 to 26 inches, females should be under 22 inches. Their coat can be liver and white, usually either liver and white spotted, liver roan, liver and white spotted with ticking and roaning or solid liver.

This dog is extremely energetic and tireless. It is very important that it gets daily vigorous exercise to prevent extreme indoor restlessness. This breed is more than a match for even the most active family and they should not be taken on as a family pet unless they can guarantee plenty of vigorous exercise. They are excellent jogging companions and love to swim and retrieve.

German Wirehaired Pointers can be a bit aloof toward strangers, but are generally friendly dogs. They have a sound reliable temperment, very affectionate, who is eager to please and enthusiastic to learn.