Judging the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a Sporting Breed that has languished in the shadows of the “big running dogs” for years. Now it is a breed newly discovered in the field and in the home, and it is a breed poised on the edge of a popularity explosion. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was bred to be versatile—and he is. He was bred to hunt any terrain for a wide variety of game in all weathers. He has the capability to track a wounded bird in the water because of his keen nose and his strength as a swimmer. And because vast, open hunting grounds are becoming more scarce, his style—which is gun range—is becoming increasingly attractive to the modern-day hunter. The Griffon has the capacity to go into heavy cover and retrieve a bird where other breeds cannot. This dog is also a “clean-up man.” He will often track and find wounded game when the larger-ranging dogs do not.

When you take your first look at this dog in the ring, you should see the symmetry and balance that spell power. You may also see a variety of types. Remember, this is a relatively new breed in this country; the Parent Club AWPGA did not acquire AKC recognition until 1990. Prior to that, there was a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Club in the U.S., but it outcrossed dogs and was not recognized by the AKC.

In the last few years, American breeders have produced some very competitive, very nice dogs—including several Best in Show winners. At our National Specialties, almost every dog in the Best of Breed ring has at least two legs on an AKC, NAVHDA, or NASTRA Performance title in addition to its Championship. Judges are “wowed” by this. Not very many breeds can make that claim.

This is a medium-sized breed. There are two hallmarks of the WPG: one is size and proportion, and the other is coat. Proportion is very important. The Griff is slightly longer than tall, as 10 is to 9. Height in the bitches is 20″-22″ and in the males 22″-24″. As you can see, this is not a big dog, but you must see good substance. Oversize is to be severely penalized.

The coat is a double coat—fine, dense undercoat and wiry outer coat. The coat lays flat and is never curly or wooly. It is of medium length. When you put your hands on the body, the coat should feel harsh. The hair on the head and ears is an extension of the undercoat with some of the feel of the outer coat. In Europe, the head is commonly stripped somewhat close, leaving abundant eyebrows and a moustache. You will see this in this country, and it is entirely permissible. The Standard says “unkempt look,” but this does not mean unclean, uncombed, or unbrushed! This is a wire coat and as such requires maintenance. The coat should be rotated or rolled to keep it healthy; this can sometimes be done with just a fine comb, sometimes with stripping. The Griffon is not to be stripped in a pattern, but neither should it look neglected. The judge should see and feel a healthy, harsh coat of medium length.

It should be noted that when judging the WPG, you will frequently see a less-than-ideal coat in your puppy classes. An old adage in this breed is that it can take three years before the correct coat develops. In a puppy, one should not see a curly or woolly coat, but may see a rather soft coat. This should not be penalized, as the coat will change over time. This may be one area in the Griffon ring where it is appropriate for a judge to ask a dog’s age. Best areas to check coat texture are over the loin, shoulders, and tail. Dark, solid patches are not appropriate, as those areas are actually undercoat.

The Griffon has a noble head. Viewed from the side, it is square—not rectangular! The distance from the occiput to the medium stop is the same as from the stop to the end of the nose. Viewed from the front, the head is moderately broad and the top of the skull is slightly rounded. This head must not have a narrow look. The Griffon has a round eye, unlike the GWP, which is more elliptical. This gives the Griffon an owlish look. The eyes should not protrude nor should haws show. The eyes of a Griffon should be visible. This is not a Bouvier head! Eye color ranges from yellow to any shade of brown, and the nose is any shade of brown. A black nose or black coat are disqualifying faults.

The bite is scissor. Undershot or overshot mouths are to be severely penalized. A well-developed underjaw should be easily discernible. The ear is of medium length, sits high on the head, and the fold of the ear is at eye level. The ear lays flat to the skull.

This breed possesses a noble bearing and is not aloof. He is an outgoing dog and should never show shyness or aggression. Anything other than a sound temperament should be penalized.

When you go over the dog, remember this dog was bred to work in all terrains—mountainous, rocky, flat, dry, and swampy. He has a moderate spring of rib, and the chest extends to the elbow to allow good lung capacity but at the same time a complete, correct movement of the upper arm. The loin is moderate in length and strong, which is important as a strong loin transmits the rear leg drive through the back. There is good balanced angulation front and rear—neither over-angulated nor under-angulated. Pasterns are slightly sloping, neither upright nor at 45° as in the Shepherd. This is important, as the pastern absorbs much of the shock of rough ground.

Shoulders are well laid back, the neck is rather long, slightly arched, and well set into the shoulders. Hocks are perpendicular. When viewed from the front, the chest is moderate, and shoulders are never loaded. Front legs are perpendicular to the ground. Cow-hocks are a fault, as are hocks that turn out. Feet are round, well-arched, and tight. Pads are thick, and toes are webbed. Feet are an important feature often overlooked by the judge. A hare’s foot is incorrect in the Griffon.

The croup is level with the topline. The tail is an extension of the topline and is carried level or slightly higher than the topline. A gay tail is undesirable and is an indication of a faulty croup. The tail is docked by ⅓ to ½. Any type of plume is prohibited. An undocked tail is not permitted.

The Griffon should show good muscling in the fore and rear quarters and over the loin. The thigh is broad. In motion, the back should be firm and level, and one should see beautiful reach and drive, never hackneyed. No wasted motion; moving close in the rear is a fault as is any wasted motion in front. At a trot, the front and rear legs converge to a center line. Remember, this dog must be able to move in an efficient, tireless manner. He must search, freeze when he finds his quarry, carry everything from a grouse to a goose to his owner, and start all over again. He must be able to do this all day, perhaps six or seven days in a row!

So now we come to the question of breed type. And type, to me, is as much a matter of the eye as it is a summation of parts of the Standard. It is a concept that is on the one hand concrete and on the other hand defies description. The good Griffon has beautiful bone and substance. He is not a “reedy” looking dog. He has an iron-hard level topline, a level tailset, and is beautifully, powerfully balanced, front and rear, with a harsh coat. You should see a beautiful headpiece and neck. He is noble of bearing and sound of mind. These are the points on paper.

The part that defies description is in the eye of the beholder! With some people, it is a gift they are born with—that indescribable something. A gift that enables one to spot the “ideal.” With others, it is a marvelous ability to study a Standard and project it onto every dog in front of them in the ring. However you arrive at it, “Type” truly is a concept of all that is correct.

Hopefully, this discussion will leave you with a better understanding and appreciation of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

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Behind the majority of most successful professional dog handlers is a long career in Junior Showmanship that precedes it.

While she has not gone out on her own yet, such has been the case for Lila Holberg who finished out 2023 as the Top Junior Handler in the country, according to one system. She defeated a total of 1,881 other Junior Handlers, amassing 43 class wins, 66 Best Junior wins, and 19 Reserve wins.

“It is a huge honor to end 2023 as the Number One Junior Handler All-Breeds,” Lila shares. “It’s especially exciting as this is the second year in a row I have earned the top spot! It was a great amount of hard work, dedication, and long hours spent on the road to achieve this goal of mine. There are so many talented kids and to be among them is an honor in itself!”

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon breeders Lisa Boyer Miller and Lisa Durand are who Lila says encouraged her and her sister to try Junior Showmanship.

Lila and her family had three Griffons who were their companions, and started out showing them by attending her first show with “Indy” when she was nine years old. Ultimately, Lila stuck with showing dogs, while her sister chose not to continue on in the sport.

It’s been an interesting and busy journey for Lila, who wasn’t able to be in the ring on an every weekend basis due to school.

“The first few years I showed were quite limited as I was attending in-person school and had many extracurricular activities,” she reports. “I was quickly growing a profound passion for the sport, and made the decision that I wanted to dedicate more time to dogs. I settled on cutting back on some of my extracurriculars, so I could devote more time to dogs.”

Since then, Lila has gone on to work for professional handler Terri Erickson, who has served as a mentor to her in multiple ways.

“While she is an all-breed handler, and has taught me all there is to know about the handling and care of dogs, she has also been very insightful into the fundamentals of breeding,” Lila shares. “I greatly look up to her as a person and handler. She continues to exemplify a great work ethic and sportsmanship.”

Holberg has also had a lot of support from mentor figures in addition to Terri. These include her Pointer breeders of the acclaimed Southern Kennel, Tina McDonnell and Lydia Frey.

“I have the utmost gratitude to both ladies for their unwavering support throughout the years and for allowing ‘Fidele,’ GCHS Southern Malmason Pheasantly Surprised, to be my Juniors dog for two years,” Lila says. “Additionally, Kim Abbott of the ColdWater Kennel has been a fabulous mentor to me! A few handlers I greatly look up to are Valerie Nunes-Atkinson, Laurie Fenner, Janice Hayes, Andy Linton, and Tiffany Skinner.”

Learning under so many people who have had success in dogs has paid dividends for Lila. She views apprenticing as something that’s critical to having a solid career in dogs, but does not necessarily believe everyone needs to have a Junior Handling career to become a successful handler themselves. It’s a different journey for everyone.

“Some Juniors get a late start to Juniors and are aged-out after only a year of showing,” she explains. “Many people also get started later in life. I think more than anything, if you want to become a professional handler, you should apprentice under multiple professionals themselves. There is a reason they are called the professionals.” Lila also doesn’t believe there’s any one set of criteria that makes a good Junior, as all handlers have different styles and different breeds.

“I don’t think there is one correct answer for what makes a good Junior,” she notes. “However, I do think it is important to know the breed you are showing. Meaning, the condition, grooming, and presentation of the dog. Not every breed is shown the same, so I think it’s important to know how to show your breed, breed-specific. Thinking back on when I was younger, I have improved immensely over time. Even a year ago, I was not the same handler I am now. Weekend after weekend I learn new things, and that has helped me further excel.”

Lila feels she has gained a lot from learning under professional handlers. And it goes beyond just the show ring, something that is important for people like her who want to have a career in breeding as well.

“They know and can teach all about animal husbandry, the nuances of each breed, and the conditioning and grooming that goes into each and every dog,” Lila assures. “They have spent a lifetime cultivating their skills, and their knowledge of dogs is
truly remarkable.”

Moving forward, Lila hopes to continue accomplishing more milestones while furthering her career in the dog world. And it’s easy to get the sense she’s just getting started.

“There are many great memories as a Junior so far, but if I had to choose just one, I would have to say making it to the Junior Showmanship Finals at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club under judge Miss Whitney Meeks is the best one,” Lila says. “Later down the road, I would love to breed a Best in Show winning Pointer.”

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1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Where do you live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? What is your kennel name?
2. What is your “process” for selecting show puppies? Performance puppies?
3. In your opinion, is your breed in good condition overall? Any trends that warrant concern?
4. As a Preservation Breeder, can you share your thoughts on the sport today? How’s the judging these days? What do you think about the number of shows?
5. In your opinion, is social media good for the sport? Is it harmful?
6. What are the biggest challenges facing the dog show community as a whole today and how can these be addressed?
7. What are some of the positive changes you’ve seen in the sport over the past decade?
   

1. My husband, Tony, and I have a combined 30 years in breeding dogs. We live on Brays Island, South Carolina, which is one of the premier quail hunting communities in the country. Tony’s original breed was GSPs, and he was a NAVHDA judge and trainer for many years, with multiple Versatile Champions under his kennel, Feather Hills. My original breed was Wirehaired Pointing Griffons. My WPG kennel is Whiskeytown Sporting Dogs, which produced multiple BIS/RBIS/Group Winning and Placing Griffons and multiple Field and Show Dog Hall of Fame dogs. In 2020, we were awarded AKC Sporting Group Breeder of the Year. When I first met my husband in 2016, he introduced me to the Bracco Italiano. Tony has been involved with the breed for over 14 years now. We’ve dedicated our future to helping import, breed, and develop the quality of dogs we always try to produce; beautiful, sound, and correct dogs that can still do their job! Since the breed gained full AKC recognition, we have bred the first Champion, first Grand Champion Bitch, and a Best in Show winner along with multiple top-ranked Breed, All-Breed and NOHS Group-placing dogs. We had the No. 1 Breed and All-Breed Bracchi the first two years, won Westminster BOB, making the cut, with our foundation male, “Lepshi.” We also won the inaugural Westminster BOB and won the AKC National Championship BOB four times with four different Bracchi. Producing beautiful, correct dogs that can still do the job they are supposed to do is what the term Preservation Breeder means to us.

2. Our process involves a series of things. For show puppies, we stack them and evaluate them on the table with a group of people. Bracchi babies are very difficult to stack at young ages! We also watch them on the ground, looking at movement, which is a hallmark of the breed. A dog must have correct structure, be balanced front and rear, and have a beautiful head. For our hunting tests, we do a variety of things. We take them to a new outdoor location to start. We begin by watching their reaction time before they begin to explore and search their surroundings. A dog scoring high will immediately begin to explore and expand. We interact with them, tossing a toy to see their desire to go towards retrieving it. We watch how they interact with a stranger and with people in general. A good gundog must be very outgoing and fearless. We bring in a dead bird, at first tossing it into the litter. We watch to see which ones immediately gain interest. The ones that grab it, fight for it, and trot off with it as a prize score highest. Most of our families are hunting homes looking for a loving, calm companion in the home. Temperament testing is critical too. We pick each puppy for each family; it’s non-negotiable. Our breeding dogs will ideally be the best of both worlds, correct and beautiful with strong hunting instincts. We require a show title or an advanced hunt title to be bred. Ideally, a breeding dog will have both.

3. The breed is getting stronger here in the US. We have been importing dogs and using frozen semen to begin building out the lines of dogs we want here. As more people import, we hope that they bring more great lines of dogs like we have been doing for the past 14 years. The trend that concerns me is preserving the dogs as hunters. This breed is a POINTING breed, not a hound. They are heavier boned than a GSP and range like a medium GSP, so always look for a powerful pointing dog. They should not lumber, roll, or hold their tail high over their back like a hound. The movement of the Bracco should be fluid and powerful, with the head held high; this is how they hunt. The long ears and loose skin are to help pull scent upward. The Bracco is seeking birds and moving quickly. The ears bring the scent upward, but the head is up high and they must cover ground quickly and efficiently. There also seems to be confusion about the topline. The Bracco topline is made up of two lines; one from the slope of the withers to the 11th dorsal vertebrae, the other is slightly arched, joining with the line of the croup. The topline should remain strong in movement. A dog that rolls is fundamentally incorrect. FCI handlers are allowed to gait much more so than here, and the rings are often larger. That doesn’t mean a dog showing in the US shouldn’t move out—you should always be able to see the dog at that full speed in your mind!

4. To be honest, there are too many shows and not enough great judges. There is so much discussion about how to preserve the sport, but at the end of the day, it’s the breeders that matter. We are the ones who devote our time, life, and energy to maintain a breed. We need more breeder-judges who have built great kennels. I mentor judges in both of my breeds. I know instantly the ones that “get it” and the ones checking a box. We would love to be judges, but the time-consuming process, even in the breeds you know well, prohibit it for many.

5. We use social media to help promote our dogs. It’s “free” advertising, but it can often be ugly and disheartening too. People can’t seem to accept that my dog can be great, your dog can be great, and those things don’t have to be exclusive. The petty, even childish antics can wear out the best of people. At the same time, it can be educational and a great way to meet new people and introduce them to your breed.

6. Bringing in fresh and talented dog people as judges is a challenge. Making it easier for judges to be experts on certain breeds, and maybe not trying to be an expert on 200-plus breeds. Also, the number of shows is insane. I get why clubs are doing four- and five-day clusters together, but as an exhibitor it’s getting exponentially more expensive with so many shows. Handlers struggle to find assistants. With so many days on the road, it’s a very hard life. I wish there were fewer shows but more with great judges than what we see currently. I also wish there were more breeder competitions, more special events for this.

7. Speaking for my WPGs, I think as a breed develops over time, the overall quality becomes greater. Fifteen years ago, the Breed ring was not nearly so consistent in quality as it is today. I think that is why certain breeds seem to produce multiple top winners each year; the consistent quality has been built so that the great ones are truly great ones. I also like the changes made to support the showing of dogs past their championship; GCH and NOHS.

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1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Where do you live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? What is your kennel name?
2. What is your “process” for selecting show puppies? Performance puppies?
3. In your opinion, is your breed in good condition overall? Any trends that warrant concern?
4. As a Preservation Breeder, can you share your thoughts on the sport today? How’s the judging these days? What do you think about the number of shows?
5. In your opinion, is social media good for the sport? Is it harmful?
6. What are the biggest challenges facing the dog show community as a whole today and how can these be addressed?
7. What are some of the positive changes you’ve seen in the sport over the past decade?

1. We are originally from Big Stone Gap, Virginia, and currently live in Greer, South Carolina. Lonnie graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and was medically retired from the Army. He then worked as an engineer in heavy highway construction for 35 years, before retiring last year. Marsha’ is a radiological technologist working in several different modalities. Currently, she mostly does mammography and bone density. We have been married for close to 26 years and have 9 children, 15 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. We also love to travel, and last year we went to Alaska, Hawaii, and Yellowstone. Together, we have been in dogs for 25 years and bred Wirehaired Pointing Griffons for 22 years. Lonnie showed his first dog in 1986, an American Staffordshire Terrier. In 1999, we got our first Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. Through her we grew to love the breed, and her sixth-generation descendants live with us today. Lonnie went on to become a judge, and as such, he is one of three breeder-judges for the Griffon. Bear Hug is the kennel name we use for our Griffons. For other breeds, we have used the prefix of Ol Gray.

2. We spend a lot of time with our puppies. We put them into many different situations and observe how they handle them. This helps us understand their burgeoning personalities and temperaments. At around seven weeks, we do a conformation evaluation of the whole litter. We also invite others to come in to evaluate the puppies. This will include handlers and other breeders. For performance, as most of ours are used for hunting, we try to look at how the puppies handle situations in the field, loud noises, and their interest in birds. Our goal as breeders is to breed a dog that can do what you want to do and have the form to look good doing it.

3. We feel that the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon breed as a whole is in pretty good condition. Griffons continue to be one breed and not split between show lines and hunting lines. Most breeders do all of their health clearances and avoid breeding dogs that do not pass these certifications. The breed has always been a healthy breed and continues to be so. One concern we have had in the breed is the trend of oversized dogs being rewarded in the show ring.

4. Conformation shows continue to be a great place to have breeding stock evaluated. When we first started with Griffons, most dogs were handled by their owners. Now the owner-handler seems to be in the minority at most shows. You ask about the judging… because it is a low-entry breed, most judges do not have a great deal of experience judging this breed, and I think that sometimes this can be an issue. Personally, we think the number of shows is still good for the hobby.

5. We have mixed feelings about social media. We use it ourselves and it helps us keep in touch with family, fellow dog people, and puppy owners. But as in most things, be careful about what you read and see on any of the social platforms.

6. Lonnie is currently President of the Spartanburg Kennel Club, and one of the biggest challenges we face as a club is attracting new and younger members. Looking around at the meetings, the club is not getting any younger. Attracting and keeping younger members, and keeping them engaged, is a challenge for everyone in the sport. For the most part, they have other priorities, which include kids, careers, and life in general. Dedicating time to a club may be low on their priority list. We have added some more performance events and will continue to do so, as this has helped to connect us with some of these younger members. I think the club needs to be an avenue for the average dog owner to enjoy doing multiple things with their four-legged best friend.

7. We think one of the major changes we have enjoyed is the introduction of the Nartional Owner-Handled Series competition. Lonnie won the first Owner-Handled Best in Show award in the breed with our girl Mocha. He then went on to win the Breed twice at the National Owner-Handled Series Finals, with a different dog each time. We have also seen more involvement in local Specialty clubs within our breed. This has given the breed more opportunites to be seen, and perhaps, helps to increase the knowledge of the breed.

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“Field” Versus “Show” Dogs – For Griffons, It’s One and the Same!

While some Sporting Dog breeds and breed clubs have struggled with the split of their breed into the “field” versus “show” lines, the American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association (AWPGA) and its members have worked hard to keep their breed true to the following two breed club mission statements:

• Object of club shall be to encourage and promote the quality breeding of Purebred Wirehaired Pointing Griffons—and to do all possible to bring their natural hunting qualities to perfection.
• To urge members & breeders to accept the standard of the breed as approved by the AKC as the only standard of excellence by which the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon shall be judged.

The AWPGA has embraced the description of the Griffon as a “Versatile Hunting Dog.” Not only a field dog that hunts game, he is also effective in Hunt Tests, Tracking, Obedience, Show, and Agility. In the United States, largely due to the efforts of the AWPGA, many Wirehaired Pointing Griffons have demonstrated their competitive merit by earning Obedience, Agility, Field, Hunt, and Show titles, including NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association) Versatile Champion, National Shoot to Retrieve Association Champion, AKC Master Hunter, and AKC Best in Show.

The AWPGA celebrates the achievements of their members’ Griffons in all venues in their quarterly magazine, The Griffonnier. The AWPGA also holds an awards banquet each year in conjunction with their National Specialty. Awards & Recognition are given to club members from around the U.S. and Canada for their achievements in the show ring, the field, and in Obedience and Agility. One such award, The Capitaine Fracasse Challenge Trophy, is awarded to a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon that is an AKC Bench Champion of Record and earning the greatest number of points in AKC, NAVHDA, and/or NSTRA Field Performance Tests or Trials in a given calendar year. This particular award celebrates the dual role of AKC Bench Champion and outstanding Field Performance.

In 2012, the inaugural Korthals Cup event was held in conjunction with the club’s National Specialty. Entry requirements were limited to Griffons that had top field titles such as AKC Master Hunter, CKC Field Dog Excellent, NAVHDA Versatile Champions, and Utility I & II Prized dogs. This competitive event encompassed both field and water work. The event drew in some of the best field-tested dogs in the country, many of them also competing in the Specialty as well. Of the 13 entries, eight of them were AKC and/or CKC Bench Champions and one was an AKC Grand Champion.

The 2012 National Specialty saw the top-winning show dogs all carrying hunting titles, which included AKC Junior, Senior, and Master Hunters along with multiple NAVHDA Prized dogs taking the highest honors of Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Select Dog/Bitch, and Awards of Merit. When you combine the Korthals Cup with the results of the National Specialty itself, one can see that the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is truly a breed that keeps its original purpose at the forefront, with dedicated owners willing to compete with their dogs in all venues.

There are many excellent examples of how club members have worked with dedication to promote top-winning dogs in the field, in the ring, and in our breeding programs. Our top-producing sire of AKC Champions in 2008, 2010 & 2011 was AM/CAN CH Duchasseur Bayou CGN FD AGNS UT I. “Bayou” has produced many AKC and CKC Bench Champions, including many top-ranked show dogs. He has also produced more than 56 NAVHDA Natural Ability Prized pups, two Utility Prep Prized dogs, and 12 Utility Prized dogs, including five with Prize I’s.

He has produced seven litters of puppies that have earned a NAVHDA Breeder’s Award for Natural Ability. Bayou, himself, is a CKC multiple Group placing, RBIS winner, 2006 AOM winner at Eukanuba National Championship, and 2005 Winners Dog and 2006 AOM winner at our AWPGA National Specialty. In 2009, he was awarded Best Stud Dog at the National Specialty. In 2011, Bayou was the No. 1 Field Trial Griffon in Canada, No. 7 in the Top Ten Pointing Dogs in Canada, and the AQGAPD Poule Korthals winner.

The 2012, AWPGA Korthals Cup winner and joint winner of the 2012 Capitaine Fracasse Challenge Trophy was VC AM/CAN CH Duchasseur Crownpoint JHR CD NA I UT I. In 2011, “Cru” finished No. 8 in the Top Ten Pointing Dogs in the CKC and placed in several Field Trials in Canada. She has earned multiple placements in Obedience Trials in the U.S. and Canada. Cru also competes in the show ring; always owner-handled, and is a multiple Best of Breed winner. She took a CKC Best Puppy in Sporting Group, and in 2011, Cru earned Best of Opposite Sex at the AWPGA National Specialty.

This past year, all five of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffons earning Westminster invitations had hunting titles; the only Sporting Dog breed to make that claim. Our top five show dogs (Breed points) in the U.S. for 2012 included three Junior Hunters, a Senior Hunter/NAVHDA Utility II Prize dog, and a Master Hunter. The Best of Breed winner for 2013 Westminster Kennel Club and 2012 Eukanuba National Championship was GCH Flatbrook’s Heir About Him MH NA III, who also earned an AWPGA Field Dog Title in 2012 for completion of the AKC Senior and Master Hunter titles in 2011.

Receiving other top honors as Best of Breed at the 2012 National Specialty and Best of Opposite Sex at 2013 Westminster Kennel Club was GCH Stonehenge Willo’ The Wisp JH CA NA II; another multi-field-titled/top-winning show bitch. These Griffons are following a long tradition of field-titled Griffons in the show ring competing at the highest levels. Since 1992, two AKC Master Hunters, three AKC Senior Hunters, and eight AKC Junior Hunters have won Best of Breed honors at the Westminster Kennel Club shows.

Wirehaired Pointing Griffons like these, that are able to succeed in multiple venues at the highest levels, are more common than rare. The AWPGA will continue to encourage its members to promote their dogs in all venues. In doing so, we hope that in the future the Griffon will continue to be true to both the original purpose and physical attributes as outlined in our Breed Standard: medium-sized; with a noble, square-shaped head; strong of limb; bred to cover all terrain encountered by the walking hunter; movement showing an easy cat-like gracefulness; excels equally as a pointer in the field or a retriever in the water; coat is hard and coarse, never curly or woolly, with a thick undercoat of fine hair, giving an unkempt appearance. His easy trainability, devotion to family, and friendly temperament endear him to all. The nickname of “supreme gundog” is well-earned.

I hope you have enjoyed learning more about our wonderful, versatile dogs and the work we do to celebrate and promote our breed.

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The American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association, the parent club for the Griffon (AWPGA), adopted the official conformation standard for the breed in 1991. It drew heavily on standards adopted elsewhere, all of which were based on the standard fixed by Eduard Korthals, the founder of the breed, in the late 1800s. In early 2018, the AWPGA adopted the working standard for the Griffon. Again, it drew on the considerable work and research done by others. In adopting the working standard, the AWPGA recognized that the manner in which the Griffon works and hunts is as vital and inherent to the breed as its physical conformation. This article compares aspects of the two standards and discusses how the Griffon’s physical characteristics, as described in the conformation standard, are necessary for it to perform in accordance with the working standard.

Proper structure is required for the Griffon to exhibit the ideals set out in the working standard. According to the working standard, the Griffon’s general running style is a gallop. The body rocks slightly back and forth—from front to rear—around the imaginary axis that runs through the dog’s center of gravity and perpendicular to its topline. The working standard continues: “The [Griffon’s] long topline is held taut to favor propulsion. The [Griffon’s] well laid-back shoulder and long thigh promote vivacity and the bend of hock provides flexibility.”

In those two quoted sentences, the working standard directly implicates the following provisions taken directly from the conformation standard:

Topline – The back is strong and firm.
Forequarters – Shoulders are long, with good angulation, and well laid back.
Hindquarters – The thighs are long and well muscled.
Angulation in balance with the front.
Body – The loin is strong and well developed, being of medium length. The croup and rump are stoutly made with adequate length to favor speed.
Proportion – Slightly longer than tall, in a ratio of 10 to 9. The Griffon must not evolve towards a square conformation.
Gait – Viewed from the side, the topline is firm.
Also related to the gallop is the length of the Griffon’s neck. The conformation standard provides that the Griffon’s neck is to be relatively long. The longer length of neck facilitates the gallop and promotes a flexible head carriage and the head’s being carried in line with, or as an extension of, the topline. A neck that is too long leads to a gallop with the head raised, which is incorrect. A neck that is too short may not have the flexibility necessary to facilitate the gallop. The flexible head carriage promoted by the relatively long neck also gives the Griffon the ability to scent at a distance.

The working standard further provides that the Griffon’s quartering in the field should be fast, lively, and sustained. Well-recognized expert on the Griffon, Jean Castaing, explained that a sufficiently long croup is favorable for speed. He said, “The whole topline, without ceasing to be strong and sturdy, must present a certain length, for a long back favors speed.” Castaing also noted that the length of the shoulder favors speed, and therefore, the Griffon’s shoulder should be relatively long. The shoulder’s longer length and sufficient layback promote an efficient gallop as does a long and well-muscled thigh. According to Castaing, a more upright shoulder requires the Griffon to repeat its steps with greater frequency and it must make up with more frequent steps what it loses in the gallop. If the shoulder is long and slanting, all of the bones of the limbs will be long and that length will make the limbs more flexible. A short leg requires more steps, with each covering less ground, resulting in more fatigue and
less endurance.

In Le Griffon Korthals by Marie Lautier and Jacques Carpentier (2012), the authors explain that the back must be strong because it is the drive shaft for the movement developed by the hind legs. The back must be firm and a source of power and strength. They further state that the shoulder must be very oblique; as the well laid-back shoulder contributes to the Griffon’s movement close to the ground, particularly in its slow approach to the game once game scent is detected and in the coulé, described below. The musculature of the shoulder is necessary for the flexing of the body.

The longer topline is also directly related to the conformation standard’s requirement on proportion. The Griffon is to be slightly longer than tall, in a ratio of ten to nine. The standard is explicit: “The Griffon must not evolve towards a square conformation.” Lautier and Carpentier explain that the rectangular configuration of the Griffon, with a long body, gives a lower construction, close to the ground, which promotes flexibility and fluidity of movement. It is that movement that in the last century earned the Griffon the name, “Korthals cats,” and is reflected in the conformation standard’s statement that the Griffon’s movement shows “an easy catlike gracefulness.” Good body length, flexibility of the loins, and closeness to the ground give the Griffon an almost feline pace and efficient, ground-covering ability.

This ability of the Griffon to be close to the ground, reflected in its proper shoulder layback, rear angulation in balance with the front, and rectangular proportion, is necessary for the Griffon to approach the game once scented, point, and perform a coulé, each in accordance with the desired style described in the working standard. When handling scent, the Griffon is to advance carefully but decisively to the game, with its legs bending progressively as it crouches closer to the ground. The working standard provides that the desired posture for the point is a flexed position, with the body low to the ground. The head and nose are to be in line with the back, the neck extended, the legs bent or crouched, and the tail motionless. In the coulé, which is a commanded approach to the game after the point is established, the movement is smooth and crouched.

The proper physical structure of the Griffon and its mental stability and temperament, all as set out in the conformation standard, tie directly to the movement and behavior the Griffon is to exhibit in the field. The Griffon’s working manner and characteristics described in the working standard relate directly to its physical conformation and temperament. Form and function truly are one in the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

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Griffon breeders and AKC judges are undoubtedly familiar with the breed standard. It explains the structure, physical characteristics, and temperament of the Griffon. It is the standard against which Griffons are measured in the conformation ring. But, the Griffon was bred for a working purpose and it fulfills that purpose in its own unique way. How it does its work in the field is defined by the working standard.

By way of example, the working standard describes the ideal gait of the Griffon as a gallop. This differentiates the Griffon’s running style from the Bracco and Spinone Italiano, both of which require trotting as their primary way of moving while hunting. The Griffon does not hunt, point, or have a running style like these breeds. Similarly, Setters’ and Pointers’ conformations differ from that of the Griffon as do their working styles and characteristics in the field. The style of movement, head carriage, pointing, and working of scent vary from breed to breed.

Sir Robert Martineau of France wrote: “Breed style in the field, like the conformation breed standard, is an indisputable and inherent characteristic of the breed that the Clubs and the breeders have the duty to maintain.” (1973 Bulletin, Club du Griffon Korthals). Similarly, in 1978, J.M. Pilard, a French field trial judge, told the members of the Club Français du Griffon D’Arrêt à Poil Dur Korthals that the Griffon has a distinct way of hunting, with a style differing from those of the Brittany, German Shorthaired Pointer, Setter or Pointer. He noted that field competitions allow the work of a breed to be evaluated and maintained, just as conformation shows permit the evaluation of the dogs against the conformation standard and the maintenance of the standard. Pilard predicted that a dog’s adherence to the typical working style or standard of its Sporting breed would increasingly influence the judgments and placements in field trials.

In 1984, the Korthals Griffon breed club in France appointed Jacques Kerspern to write the working standard for the Griffon. About his efforts, he wrote:

“Just as the conformation standard defines the essential points of the morphology of a breed, the working standard proposes to determine the fundamental characteristics of a working dog in hunting situations. These characteristics can be seen in the study of pace, the gait, and the style of the dog during various successive phases of its action in the field. Some will say that the Griffon is, above all, a hunting dog and that in the field only efficiency counts. It is true, undoubtedly true for a dog, for your dog, but when it comes to the breed, the problem is very different. The standard not only defines but it is also the guarantee, the guardian of the breed and of its conformation and working specifics.

It is essential to maintain and to guarantee what makes a breed unique, not only in its conformation, but also in its hunting aptitudes. It is crucial to remind one of the importance of field events in this endeavor. The study of the working style or the pace is not done by starting with a preconceived model that may exist or be idealized, but rather according to observations of numerous Griffons at work. Objectively, this observation leads to the discovery of certain elements that we can find among most Griffons and that constitute the true constants of the breed and its style. In addition, it is important to try to find an explanation for these constants, which find their origins in the dog’s conformation. For this reason, we can conclude the absolute necessity to never dissociate the conformation standard from the working standard.”

The working standard adopted in 2018 by the AWPGA is based largely on the French Griffon Club’s working standard for the Korthals Griffon. The AWPGA believes that to preserve the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, the working standard is as important as the conformation standard. The working standard is the blueprint of the ideal characteristics of the working traits the breed exhibits in the field. It serves to describe the long-established acceptable characteristics that the model Griffon exhibits in the field. The particulars of the conformation breed standard are intertwined in all the characteristics found in the working standard. Proper structure, including mental stability and temperament, are essential to exhibit the ideal traits and behaviors in the working standard.

AMERICAN WIREHAIRED POINTING GRIFFON ASSOCIATION

The Working Standard for the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

The working standard of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (the WP Griffon) follows from the breed conformation standard to define the specific manner of the WP Griffon in the field.

Quartering: In searching for game, the WP Griffon quarters the field or area. The distance of the cast when quartering is not related to the dog’s physical conformation, but rather is about the dog’s mental state, hunting passion and training. The WP Griffon’s cast must extend laterally and may be extensive, but only in so far as the dog remains under the handler’s control. The cast varies with the terrain and cover being hunted.
The Gallop: The WP Griffon’s general running style is a gallop. The body seems to rock slightly back and forth—from front to rear—around the imaginary transverse line running through the WP Griffon’s center of gravity, which is estimated to be at stomach level. The gallop should be energetic but also sustained and steady. Avoid gallops that are too vigorous, overly excited or agitated; the dog must maintain self-control. The rocking motion may vary with the nature of the terrain and cover being hunted and is more pronounced when the dog is tired. The correct gallop is a function of the dog’s conformation. The WP Griffon’s long topline is held taut to favor propulsion. The WP Griffon’s well laid-back shoulder and long thigh promote vivacity and the bend of hock provides flexibility. The WP Griffon should have an easy and supple gait.
Speed: The WP Griffon’s quartering should be fast, lively and sustained. However, the speed should be of the type of continental dogs, meaning that the WP Griffon does not gallop as fast as a pointer or a setter.
Head Carriage: The head must be held at least in line with the back. The head is carried slightly forward with the nose slightly tilted downwards, causing the head to make an angle with the neck; this is referred to as the “hammer” head carriage. This head carriage provides the ability to scent at a distance. When a dog catches and is working a scent, the nose is held high.
Handling Scent: When it first catches game scent, the WP Griffon lifts its nose; then it will slow down, stop quartering, move into the scent cone, and lift its head in the direction of the game’s location. It will advance carefully but decisively, its legs bending progressively, crouching close to the ground. This phase is very stylish.

Pointing: The point should always be rigid. The desired posture for the point is a flexed position: the body is low, the head and nose are in line with the back, the body is tense and rigid, the neck is extended, the legs are bent or crouched, and the tail is rigid and motionless. A point achieved from a full run may be a standing point and is called “short” because the scent has not been well worked. A point with the dog lying down is not acceptable, except in the case of a surprised point when the dog catches scent while turning.
Coulé*: When the WP Griffon is moving in toward the game after the point is established, the desired motion, or coulé, is catlike. The approach is crouched, nearly creeping, the neck always taut, and the nose raised. This is the highest expression of the WP Griffon’s style. The coulé should not be jerky, nervous or fidgety.
The Tail: The tail should remain still and not wag when the WP Griffon is on point. Wagging generally indicates a point on which the birds are not pinned or the birds are not in line with the dog’s nose. Movement of the tail is a fault that must be penalized. If the tail is undocked, it must be held still on point and a tail held high or that moves on point must be avoided.
Note: Hunt tests and field trials serve to identify the best representatives of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and bring them to the attention of breeders who desire to produce quality dogs—those sires and dams that preserve the best characteristics of the breed and the passion to hunt in the inherent style of the breed. When evaluating WP Griffons in a field competition or hunt test, top scores should not be awarded to a dog that has not worked the scent. Surprised or short points are less desirable than flexed points. In addition, top scores should be awarded to only those WP Griffons demonstrating the typical manner and working characteristics of the breed.

*Coulé is used in European field trials for continental pointing dogs. It is not common in training, trialing or testing the WP Griffon in the United States. It is the action of approaching the game that the WP Griffon should do without hesitation, smoothly, at the command of the handler and always in contact with the game. The movement should be fluid, like a cat stalking its prey. Both the dog and the handler move together, placing pressure on the game until it flushes. The dog must then be steady to flush, wing and shot.

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