German Wirehaired Pointer Breed Standard

General Appearance - Medium sized hunting dog, with wirehair completely covering skin.  Overall should be slightly longer in body compared to shoulder height.

Characteristics - Powerful, strong, versatile hunting dog, excels in both field and water. Loyal, intelligent, sound temperament and alert.

Temperament - Gentle, affectionate and even tempered. Alert, biddable and very loyal. Can be a bit aloof of strangers at first meeting.

Head and Skull - Balanced in proportion to body. Skull sufficiently broad and slightly rounded. Moderate stop, skull and muzzle of equal length with no overhanging lips. Nose liver or black.

Eyes - Medium sized, oval, hazel or darker, with eyelids closing properly, not protruding or too deep set.

Ears - Medium sized in relation to head, set high, when brought forward should reach corner of lips

Mouth - Teeth and jaws strong, with perfect regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws, with full dentition.

Neck - Strong and of adequate length, skin tightly fitting.

Forequarters - Shoulders sloping and very muscular with top of should blades not too close; upper arm bones between shoulder and elbow long. Elbows close to body, neither pointing outwards nor inwards. Forelegs straight and lean, sufficiently muscular and strong but not coarse-boned. Pasterns slightly sloping, almost straight but not quite.

Body - Chest must appear deep rather than wide but not out of proportion to the rest of the body; ribs deep and well sprung, never barrel-shaped nor flat, back rib reaching well down to tucked-up loins. Chest measurement immediately behind elbows small than that of about a hand's breadth behind elbows so that upper arm has freedom of movement. Firm back, not arched, with slightly falling back line.

Hindquarters - Hips broad and wide, croup falling slightly towards tail. Thighs strong and well muscled.  Stifles well bent. Hocks square with body, turning neither in nor out. Pasterns nearly upright. Bone strong but not coarse.

Feet - Compact.  close-knit, round to oval shaped, well padded, should turn neither in nor out. Toes well arched, heavily nailed.

Tail - Docked - Approximately two fifths of original length docked. Continuing the line of back, carried horizontally or slightly upward. Neither too thick nor too thin.

Tail - Undocked - Continuing the line of back, carried horizontally or slightly upward. Neither too thick nor too thin. Reaching to the hocks and carried straight or slightly sabre fashion.

Gait/Movement - Smooth, covering plenty of ground with each stride, driving hind action, elbows turning neither in nor out. Definitely not a hackney action.

Coat - Out coat thicker and harsh, no longer than 4cms (1.5ins) long with a dense undercoat - undercoat more prevalent in winter than summer.  It should not hide body shape but it should be long enough to give good protection. Coat should lie close to the body. Hair on head and ears thick and short, but not too soft. Bushy eyebrows, full but not overlong beard.

Colour - Liver and white, solid liver, black and white - Solid Black and tricoloured highly undesirable.

Size - Ideal height at should: dogs 60-67 cms (23.5-26.5 ins); bitches: 56-62 cms (22-24.5ins). Wieght: dogs 25-34 kgs (55-75lbs); bitches 20.5-29 kgs (45-64lbs).

Faults - Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fauly and the seriousness with which the fauly should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note: Male animals should have apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.