Wire-haired Pointing Griffon Korthals Breed Standard (FCI)

TRANSLATION : Mrs. Renée Sporre Willes and Mr. Raymond Triquet.

ORIGIN : France.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 06.05.1964.

UTILIZATION : Essentially a versatile pointing dog. Also used for tracking wounded large game.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 7 Pointing Dogs.
Section 1.3 Continental Pointing Dogs, « Griffon » type. With working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : Already mentioned by Xenophon, used as « oysel dog » widespread in the whole of Europe under different names. The breed was renewed and improved by inbreeding, selection and training without any addition of foreign blood by E.K. Korthals during the second half of the 19th century. Since, the different national clubs have remained faithful to its precepts.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Vigorous dog, rustic of medium size. Longer than tall. The skull is not too broad. The muzzle is long and square. The eyes, dark yellow or brown are surmounted but not covered by bushy eyebrows and well developed moustaches and beard give him a characteristic expression and express firmness and assurance.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Gentle and proud, excellent hunter, very attached to his master and his territory which he guards with vigilance. Very gentle with children.

HEAD : Big and long, with harsh hair, thick but not too long; moustache, beard and eyebrows well developed.

CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Not too broad. The upper lines of the skull and the muzzle are parallel.
Stop : Not too pronounced.

FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Always brown.
Muzzle : Long and square, of the same length as the skull, bridge of the nose slightly convex.
Eyes : Dark yellow or brown, large, rounded surmounted but not covered by the eyebrows, very intelligent expression.
Ears : Of medium size, not curled inwards, flat, set on level line with the eyes, the short hair which covers them is more or less mixed with longer hairs.

NECK : Moderately long, without dewlap.

BODY : Its length is markedly greater than the height at the withers (from 1/20th to 1/10th).
Back : Strong.
Loin : Well developed.
Chest : Deep, not too wide, ribs slightly sprung.

TAIL : Carried horizontally or with the tip slightly raised, covered with thick hair but without fringing, generally should be docked by a third or a quarter. If it were not shortened, it would be carried horizontally with its tip slightly raised.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS : Straight, vigorous, with thick hair. In action, the forelegs are perfectly parallel.
Shoulders : Well set on, rather long, very oblique.

HINDQUARTERS : Covered with thick hair.
Thighs : Long and well muscled.
Hocks : Well angulated.

FEET : Round, strong, toes tight and arched.

GAIT / MOVEMENT : The hunting gait is the gallop, punctuated by periods of trot. The trot is extended. Catlike movement when walking up game.

COAT

HAIR : Harsh and coarse, reminding of the touch of a wild boar’s bristles. Never curly or woolly. Under the harsh top coat is a fine dense undercoat.

COLOUR : Preferably steel grey shade with brown (liver) patches or self-coloured brown (liver) coat. Frequently liver-roan or a close mixture of brown (liver) and white hairs. Equally permissible white and brown and white and orange coats.

SIZE : About 55 to 60 cm for males and 50 to 55 cm for females.

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

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.