Russian Setter vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison

Russian Setter is originated from Russia but German Wirehaired Pointer is originated from Germany. Both Russian Setter and German Wirehaired Pointer are of same height. Both Russian Setter and German Wirehaired Pointer are of same weight. Both Russian Setter and German Wirehaired Pointer has almost same life span. Both Russian Setter and German Wirehaired Pointer has almost same litter size. Both Russian Setter and German Wirehaired Pointer requires Moderate maintenance.

History

People often think it is ridiculous that a Setter dog comes from Russia. It is believed that the Russians did have some kind of Griffon and the word Pointer is also often translated as Setter.

It is believed that the Russian Setter is one of the ancestors of the Wire-haired Pointing Griffon and that it possibly shared an ancestry with the German wire-haired and broken-haired pointers.

References to Russian Setters were fairly common in the 19th century, but there is such contradictory information that it is hard to get good information on the dogs. The Russian Setter is believed to have existed before the Russian Revolution resembling the English Setter. Dog experts tell us the dog no longer exists.

german wirehaired pointer - historyMedium to large sized, the German Wirehaired Pointer is a griffon type dog breed hailing from Germany and developed for hunting purposes in the 19th century.

Known as the Drahthaar in Germany, the dog is a mix of griffon, Deutscher Stichelhaar, German Shorthaired Pointer, Deutscher Kurzhaar as well as the Pudelpointer.

He was imported into the United States in the 1920s, and it was in 1953 that the German Drahthaar Club of America was formed.

Basic Information

Group:
Setter dog
Sporting dog
Origin:
Russia
Germany
Height Male:
57 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
Height Female:
57 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
57 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
27 - 32 kg
59 - 71 pounds
27 - 32 kg
59 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
27 - 32 kg
59 - 71 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
10 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 8
6 - 10
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
None
Deutsch Drahthaar, Drahthaar
Colors Available:
Grey, reddish-brown with some black and white
black flecked , Liver and white
Coat:
Short or long, smooth or wiry
Straight, wiry, harsh
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

In terms of appearance, it was John Henry Walsh who said that the Russian Setter was a dog hidden by its long, woolly matted coat.It seems to have been a medium sized dog with an elegant appearance. It seems the dog came in two varieties - the curly coated liver coated dogs and the fawn colored dogs which are straight coated.

Because there is very little information on these dogs, we assume they were between 57 – 68cm in height and between 27 and 32kg in weight. The coat was no doubt in colours such as grey, reddish-brown with some black and white and shortish and wiry. The ears were floppy,and the face no doubt had some longer hair around the muzzle.

Temperament:

Nobody seems to know exactly what the temperament of this dog was, but when you look at some of his ancestors you can assume that he was strong-willed, confident and a skilled hunter.

He would have required a lot of exercise too. He was lively and energetic. Because he had Pointer in him you can be sure that he would have been intelligent so that he could be trained and socialized.

He would have been keen to learn with an owner who was firm and consistent in his treatment of him. He is a dog most happiest when he can spend time with his human family, a most loyal and devoted family friend, capable of getting on well with children and pets in the home.

german wirehaired pointer puppy - descriptionWell muscled, this is a medium to large sized dog standing at between 57 and 68cm in height and weighing between 27 and 32kg.

He has a weather resistant wiry coat which is of medium length and which is wiry and harsh. Coat color is liver and white as well as black flecked.The undercoat provides insulation against the cold.

He has quite a bit of facial hair in terms of eyebrows, beard and whiskers.He has webbed feet, typical of German Pointers. His tail is docked to about two-fifths of its natural length, but these days it is often left long.

Temperament:

Lively, playful, affectionate and intelligent, the German Wirehaired Pointer is easy to teach. He becomes wonderfully obedient with training and socialization and responds well to instructions to sit, come and stay.

He is an active dog and likes to be involved in the activities that his human family are involved in. He becomes bored and frustrated when he doesn’t get the exercise and attention he craves.

He isn’t suited to life in the city where the premises are small as he needs plenty of vigorous exercise every day. They do well in the country where they have plenty of place to run and where their hunting skills come into action.

Characteristics

It appears, according to records that the Russian Setter has come and gone. However he would have been a calm, gentle pet with running ad hunting keeping him happy. He would therefore have required a lot of exercise.

We can assume that according to the few records that there are, that this was an affable, pleasing dog breed which made a great family pet.

german wirehaired pointer dog - characteristicsGerman Wirehaired Pointers make awesome pets as they’re lively, playful, social and loving. They particularly suit living in a home where the people are active, outdoor types.

They make superb jogging- or cycling companions and will thrive on sharing these activities with a family member. He is a dog who has a need to be loved and included in all that his family gets up to. He wants lots of pats and stroking to show him that you care.

Give him the love and care he craves and you’re guaranteed to have the most wonderful loving pet.

Health Problems

The Russian Setter had an average lifespan of 10 – 14 which is a fairly good innings for a dog. Nonetheless you would have had to be aware of some common dog problem. These dogs were prone to major health issues such as both hip and elbow dysplasia, deafness, epilepsy and hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism:

The thyroid glands produce hormones that affect the function of many parts of the body. Dogs with this illness have a low production of thyroid hormones.

This disease is mainly caused by inflammation or shrinkage of the thyroid gland. The most common signs of low thyroid in dogs is thinning of the fur, the coat is dull, there is weight gain and excess shedding. The dog doesn’t tolerate cold well either. These dogs also often have ear infections.

german wirehaired pointer puppies - health problemsGerman Wirehairs are generally healthy, and when you look after them well they can reach 12, 13 or 14 years of age. Also, if both German Wirehaired Pointer parents have certificates proving they were tested and cleared of hip dysplasia, hereditary eye diseases and blood-clotting disease, then your pet will have less risk of developing these conditions.

Your pet isn’t likely to get sick, but like all breeds of dogs, they're prone to certain diseases and conditions. Hip Dysplasia is something that can be noticed when your pet is still a puppy.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a heritable condition where the thigh bone doesn't fit properly into the hip joint. Your dog can battle with pain so that he no longer wants to play, he battles to get up after lying down and he may even begin to show signs of lameness. Arthritis can develop too.

Cataracts:

You’ll notice cloudiness on the eye lens that can grow over time. Not all cataracts impair vision, although there are some instances where vision loss is experienced. Cataracts can sometimes be surgically removed with good results.

Caring The Pet

Whatever kind of coat the Russian Setter ad it would have required a brushing twice a week to keep it in top form.

The medium length floppy ears would have to be checked inside for ear infection.

His owners would have checked inside the mouth for any signs of rotten or bad teeth.

His nails would have required trimming.

Diet:

Dogs need the best food there is to stay healthy. The Russian Terrier, if it were still around today, would have had the best commercially manufactured food there was.

You want to provide dogs with some good homemade food too. Dogs thrive on simplicity and consistency to avoid upsetting the stomach. Some home-cooked food such as boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach would be perfect for him. Chop the food up finely and add it into the dry kibble once or twice a week. Raw meat should also be added in when possible to promote good skin health.

Make sure your pet is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

german wirehaired pointer dogs - caringYour German Wirehaired Pointer isn’t a heavy shedder so brushing his coat twice a week will be ideal for him to rid the coat of loose hairs.

Diet:

Your German Wirehaired Pointer is an active dog and this has to be taken into account when looking at diet. He will require a diet with quality protein. You’ve also got to look at things such as whether your dog is neutered or spayed as they require less calories. On the other hand there are dogs that will require more calories because of their activity levels.

Make sure your German Wirehaired Pointer eats a top quality dog food. Add in some homemade food such as cooked brown rice, chicken and vegetables from time to time as well as some raw meat. You have to constantly remember that your dog’s health depends on the nutrition you provide.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Sakhalin Husky vs Russian Setter - Breed Comparison
  2. Schnauzer vs Russian Setter - Breed Comparison
  3. Schnoodle vs Russian Setter - Breed Comparison
  4. Santal Hound vs Russian Setter - Breed Comparison
  5. Sanshu vs Russian Setter - Breed Comparison
  6. Sapsali vs Russian Setter - Breed Comparison
  7. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Russian Setter - Breed Comparison
  8. Russian Setter vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  9. Russian Setter vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  10. Russian Setter vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  11. Russian Setter vs Chow Chow - Breed Comparison
  12. Russian Setter vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  13. Russian Setter vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi - Breed Comparison
  14. Russian Setter vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  15. Russian Setter vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  16. Russian Setter vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Russian Setter vs Dalmatian - Breed Comparison
  18. Russian Setter vs Golden Doodle - Breed Comparison
  19. Russian Setter vs Pomsky - Breed Comparison
  20. Russian Setter vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  21. Russian Setter vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  22. Russian Setter vs Other - Breed Comparison
  23. Russian Setter vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  24. Russian Setter vs Olde English Bulldogge - Breed Comparison
  25. Russian Setter vs English Springer Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  26. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  27. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Chesapeake Bay Retriever - Breed Comparison
  28. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Bull Arab - Breed Comparison
  29. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Eurohound - Breed Comparison
  30. Gordon Setter vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  31. Magyar Agar vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  32. Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Noir vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  33. Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Orange vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  34. Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolore vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  35. Tweed Water Spaniel vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  36. Samoyed vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  37. Labradoodle vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Mixed vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  39. Great Pyrenees vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  40. Old English Sheepdog vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  41. Presa Canario vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  42. Labrador Husky vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  43. Perro de Presa Canario vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  44. Irish Setter vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  45. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  46. Giant Schnauzer vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  47. Greyhound vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  48. Goldador vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  49. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  50. German Wirehaired Pointer vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds