Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Cordoba Fighting Dog - Breed Comparison

Known also as the Korthals Griffon, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a hunting- and gundog. It was Eduard Karel Korthals who is thought to have brought about this dog breed around 1873.

He was a Dutchman living in France. It is believed that quite a few dog breeds were used to bring about this dog such as the Otterhound, Spniels, Setters and possibly a Pointer. The dog is known as a supreme gundog and it is a very popular dog breed.

Edward Korthals of Holland was looking for an ideal gun dog. It was in 1888 that the first Griffon Club was formed. It was only in 1916 that this dog was officially recognized as the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon in the United States.

It is also recognized by the FCI or Federation Cynologique Internationale.

The Cordoba Fighting Dog is believed to be an extinct dog breed, but research will reveal that there are still those who believe that some of these dogs do still exist.

The dog was regarded as an aggressive, fighting dog and was a crossbreed of the Mastiff, Bull Terrier, Boxer and Bulldog.

Known also as the Argentine Fighting Dog or the Perro de Presa de Cordoba, this dog comes from Argentina where it was used for dog fighting, hog hunting as well as being a guard dog. It is thought that it became extinct in the 20th Century.

Breeders in Cordoba worked at developing a new fighting breed of dog based on the Bull Terrier. The breed became known as the Perro de Presa de Cordoba or Fighting Dog of Cordoba. He resembled the Bull Terrier and came in shades of fawn and brindle, although Argentine fanciers preferred the plain white dogs.

Over breeding for white coated dogs led to skin problems and other health problems, making it that except for fighting, the dog wasn’t in demand elsewhere. As fighting of dogs became more frowned on, the dog became extinct.

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon or Korthals Griffon is a medium-to-large sized dog standing at between 50 and 60cm both male and female and weighing between 23and 27kg.

He has a wiry, somewhat harsh curly outer coat and a softer undercoat. The head is quite large. He has thick eyebrows and a beard. The eyes are brown with yellow irises.

This is a low-shedding dog. There are a few colors such as white and brown, white and orange but the coat is also steel gray with brown markings.

Temperament:

These dogs are intelligent and independent with a desire to please their owners. He is able to learn tricks and commands easily. They love their human families and want to be around them all the time.

It would be devastating for such a dog to find himself stuck in the backyard with no human contact. He is also not suited to cramped living conditions in the city but is essentially a country dog, especially since he has boundless energy.

As a family pet, he is playful, friendly, loyal, loving and gentle, behaving well with children and other pets. They’re not aggressive dogs but they make excellent watchdogs, barking if someone comes into their property.

The Cordoba fighting dog is a mixed breed. Bull Terrier, Mastiff and Bulldog make up this dog breed.

He was a large dog, standing at between 58 and 62cm and weighing between 32 to 55 kg. He was lean and muscled with a wide chest and small ears that were cropped. His powerful jaws were to be avoided as once they settled around another dog’s throat, the grip was vice-like. The dog’s coat was short and was essentially white with black marks on the body and around the head.

Temperament:

A Cordoba Fighting Dog is aggressive and strong. While most dogs benefit immensely from training and socialization, these dogs, even with training, remained somewhat aggressive, so they were no doubt not a good choice for first time dog owners, or for those with children in the home. Also the dog was always aggressive towards other dogs.

You could safely say that if these dogs were around today, they would not be looked upon as the ideal family pet.

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon has always been a great hunting dog and he doubles as an excellent pet and companion as well.

This dog is extremely loyal to his human family and is friendly, intelligent, loving and affectionate, getting on well with children as well as other pets in the home.

He can reach 14 years of age and doesn’t often get sick, making him an all-round great pet and companion.

The Cordoba Fighting Dog was a hunter and also a fighting dog. It was a fierce, aggressive dog, and while he may have formed a bit of a bond with his owner, he wouldn’t have made a good family pet.

With an unstable temperament, who knows when he could have turned on his owner or the owner’s family? Certainly he wouldn’t have tolerated any other pets in the home.

Perhaps it is better if he has become extinct because dog fighting is abhorrent and hopefully being banned today, and he would never have been much good as a family pet.

To avoid ear problems, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon's ears should be kept clean and dry. If you do detect redness inside the ear, it could mean he has an infection that will need to be treated.

The Cordoba Fighting Dog was a generally healthy breed but even so, its very lifestyle made it want to gobble down his food without much chewing. This possibly resulted in a number of problems such as bloat.

Bloat:

Bloat is a serious condition which the Cordoba had to deal with and which happens with modern day dogs too. It is an ailment not to be taken lightly. Your dog will need to get to the vet as soon as possible. The dog’s stomach fills with gas, which can also result in the stomach twisting.

When the stomach fills with gas, pressure is put on the diaphragm, making it difficult for the dog to breathe. The dog’s abdomen is swollen, he has difficulty with breathing and he will likely be drooling. It is an ailment which can happen to any breed of dog, regardless of age. Larger dog breeds, however are more prone to it.

Exercise:

This dog loves his exercise, and if you live in the country so much the better. He will love to go hiking and swimming with you or running next to you as you go cycling. He also loves all kinds of rope- and ball games in the garden. It’s why this active dog isn’t ideal for life in the city.

Always have the telephone number of a good vet in your phone.

Spay or neuter your pet if you don’t want unwanted puppies. Don't do it too early. Speak to your vet about the procedure and about the health benefits that come from spaying and neutering a dog.

Diet:

These are active dogs and they will require top quality food if they’re to remain healthy and active.

Always check the packaging to see what ingredients are present in your dog’s food. Some of the cheaper, more inferior brands can actually be harmful to your pet with their useless ingredients devoid of vitamins and minerals.

Some home-made food is good and this needs to be plain and free from spicy additives. Dogs have sensitive stomachs and anything unusual can cause them digestive problems.

Make sure your dog’s vaccines are up to date.

Provide your pet with a quiet, warm, dry sleeping place to call his own.

Grooming:

The Cordoba Fighting Dog was a short haired dog and no doubt his owner would have given him a brush down every now and then to keep him looking presentable.

Diet:

The Cordoba was used for fighting to the death with other dogs, so a strong dog like this will have required a high-protein diet. The owners particularly wouldn’t have wanted a dog with hip- and elbow dysplasia and they would have ensured a good choice of raw meat, cooked brown rice and vegetables.

Manufactured dog food started emerging about the mid-1800s and the dogs would have been fed this, made up of wheat meals, meat and vegetables which was then mixed with cooked meat and vegetables.