Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Picardy Spaniel - 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 Picardy Spaniel hails from France and has always been used as a gundog, having been crossed with different British hunting dogs.

While this dog breed is related to the Blue Picardy Spaniel, the Picardy is the older of the two breeds. It has always been sought after by the French nobility for its hunting skills and the fact that its weather resistant coat allowed it to hunt in all kinds of weather conditions.

The dog’s popularity waned in the early 20th century. The UKC have recognized the Picardy Spaniel as a Gun Dog and the breed has also been accepted within the FCI as a Pointing dog group.

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 Picardy Spaniel is larger than other spaniels. It is described as a medium sized dog, standing at 56 – 61cm in height and weighing between 20 and 25 kilograms. The body of the spaniel is squarely built and muscular body. The dog has long floppy ears and the coat which is shortish in areas except for feathering around the legs and belly can vary in colour from red to chestnut brown to sandy and chocolate. The tail is long and feathered.

Temperament:

The Picardy Spaniel is a docile breed of dog and makes a great family pet, loving being playful with the children in the home and getting on well with other dogs. He is gentle but sociable and intelligent too and is easy to train and socialize.

Although he has been used as a hunting dog he can slot into life in the city or the countryside. He can be indoors or outdoors and still be happy, so long as his family members are close by.

He is an active dog though, and won’t be content to be sitting around for too long, loving nothing more than to be chasing a ball or going for a walk with you.

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 Picardy Spaniel is a docile dog who forms strong bonds with his human family.

He doesn’t gel easily with strangers though, but socialization and training will at least make him well behaved among strangers.

A well-mannered Picardy Spaniel is a joy in the home, and this gentle dog is guaranteed to make you the most wonderfully loyal and loving pet and companion.

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.

Without any major health issues, your Picardy can reach 14 years of age and possibly even older. A couple of common dog conditions to be on the watch for include:

Ear Infections:

Your beautiful Picardy Spaniel has floppy ears and this opens up the tendency to suffer with ear infections. The inside of the ears are moist and hot and you as the dog owner can try to keep the inside of the ear clean and dry.

He is a dog that loves water too, and swimming encourages dampness. If you prefer not to work on the inside of the ears, dog groomers or your vet can clean the ears for you. An ear infection can be painful for your pet and it will require veterinary intervention.

Obesity:

These are dogs which can pick up weight quite easily. Dogs which are overweight are more prone to developing cancer, diabetes and heart disease, not to mention joint problems.

Other problems to look out for include cancer, bloat, dental disease and parasites.

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:

Your Picardy has a thick coat which sheds and the coat should be brushed at least twice a week to prevent matting. The ears of the Picardy Spaniel require special attention. Because they are long they will need to be cleaned and kept dry otherwise an ear infection can develop.

At the same time, check your pet over for ticks and fleas, check his eyes, keep the nails trimmed, and check inside his mouth for rotting teeth which can be the source of many health problems if left untreated.

Feeding your Picardy:

If you have a puppy, you will need to provide 4 bowls of food in a 24 hour period. Check on the directions provided on the food packaging to see how much to feed your puppy.

By the time your Picardy is one year of age, he can move over to 2 bowls of food a day. Only the highest quality commercially manufactured food will be good enough for your dog. Food and its quality impacts the health and longevity of your pet.

Apart from dry kibble, try and provide some home-made food, keeping it as simple as possible. Dogs thrive on simple, consistent foods. Chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots added to the kibble now and then will thrill your pet. Occasionally you can also add in some raw meat.

Avoid feeding your dog things like coffee, chocolates, popcorn, nuts and onions as all these will just upset your dog's digestive system. The secret is to keep things simple and nutritious.

Make sure your pet always has access to fresh, cool water.