--- title: German Wirehaired Pointer Gun Dog | Royal Gun Dogs url: https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/german-wirehaired-pointer/ business: Royal Gun Dogs trainer: Richard Gebhart (professional gun dog trainer since 2002) phone: (530) 341-4496 email: royalgundogs@yahoo.com trains_at: Hastings Island Hunting Preserve, 7758 Hastings Island Rd, Rio Vista, CA 94571 (Solano County) booking: call or text Richard directly --- - [Home](https://royalgundogs.com/) - [Breeds](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/) - German Wirehaired Pointer # The German Wirehaired Pointer as a gun dog The German Wirehaired Pointer is a rugged, versatile German hunting dog with a harsh wire coat made for brush, cover and cold water. It points, tracks and retrieves, and many hunters like it for rough country where a thinner-coated dog would be scratched up. ## German Wirehaired Pointer at a glance - **Origin:** Germany, late 19th century AKC breed standard - **AKC group:** Sporting AKC - **Typical weight:** 50-70 lbs AKC breed standard - **Hunting style:** Pointer and retriever (versatile) AKC A GWP often looks like a shaggy-faced GSP, and works in a similar way. This page covers what sets the breed apart and how it is usually trained. ## A coat for rough cover The AKC describes the breed's coat as harsh and wiry, with a dense undercoat that insulates and repels water, along with distinctive eyebrows and beard. Breeders developed it to hunt in thick brush and to swim cold water. For California upland hunting, that means a dog comfortable in blackberry tangles, cheatgrass and foothill brush, then ready to retrieve a duck from a slough on the way home. ## A thinking dog GWPs are often described as serious workers with a strong bond to their family. Many are reserved with strangers at first, so socializing a young dog with people, places and other dogs is part of the early job. The breed's steadiness can reward patient, consistent training. A handler who builds trust early often ends up with a dog that works close and checks in. ## Questions handlers ask about GWPs Will it point and retrieve? That is the design. The breed was developed to find game, hold a point and then retrieve from land and water. Do I need both retriever and pointer training? For a dog expected to do both, yes. Richard's retriever background goes back to 2002, and his work with pointers and other upland breeds began in 2013 under Steve Klassen. When is the right time to start? Puppies can start with simple obedience, bird exposure and recall. The [guide to starting a hunting puppy](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/when-to-start-a-hunting-puppy/) covers the general timeline. ## A common order of work - Recall, sit, heel and whoa - Meeting birds, then pointing - Range and pattern in open fields - Steadiness to wing, shot and fall - Retrieving from land, then water ## Choosing between versatile breeds The GWP, the GSP and the Vizsla all fall into the versatile group. The GWP stands out for the wire coat and a reputation for steadiness, the GSP for athleticism and energy, and the Vizsla for closeness to its handler. Compare them on the [German Shorthaired Pointer](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/german-shorthaired-pointer/) and [Vizsla](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/vizsla/) pages, then think about the cover you hunt and how much you want the dog to retrieve. ## Royal Gun Dogs programs A wirehair pup can start with [Puppy Camp](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/puppy-camp/); after a season of hunting, once the dog is over a year old, [Formal Gun Dog Training](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/) covers obedience, e-collar conditioning and whoa work. [handler lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/) train you to handle the dog in the field, and [board-and-train](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/board-and-train/) fits owners who live far from Rio Vista. ### Sources (4) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/dog-breeds/german-wirehaired-pointer/](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/german-wirehaired-pointer/) (checked October 27, 2026) - German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America : [gwpca.com/](https://gwpca.com/) (checked October 27, 2026) - Hastings Island Hunting Preserve : [hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/](https://hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/) (checked October 27, 2026) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/sports/pointing-breeds/hunt-tests/](https://www.akc.org/sports/pointing-breeds/hunt-tests/) (checked October 27, 2026) ### Matching program - [Formal Gun Dog Training](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/) ### Your trainer Richard Gebhart has trained dogs professionally since 2002, learned the Rex Carr method for Retriever Basics under Billy Sargenti, and has run and qualified at an AKC Master National. [Meet Richard](https://royalgundogs.com/richard-gebhart/) ### Related - [German Shorthaired Pointer](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/german-shorthaired-pointer/) - [Vizsla](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/vizsla/) - [Retriever, pointer or spaniel: choosing a hunting breed](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/retriever-pointer-or-spaniel/) - [Private and group lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/) ## German Wirehaired Pointer questions [All questions](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/) ### Is a GWP good for waterfowl? Its coat and retrieving instinct suit cold water, though retriever breeds remain the usual choice for heavy duck hunting. ### How is a GWP different from a GSP? The coat is the obvious difference. The wire coat protects in brush and the dog's temperament is often described as more reserved. ### Can a GWP run AKC hunt tests? Yes, AKC hunting tests for pointing breeds are open to the GWP. Check the AKC for current rules. ### Is a GWP too much dog for a first-time hunter? It can be a good fit with help. A hunting partner and a trainer can make the first season easier.