Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs English Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison

English Water Spaniel is originated from United Kingdom but Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is originated from France. English Water Spaniel may grow 9 cm / 3 inches shorter than Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. English Water Spaniel may weigh 7 kg / 15 pounds lesser than Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. Both English Water Spaniel and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon has almost same life span. Both English Water Spaniel and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon has almost same litter size. English Water Spaniel requires Low Maintenance. But Wirehaired Pointing Griffon requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Sporting dog
undefined
United Kingdom
France
Height Male:
49 - 51 cm
19 - 21 inches
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
Height Female:
45 - 47 cm
17 - 19 inches
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
16 - 20 kg
35 - 45 pounds
23 - 27 kg
50 - 60 pounds
Weight Female:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
23 - 27 kg
50 - 60 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 8
6 - 9
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Water Dog, Water Rug
Korthals Griffon
Colors Available:
liver and white
steel gray with brown markings., White and brown, white and orange
Coat:
dense, waterproof, doublecoated
Medium length, wiry
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

The English Water Spaniel breed is extinct and has been since the early 1900’s. It was last seen in the 1930s. The breed was a hunting breed, diving for duck and hunting other waterfowl. Legend has it that Shakespeare was referring to this breed of dog in Macbeth when he refers to the “water rug”. Again, in Two Gentlemen of Verona one of the character states about another that “She hath more qualities than a water-spaniel.’

The English Water Spaniel came along before the Irish Water Spaniel and had a part in the development the Curly Coated Retriever, the American Water Spaniel and the Field Spaniel. The English Water Spaniel looks somewhat like a Poodle/Springer Spaniel cross or a Collie. It is not known whether the English Water Spaniel was part of the development of the Irish Water Spaniel.

When the English Water Spaniel was first developed the UKC had a “Water Spaniels other than Irish” and the English Water Spaniel had no standard written and accepted for it yet. But by 1967 the breed was extinct. Still the American Water Spaniel and the Flat Coated Retriever are believed to be descendants of the English Water Spaniel.

wirehaired pointing griffonKnown 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.

Description

Resembling the Springer Spaniel, poodle, collie and setter the English Water Spaniel has very little in common with the Irish Water Spaniel in respect to looks. The English has a narrow and somewhat longer head their than other spaniels and they have long furry ears. Their body is stout, and they are shaped like a barrel – more like a Clumber. With long legs and large feet, it is ready to take to the hunt. There coat was waterproof, and their toes were webbed.

wirehaired pointing griffon puppy - descriptionThe 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.

Characteristics

The English Water Spaniel was aloof with strangers but loyal with his hunter. He was a little stubborn and an excellent water dog. They loved being in the water and could enter it without making any noise so as not to frighten his prey. He was highly intelligent and trainable. He also was very affectionate with his people.

wirehaired pointing griffon dog - characteristicsThe 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.

Health Problems

The English Water Spaniel is a fairly healthy breed given to some fairly common disorders such as:

Hip Dysplasia

Can lead to lameness and arthritis

Cardiac abnormalities

Arterial fib and flutter and other problems that could lead to death.

Degenerative Myelopathy

This is a disease seem in several “Dwarf” breeds such as Corgis, as well as in many spaniels. This is the canine version of Lou Gehrig’s Disease or ALS and it is fatal.

wirehaired pointing griffon puppies - health problemsTo 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.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

The English Water Spaniel is not an overly energetic dog and has a tendency to over eat. Feed him 1 to 1.5 cups of high quality dry dog food over two meals each day.

Health issues

In addition to the health issues mentioned earlier, the English Water Spaniel is also prone to:

Baldness

Pattern baldness – is genetic and occurs on the neck and back of the hind legs.

Cataracts

English Water Spaniels can have these in old age like most other breeds.

Retinal Dysplasia

Clumps form in the retinal tissue and can lead to blindness

Exercise and games

The English Water Spaniel was a worker and an outdoor athlete at a time before organized canine games and activities such as agility and flyball. They loved to swim, and they loved to hunt. Without a job to do they could become barky and destructive.

Exercise:

wirehaired pointing griffon dogs - caringThis 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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. English Water Spaniel vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. English Water Spaniel vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. English Water Spaniel vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. English Water Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. English Water Spaniel vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. English Water Spaniel vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. English Water Spaniel vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. English Water Spaniel vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. English Water Spaniel vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. English Water Spaniel vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. English Water Spaniel vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. English Water Spaniel vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. English Water Spaniel vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. English Water Spaniel vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. English Water Spaniel vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. English Water Spaniel vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. English Water Spaniel vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. English Water Spaniel vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. English Water Spaniel vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. English Water Spaniel vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. English Water Spaniel vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. English Water Spaniel vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. English Water Spaniel vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. English Water Spaniel vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. English Water Spaniel vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison