The GermanWirehaired Pointer Named Bailey

The German Wirehaired Pointer was a breed of dog created by the Germans, who wanted to breed an excellent hunting dog. Bailey, a dog I had adopted from the local animal shelter, was one of these dogs. Most likely he was a mutt; however several veterinarians and groomers told me he was indeed a German Wirehaired Pointer. When the Germans were breeding these dogs they bred them with Poodle, Pointer, and the German Pointer called the Pudelpointer,and the Foxhound.

Germans continue to breed German Wirehaired Pointers; however the standard dogs for breeding are Poodle, Pointer and Foxhound. One of the distinct features of this breed are their yellow eyes.

The books and articles I read were practically describing my dog. Bailey loved to hunt and one occasion I had the opportunity to see him point. I discovered his love of hunting while we got to know each other. Many years ago I watched him chase after a bug and eat it. At the time it wasn't uncommon to have house spiders too; tiny, yellowish and clear they left cocoons instead of webs.

The first years of Bailey's life; and armed with the knowledge that he will eat bugs; I called for him and said "Get the spider." I pointed to it and he played with it and pawed at it. He let it crawl on his face but in the end he would eat the spider. After awhile every insect was called a spider and he ate all of them with the exception of ants.

He would hunt and kill birds and mice. These dogs are very visual unlike the Beagle with their nose to the ground. Bailey's vision seemed to surpass his sense of smell.

I quickly discovered how high Bailey's energy level was and how I was thankful for a backyard. I never saw a dog run so fast. If you think a German Wirehaired Pointer is the dog for you; then be prepared to take walks and give him or her the room to run. This breed is happiest when he has something to do.

If you don't want a dog that sheds often or you don't have the time to brush this type of dog then the GWP is not for you. Bailey's wirehaired coat would get fluffy and long. If a dog like this is not groomed regularly the dog will suffer.

I have seen mats of hair on other dogs and cats and it is not pleasant. Attempting to cut mats out of any animal can be dangerous. You may think you have the dog's mat in your hand but inside that mat could be skin too.

The reason mats are painful is the skin slowly grows into the mat, twisting and pulling on the skin. This makes your pet very uncomfortable. It is advisable that you bring your pet to the groomers even if they have short hair. Groomers can check for ticks, fleas and skin ailments you might not notice.

Also, dogs can be notorious for eating things not meant to be eaten or not meant for them. This can upset their stomachs. The first time this happened to Bailey, it was a mess of dog poo and fur. I had to get elbow length gloves, a friend to help and dog shampoo. Normally I could bath Bailey myself, however all the frantic scooting on his bum, made the cleaning experience, for him, even more uncomfortable.

From that day forward, he was shaved regularly. If I couldn't get an appointment, my groomer would let me bring him in, not charge me and shave the fur off the underside of his tail and that whole area. I find it humorous now, how concerned I was about my dogs rear-end. If it wasn't done though, it wasn't just an inconvenience to me. I was more concerned for Bailey's health and comfort.

German Wiredhaired pointers make great family pets and are good around children. They don't get along well with cats. Bailey liked to torment them but was tough when trying to play with them. They are very loyal dogs and crave attention. They can get easily bored for lack of excersize and will act out on that built up energy.

They don't mean to misbehave, what they need is something to do. Taking care of any pet is time consuming. With a working dog even more so. To this day I wish I had exercised him more. If you decide you would like to adopt this breed; the best way to get them on a routine is to have them do something for you, every time you interact with them. Whether it is sit or stay and even if it is for no reason. They will do it, and if you work them hard enough they will be too tired to get into any trouble. And they will be happier for it.

The best toys for these dogs are heavy duty. Rope toys and stuffed animals can be destroyed within a half hour and they will eat it. Tennis balls are a great toy once they pass the chewing stage. Before that they will nibble the yellow fur off the ball and crack it in half.

The German Wiredhaired pointer makes for a fabulous pet. Their hyper active, full of energy dogs, that make you know they are in the house. Bailey had a fun, silly personality and was very clever. He was also easy to train even many years after being a puppy. Yes, old dogs can learn new tricks. He was a cherished pet and I type this to share with you, many of the things I didn't know when adopting a pet and what I had learned along the way.

If I were to adopt Bailey all over again I would have used my own advice the first day he came home with me. Adopting a dog and choosing a breed that fits into your life is essential for a happy life for you and your pet. Bailey was abandoned at four months old. I don't know who could have done that. Maybe his high energy level was too much for someone. But in the end I was blessed to have found him.