Quail Ridge Griffons- Specializing in AKC Wirehaired Pointing Griffons: July 2009

Friday, July 17, 2009

Hunting with the Griffs!

Our son, Mitch, with "Sage" and "Cody" (R)

And below, the dogs doing what they love most. When they see that they are going to go hunting, they get energized! You can feel the excitement in them when they get loaded up to go. They also love running alongside (and around and about) the truck when we drive in the hills, scouting for game or just finding new roads.

Griffon "Pointers"

Some hunting breeds you keep around because they work at finding those birds several weeks a year; the other nine months you (or your family members!) tolerate them, because you know there's another bird season just around the corner. This is not the case with the Griffon!

Griffs are the perfect versatile hunter AND enjoyable companion/pet. Many hunting breeds are either too edgy to be enjoyable pets, or might be nice to keep as a pet, but just don't have the skills to be a great hunter. A well-loved, well-trained Griff may well be the best dog you will ever own. If you are looking for the perfect combination of stamina and keen hunting ability in a dog that is an affectionate, devoted family pet who is a pleasure to have around--all year-- you'll find it all in the lovable Griffon!

The WPG (Wire-haired Pointing Griffon) needs a LOT of attention and affection, so if you are looking for a dog who will be content to be kenneled a lot, keep looking. They are very intelligent and will become restless and destructive (barking, chewing, etc.) without enough attention. They become deeply devoted to their people, working to please you. It also means they need your attention in return, so be prepared to give them lots of love and affection.

While not as edgy as some hunters, the WPG is STILL an instinctive hunter (as well as just a dog!) who can be territorial, so this is where good training is essential. A loved, content dog who is connected to you and who wants to please you, will be more obedient and easier to train and control.

Another important fact to consider before committing to a Griff, is their need for exercise. Griffs are high-energy, high-endurance dogs bred for the long-haul hunter. So please plan for them to have plenty of space to run, and plenty to do to keep them occupied. The other side of the high-energy Griff coin, however, is that while they have long-stamina, they are not hyper. And when you are ready to come in and unwind, so are they. When their exercise needs are met, they are just as happy relaxing by your side. (Happier still with their head on your knee!)

Some Physical Traits of the Griff:

Griffons are born white with some brown patches. As the puppies mature, their fur will generally darken. They are typically brown or chestnut (reddish brown.) The patches will often blend in with age, so the markings they have as puppies may not be very visible as they get older.

Griffs have double coat, an under layer of smooth, short fur and a layer of longer brown, blond, white, or gray bristled fur overall, which may increase and lighten as the dogs mature. It's this longer fur, especially on the face, that gives them their distinctive Griff good looks! Some individuals have less of the longer hair, making their coats almost maintenance-free. Those with more of the long, scruffy hair require more maintenance, and is a little harder to keep clear of burs if you are taking them through a lot of brush. They don't shed much, so many people find them suitable as indoor pets.

Ya gotta love dogs!

Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really. ~Agnes Sligh Turnbull

My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet. ~Edith Wharton

We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. ~George Eliot

My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am. ~Author Unknown

Who knew that dog saliva can mend a broken heart? ~Jennifer Neal.

Happiness is a warm puppy. ~Charles M. Schulz

Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear. ~Dave Barry

Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies. ~Gene Hill

You ask of my companions. Hills, sir, and the sundown, and a dog as large as myself that my father bought me. They are better than human beings, because they know but do not tell. ~Emily Dickinson

If you can look at a dog and not feel vicarious excitement and affection, you must be a cat. ~Author Unknown

To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace. ~Milan Kundera