Breed History
Gregor Mendels groundbreaking work on genetics led to a more deliberate and scientific method of dog breeding during the 19th century, which would give rise to many new breeds, among them the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon....
This breed was the brainchild of a Dutch sportsman named Eduard Korthals, who was interested in combining many of the sporting dogs of his time with the purpose of creating a uniquely versatile breed. Dozens of dogs were bred in this pursuit, including Boulets and Barbets, as well as various griffons, pointers, setters, spaniels and retrievers. The new breed began to take shape in 1874, and soon after Korthals began touring France with the dogs, where they immediately caught on; the breed would soon come to be strongly identified with the French despite its Dutch origins. The dogs ability to retrieve, point and track by scent made it very popular in the field. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887, though at the time it was known as the Russian Setter (another inaccurate national identity). The breed steadily climbed in popularity up until World War II, when its numbers dipped significantly. The Wirehaired Griffon never recovered its popularity, and today the breed has a small but loyal following.