Havapoo vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison

Medium to large sized, the German Wirehaired Pointer is a griffon type dog breed hailing from Germany and developed for hunting purposes in the 19th century.

Known as the Drahthaar in Germany, the dog is a mix of griffon, Deutscher Stichelhaar, German Shorthaired Pointer, Deutscher Kurzhaar as well as the Pudelpointer.

He was imported into the United States in the 1920s, and it was in 1953 that the German Drahthaar Club of America was formed.

The Havapoo is usually a cross with a miniature Poodle and a Havanese but other poodle sizes such as the toy can be used. This is a fairly new cross breed just getting the attention of the American public. The result is a friendly, small dog. They have a striking appearance and lovable personality. They are easy to train and very smart. Not much is know about their heritage except that they were developed in the United States sometime in the past 30 years. Given the long history of the parental breeds, you can count on the quality and beauty of the Havapoo.

Well muscled, this is a medium to large sized dog standing at between 57 and 68cm in height and weighing between 27 and 32kg.

He has a weather resistant wiry coat which is of medium length and which is wiry and harsh. Coat color is liver and white as well as black flecked.The undercoat provides insulation against the cold.

He has quite a bit of facial hair in terms of eyebrows, beard and whiskers.He has webbed feet, typical of German Pointers. His tail is docked to about two-fifths of its natural length, but these days it is often left long.

Temperament:

Lively, playful, affectionate and intelligent, the German Wirehaired Pointer is easy to teach. He becomes wonderfully obedient with training and socialization and responds well to instructions to sit, come and stay.

He is an active dog and likes to be involved in the activities that his human family are involved in. He becomes bored and frustrated when he doesn’t get the exercise and attention he craves.

He isn’t suited to life in the city where the premises are small as he needs plenty of vigorous exercise every day. They do well in the country where they have plenty of place to run and where their hunting skills come into action.

The look of the Havapoo is unpredictable in first generation mixes as the puppies can appear like either of the parents. Most however have carried on the facial features of the Havanese. They usually have soft coats with hypoallergenic fur that comes in brown, black, grey, white and tan. The white dogs tend to be deaf or perhaps even blind. They are really good looking dogs whichever parent they favor.

German Wirehaired Pointers make awesome pets as they’re lively, playful, social and loving. They particularly suit living in a home where the people are active, outdoor types.

They make superb jogging- or cycling companions and will thrive on sharing these activities with a family member. He is a dog who has a need to be loved and included in all that his family gets up to. He wants lots of pats and stroking to show him that you care.

Give him the love and care he craves and you’re guaranteed to have the most wonderful loving pet.

1Children friendliness yes but monitor their interaction so the dog does not get hurt. 2.Special talents highly intelligent and love to run 3.Adaptability Home or apartment is fine but would love a fenced yard to run in. 4.Learning ability very high smart and loves to learn

German Wirehairs are generally healthy, and when you look after them well they can reach 12, 13 or 14 years of age. Also, if both German Wirehaired Pointer parents have certificates proving they were tested and cleared of hip dysplasia, hereditary eye diseases and blood-clotting disease, then your pet will have less risk of developing these conditions.

Your pet isn’t likely to get sick, but like all breeds of dogs, they're prone to certain diseases and conditions. Hip Dysplasia is something that can be noticed when your pet is still a puppy.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a heritable condition where the thigh bone doesn't fit properly into the hip joint. Your dog can battle with pain so that he no longer wants to play, he battles to get up after lying down and he may even begin to show signs of lameness. Arthritis can develop too.

Cataracts:

You’ll notice cloudiness on the eye lens that can grow over time. Not all cataracts impair vision, although there are some instances where vision loss is experienced. Cataracts can sometimes be surgically removed with good results.

Even though first generation mixes have no genetic health issues. There are however some issues they are prone to: • Deafness - primarily in the white dogs, nothing can be done for it. • Cataracts – can lead to blindness • Hypothyroidism – can be medicated • Hip Dysplasia – can lead to lameness • Patellar Luxation – can lead to lameness

Your German Wirehaired Pointer isn’t a heavy shedder so brushing his coat twice a week will be ideal for him to rid the coat of loose hairs.

Diet:

Your German Wirehaired Pointer is an active dog and this has to be taken into account when looking at diet. He will require a diet with quality protein. You’ve also got to look at things such as whether your dog is neutered or spayed as they require less calories. On the other hand there are dogs that will require more calories because of their activity levels.

Make sure your German Wirehaired Pointer eats a top quality dog food. Add in some homemade food such as cooked brown rice, chicken and vegetables from time to time as well as some raw meat. You have to constantly remember that your dog’s health depends on the nutrition you provide.

1Feeding the puppy – feed a high quality puppy food for small or toy dogs. Feed 3-4 times a day a total or 1 cup. 2.Feeding the adult - feed a high quality puppy food for small or toy dogs. Feed 3-4 times a day a total of 2 cups 3.Points for Good Health – overall good health 4. Games and Exercises – needs some moderate exercise and would love a fenced yard to run in. Will play fetch and some are good at agility.