Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Noir 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.

Known also as the Great Anglo-Francais, White and Black Hound or the Grand Anglo, the Francais Blanc et Noir is one of several breeds of hounds.

The dog was bred by crossing French scenthounds with English Foxhounds.The Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Noir has always been used for hunting. As a scenthound, hunting was always done in packs and he thrilled at the chase.

The large dog originates in France and is recognized by the French Kennel Club as well as the Federation Cynologique Internationale.The purpose of this breed standard is to provide guidelines for breeders wishing to maintain the quality of their breed, but to also improve it.

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 Grand Anglo – Francais Blanc et Noir is a big, powerful dog standing at 62 – 72cm and weighing 27 - 32kg. His chest is broad and deep.

The head is flat and broad, the nose black with gentle looking brown eyes. The coat is short and dense for protection and the coloring is black and white. There is a tan dot above each eye. The ears are floppy. The tail is long and tapers down to a slender point.

Temperament:

As a superb hunting dog, this breed lives for the hunt and loves nothing more than to be chasing its prey. The dog has an excellent sense of smell and can track prey in all kinds of terrain.

Although the dog has a stable temperament, he isn’t recommended as being kept solely as a pet, even though he is gentle with children. Maybe its because he has a more serious personality and would prefer to live with active, sport-loving adults than having to contend with the antics of children.

He also isn’t the best dog to have around other small pets as he is so prey-driven he may well be aggressive towards them.

He isn’t a city-loving dog and with his high energy levels he is best suited to properties with large gardens or to farm life. While he will bark and alert you to strangers, he won’t make a particularly good watchdog as he isn’t aggressive.

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.

Essentially known as a pack dog, the Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Noir isn’t going to do well with anyone who lazes on the couch all day.

He is energetic and driven, and will develop all kinds of behavioral issues if not properly and adequately exercised.

Fitting into a household where hunting is part of the lifestyle will be ideal for him, loving the outdoors and the stimulation that comes from hunting with other dogs.

Provide him with an outdoorsy, active owner and this hunting dog will ensure that he is your loyal and loving companion.

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.

Capable of reaching 10 to 12 years of age when looked after well, there aren’t any specific health issues with this dog. He is likely to experience one or two issues that other dogs have to contend with as well.

There are one or two diseases that you want to be aware of -

Ear Infections:

This dog has long, floppy ears and this means that air doesn’t reach inside the ears properly. He is therefore prone to ear infections. After he has been swimming, dry his ears gently inside.

Hip Dysplasia:

Unfortunately this is a disease that can strike even when your Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Noir is a puppy. Hips which aren’t formed properly can cause stiffness, pain and lameness in your pet.

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.

Grooming:

With his short coat and being an average shedder, the Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Noir is an easy dog to groom, requiring a brush twice a week.

Check his ears inside and out, particularly if he goes swimming. Excess moisture in the ear can encourage bacteria and ear infections. See that his nails are trimmed and remember to check his teeth for dental disease which can cause ill health generally.

Exercise:

As a hunting dog, he will need a good deal of exercise. He won’t be content to just go for a walk once a day, but will want something more hectic such as joining you as you go hiking, cycling, swimming or jogging.

Diet:

As a scenthound, your Grand Anglo – Francais Blanc et Noir is always out and about sniffing around looking for a tasty treat, but with these active dogs, the secret is to small, frequent meals as apposed to 1 or 2 large meals.

It is important to see he gets a nutritionally complete balanced diet that gives him slow release energy. Check with your vet if you’re unsure what to feed him. You want to avoid foods high in fillers, colorants and preservatives.

There are some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods for high energy dog,s but make sure to go for the best brands. You can mix his kibble with some raw meat occasionally and also give him cooked brown rice, chicken and vegetables. He’ll need a constant supply of fresh, cool water.