Wirehaired Pointing Griffons

From

 

Ear Mountain Griffons

MY BOY GIFFORD

Griffons are the Ultimate Gun Dog and Family Companions. (See my comparison, below, relative to other breeds of dogs for some of the reasons I would choose a Griffon over GSP, GWP, Drahthaars, Fousiks, Brittanies and other breeds) *** They are gentle, think while they engage, are easy to train for a variety of activities, and are a walking hunter’s thinking dog. About half the pups we have sold are owned by avid hunters who use them while hunting upland game and for waterfowl retrieval. The other half are family pets, chosen by families who want a playful, relaxed and well-behaved companion.

In the field, they point solidly and work closely in the field, crossing the terrain in front of the hunter and making frequent directional changes in coordination with the hunter as he or she chooses areas of focus.

Griffons will track nearly any game, making them ideal for pheasant hunters who often wound a bird still capable of escape by running through the fields when downed. Since they track, they are also good for following mammals as part of a complete hunting experience.

And Griffons were bred to retrieve birds in rough water, so they function well in all sorts of waterfowl hunting. With an open and rough outer coat and a denser undercoat, they dry quickly and thus do not suffer long from being wet and cold. That rough outer coat is wonderful protection in thickets and brush and does not collect or become entangled in burrs. Since they do not truly shed (all animals cast off hairs), they are vastly superior in homes to dogs that lose huge clumps of hair.

Griffons are people dogs, so we do not recommend (indeed, will not permit) dogs to be placed in homes where they are routinely and customarily kenneled. Naturally, most of us need to confine a dog from time to time, for travel or when required to be away and unable to supervise our friend, but a Griffon does not repond well to being continually away from human contact.

Both in hunting, where they will sense the hunter’s movements and think along as the hunt progresses, and at home, where they engage family in a natural and ongoing process, Griffons are best suited for full owner and family interaction.

The initial breeding stock of this Kennel, Gifford and his daughter, Demi, have had extensive contact with energetic, playful and active children. In settings where young children are playing with dogs, Griffons shine. They enjoy kids and are warmly tolerant of rigorous play. Since inception, we have added Lou, a lovely, sweet and engaging mother and intense hunting companion.

My own grandson, then aged 4, loved Giff and Demi and crawled on them, leashed and dragged them about, tried to ride on them and generally ran them through their paces as part of the family. Naturally, we never condoned any rough treatment of the dogs, but sometimes the grandson got ahead of us and challenged the gentle disposition of our Griffs. Never did we have a time with the dogs when our grandson was at any risk or even when a growl or problem seemed imminent.

Unlike most breeds, Griffons are multi-purpose dogs. You sacrifice nothing as compared to any other pointer with a Griffon, but you also get a hardy retriever in water that will swim with labs and goldens and hang with you all day in the blind.

And if you want to track an opossum or raccoon, use a Griffon instead of a hound. And guess what, Griffons do not drool or slobber, so the rest of the time when you are not hot on the trail, it is lots more fun being around a Griffon.

*** I mean no disrespect to other breeds or to their owners, but I researched all the other breeds before getting my first Griffon. And I prefer Griffons for these reasons:

Unlike flushing breeds, which chase and scare birds and you have to scream at them to slow down or run behind them to get a shot unless they are very well trained, good pointers give you time to set up for the best shot. For upland game, grouse and sharptails, there is no better dog for hunting than a good, steady pointer.

There are many good breeds of pointer, and for some who want to compete in “Shoot to Retrieve” competitions, it would take a very hot Griffon to compete well. They move more methodically and stay in touch with the hunter, so, for Griffons, it is not about how fast you can find birds, but how WELL you find them with the hunter. I have a female Griffon which can compete with pretty hot runners, but I would still suggest you get a Brittany, German Shorthair or Wirehair or a Weimaraner instead if competing to see how fast you can fill your limit is your number one goal.

The problem with super hot scouring machines, is that they tend to be hyperactive, range out of sight unless tightly constrained and are fidgety as companions, especially if they are expected to be in the home as a family pet. German Wirehairs and Shorthairs can also be more aggressive with people and other dogs than are Griffons. Brittanies can be very hyperactive. And if you do not properly and gently expose a tightly strung breed of dog to the sound of gunshot, you might have a dog under the truck instead of retrieving the bird you shot. My experience with Griffons is that the gunshot is a call to the party, not a setting in which to find a hiding place.

Griffons are people - thinking and family - home dogs. If you wish to keep an animal in a kennel 11 ½ months a year, don’t get one. Other breeds seem to stand up better to being caged. Additionally, I won’t sell a pup to someone who does not have a place in the home for it. There is no sense in selling a pup into a setting where it will be unhappy and not perform well for its new owner.

Griffons are easy keepers: Most can be allowed to self-select food, so you don’t have to monitor or measure the portions. They shed very little and never in clumps, as a Golden Retriever or other long-haired breed will. Even in the Spring, a shower nets only 1 - 200 hairs in the drain.

And they typically do not collect burrs, except on the head, where there is softer hair. Fortunately, and this might amaze you, they will generally sit still while you remove anything that gets stuck on them. My Griffons got into a porcupine and I removed all the quills myself, with no-one even holding the dog as I removed them. Some were so imbedded that I needed pliers, and still Gifford stood fast as I removed the worst of the quills from the tenderest part of his upper and lower lips.

Griffons tend to bark very little and then only when there is something amiss around the home. Recently, I had a couple German Shorthairs in the kennel along side my Griffons. On any given day, one shorthair barked more than ten Griffons did in a week.

Look, I AM prejudiced, like most other people, I like what I have. But if you are LOOKING for a new pup, why not get one with characteristics which will suit you when hunting 10 or 20 days a year and will also be a joy to have the other 350 days each year? Call me - I would be happy to share what I know of my Griffons and why one of these pups would be a marvelous pet and companion for most dog lovers.

GIFF & MORGAN CRUISIN'

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Greg Curtis
PO Box 808
Choteau, MT 59422
406-466-2644
Email: earmtngriffons@gmail.com