German wirehaired pointer, breed of large sporting dog developed in Germany in the mid-19th cent. It stands about 24 in. (61 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs about 60 lb (27 kg). Its harsh, wiry outercoat is flat-lying and approximately 1.5 in. (3.8 cm) long. The woolly undercoat is very dense in winter but thins out in the warmer months. Its color is usually liver and white or liver with white spotting or ticking, while the head and ears are brown. The tail is docked. The German wirehaired pointer is bred as an all-purpose retrieving pointer; its tough double coat allows it to hunt in the roughest underbrush and to withstand the iciest water. See dog.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Dogs
