History and Origin: Originating in the Netherlands in the late 19th century. A Dutch breeder, Edward Korthals, is credited with being the creator, doing several crosses to other sporting dogs to produce the ‘supreme gun dog’. The breed is also known as the Korthals Griffon. Mr. Korthals continued his breeding pursuits into Germany and France in an effort to produce an all purpose dog that could point and retrieve in harsh unforgiving elements. The parent breed club is in France. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887.
General Appearance: A shaggy coated, sporting breed, medium size, sturdy, tail docked, heavy beard, moustache and full eyebrows. Amber or brown eyes. Nose always brown. Ears hang down and frame the head. Size: males 22-24 inches Weight: 50-70 pounds Females: 20-22 inches weight: 35-50 pounds
Coat and Colour: Double coated, medium length, wiry, coarse, and harsh feeling. Undercoat is soft and downy, lack of is a DQ. Hair on face, legs, and tail is short and dense. Coat has adapted for protection and should never be trimmed, sheared, cut or otherwise altered other than some minor stripping to tidy. It does need to be brushed regularly. Colours are typically grey with brown or chestnut.
Feeding: Nutritional needs are fairly simple. A premium brand of dog food fed once or twice a day with the addition of a probiotic is all that is necessary.
Training and Obedience: A very versatile breed capable of excelling in agility, obedience, dock diving, field trials, tracking, scent detection and as show dogs. Skilled at hunting upland birds, as well as waterfowl and large game. They can hunt in any terrain from fields to open water. A walking hunters gun dog as they work close .Biddable and easy to train. Intelligent. Always wanting to please.
Activity: a high energy breed, that thrives on an active lifestyle. Love to run in the bush and hike or jog but equally capable of being quiet when in the home.
Temperament: Soft and sweet, love their people, good with children and other dogs. Gentle and trust worthy. An excellent family companion.