GERMAN WIREHAIRED POINTER

I am soon to pick up my puppy from the breeder. Can anyone advise how best to socialise my new pup with my two cats ? Has anyone experienced any major problems ? Obviously, being a GWP they have a tendancy to view small furry creatures as prey. Can this type of behaviour be overcome through early socialisation ? This is one of those nature or nurture questions.

Also, if anyone has any specific tips on rearing a GWP puppy I would be very grateful.

Thanks a million !

Hi Sarah,

There is no reason why your gwp puppy should not grow up to respect the cats if it has had experience with them since being a young dog. Have you got a crate for your puppy? Maybe in the first instance you could put the puppy in the crate and let the cats go up to him/her so they can meet without any pressure. I imagine it will be the cats that will have more of a problem with their new guest than the GWP puppy!

Our GWPs live with Cocker Spaniel and we don't have any problems, there is no reason if temperament is good that there should be.
As for rearing your puppy the GWP are very clever and sensitive dogs. They require firm but fair training. The golden rule to remember is not to let your puppy do at 8 weeks what you wouldn't let it then go and do at 8 months or older! Lots of early socialisation, obedience classes and a good training programme should lead you to a happy GWP adult. Just ask your puppies breeder they should be happy to help and give you lots of information - they want you to enjoy your puppy too.

Have you bought the book German Wirehaired Pointers Today by Sharon Pinkerton? It is an excellent book giving you lots of information about the breed and is written by the most experienced breeder (25 years of living with the breed) in the UK. You can get it off amazon. This is the book we bought when we got our first wire.

I hope this helps you, good luck with your new puppy and have fun :)

Regards

Alex

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As Alex has already given you a lot of info on gwps and is certainly more knowledgeable on them than me (I've just got Harvey, my first gwp, who is 2), I'll just add that Harvey lives with 2 cats and we don't have any problems.

Helen

Dont sell yourself short Helen :)

Best wishes, John

No Helen don't do yourself short. You learn alot with your first GWP plus you have Harvey out working to a high standard and that's no small achievement. ;)

Alex

Thanks Alex and John. I don't like to give too much advice on wirehairs as Harvey is my first and I don't know whether the way he behaves is the norm. I've certainly learnt a lot from him and he is an absolute sweetheart.

Regarding his working standard, we didn't do a great deal to be honest as most of what he does is natural ability. We've just tweaked him a bit to get him to do what he does the way we want him <g>. He's back working in March so he's enjoying his winter rest at the moment!

Helen

The thing is Helen, how many Wires are there out on the Grouse moors working, pointing Grouse for the count each year. Yes, we never know if our first dog of a breed is an exception rather than the rule but you have worked wonders with your dog! He's out doing a job of work and this only happened because of the effort you put into it. He is a credit to you and your training abilites.

I know you won't sing your own praises so I'll do it for you. WELL DONE!

Best wishes, John

Thanks John :o That means a lot to me. :-)

Helen

You deserve a lot of credit Helen and thanks for the help you have given me as well

Thanks you guys for your tips, I appreciate it. I am really looking forward to bringing my Wire home and yes - I will enjoy my puppy !

Gwp & Cats :) hope he gets the message quicker than NED LOL
Joking apart Ned is my very first wire and apart from his obsession with my cat which is tedious he is brilliant after twenty years with labs he is so different,very affectionate and quick to learn but my poor cat is harrassed he just will not learn I took some brilliant picture sof him today in point mode watching the cat but forgot to take the lens cap off !!! oh well maybe next time :)

Hi Sarah

What breeding is your GWP?? Just being nosey <grin>

Alex

There is a new website just produced by a GWP breeder. It is very informative. We have GSPs and a GWP who lives quite happily with a Min Pin and we don't have any problems. They often curl up together.
If you e mail me I will give you the website as I am not sure if Admin will allow me to post a breeder site or not.
Sue

can you send me the link too?

I think it is fair to say that any responsible breeder offers help on introducing your puppy to existing cats, dogs etc. There are many good GWP sites on the breed including the main German Wirehaired Pointer Club one.

Regards

Alex

German Wirehaired Pointer Club