Korthals Griffon: a rough coat with its own care needs
The Korthals Griffon has a slightly elongated body beneath harsh outer hair and finer undercoat. Its beard and brows give a rough appearance, but that outline should not hide the need for regular combing and inspection. The AKC care source uses the name Wirehaired Pointing Griffon for this breed.
Proportion and measurements
The UK guide describes an 11:10 body-length-to-height proportion and heights of 55–60 cm for males and 50–55 cm for females. FCI describes a body slightly longer than its height and gives approximately those height ranges. Neither supplies a numerical weight here. Keep the qualification approximately when discussing FCI size, rather than turning the figures into an exact individual growth target.
Texture and regular grooming
The outer coat is harsh and bristly rather than curly or woolly, with fine undercoat. AKC suggests weekly brushing and combing, occasional trimming around the feet and ears, nail care and tooth brushing. Some coats may need periodic hand stripping; that is a coat-dependent option to discuss with a knowledgeable groomer, not an instruction that every owner must perform it on a fixed schedule.
Checks around the ears
Include regular ear checks and appropriate cleaning in the handling routine. Discuss any work inside the ear canal with a qualified professional who can assess the individual dog, rather than treating it as a routine home task. Keeping visible furnishing hair tidy is a different task from removing hair inside an ear. A practical care plan should distinguish what the owner can comfortably check from work needing demonstration.
Activity and comparisons
The UK guide places exercise above two hours daily and grooming more than weekly, with a large country house and garden. AKC describes daily physical and mental activity shared with the owner. Shared walks and varied activities need their own time alongside the weekly grooming session. Compare the curly Lagotto and Barbet for their different coat textures and trimming methods; their similar outdoor associations do not make their grooming programmes substitutes for this rough coat.
Sources and further reading
Korthals Griffon (Imp) at a glance
These earlier UK breed guides are starting points for comparison. Details may have changed, and individual dogs vary.
- Breed group
- Gundog
- Size
- Large
- Daily exercise
- More than 2 hours per day
- Grooming frequency
- More than once a week
- Coat length
- Medium
- Sheds
- Yes
- Suggested home size
- Large house
- Town or country
- Country
- Garden recommendation
- Large garden
- Lifespan
- Over 10 years
FCI breed standard
Standard guidance describes the breed ideal; individual dogs vary.
- Origin
- France
- Group
- 7 - Pointing Dogs
- Section
- 1.3 - Continental Pointing Dogs, « Griffon » type
- Height
- Males: About 55–60 cm; Females: About 50–55 cm
- Weight
- Not specified in this standard
Official FCI standard (PDF)
Standard effective from 2023-08-01; checked 2026-10-15





