When I picked up Tinsel from the breeder I had a few questions on training. For example: How harsh is too harsh a command? Will I have to run 10 miles a day just for them to be sane in my house, since I have 3 children?  You know what to expect when you have a genetically bred hunting dog. Research I did before gave me an idea, but not until the breeder showed me did I understand. 

  The breeder had Tinsel sitting with in 5 commands on pick up day. It was positive reinforcement training. You have a treat in your hand, hold the treat just above and slightly back from the head the pup sits. As you are doing this you give the command. At 7 weeks Tinsel had "Sit" under her belt. What I am trying to say is:  this breed excels in positive reinforcement training. They want to please their humans. 

   Exercising is a must for this breed. No, this does not have to be 10 miles, but they do need a good walk or jog.  These dogs are bred to hunt meaning they need a job to do. So, if they are not training for something then you need to give them outside/ outdoor stimulation. These are not couch potatoes. Yes, my Griffs come in the house and when a blizzard hits South Dakota they only go outside to do their business, but on a routine basis they are taken on a jaunt on our 20 acre farm. If the horses are out in the field they will run with them. I know of Griffs  whose families do not hunt so they go hiking, train for rally or agility, and dog dive. What I am trying to get across is Griffs can be potty trained to live in the house with their humans, but they are not a dog that can handle no activity such as living in kennel until hunting season or taken on a 5 minute saunter a day.  

   One last thought... Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are born to be versatile hunters but their "light bulb" has to be nurtured. When this does happen they will point or flush every squirrel or rabbit that you weren't planning on hunting while taking an in-town stroll or at the neighbor's house. So commands such as: leave it and heel are important tools for those times. Even here on the farm I have to be aware of the critters that track through the fields and make sure the Griffs are continually reminded the basics of their training. Most of the time Vivi, Lane and Kimber do these for me in the kitchen or in the yard. Jake does it out on the tractor usually pushing snow.

    All in all, Griffs are great family dogs because of their trainability, activity level and willingness to please.