Welcome to the WPGCA
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| Casey Jr. of Valley House with Woodcock |
The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is the gundog supreme. OK, so maybe we’re a tad biased, but spend a little time in the field or just hanging around the house with one of our griffons, and you’ll understand why we’re so enthusiastic about the breed. For the uninitiated, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is one of the so-called versatile hunting breeds—intended to work with the on-foot hunter in pursuit of upland birds, waterfowl, furred game and even blood trailing big game. Beginning in the 1800s, Griffons were bred with the European sportsman in mind for whom it was impractical to house a kennel full of specialized dogs and who desired a companion dog too, not just a tool for finding game. Those qualities are exactly what today's North American counterpart seeks in a dog. Breeding that dog and promoting enjoyment of the breed is what the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Club of America is all about.
What Makes our Club Special?
Among North American breed clubs, the WPGCA is a unique group with these distinctive features:
- The WPGCA Breeding Program—breeding decisions are in the hands of the club's breeding committee rather than relying on individual dog owners to make decisions about which dogs are of breeding quality and which stud dogs should be bred with which females.
- Progeny Testing—each puppy resulting from a club-approved breeding is evaluated in a progeny testing program; the data from these tests is used to determine future breeding decisions.
- Judge Training—we train judges to evaluate versatile gundogs. Through its Education and Research Foundation, the WPGCA holds an annual seminar on judging related topics based on a current need. All prospective judges must meet strict standards to become eligible.
- Training/Exposure Days for Owners—Regional chapters of the WPGCA hold exposure/training days where club members help each other prepare their pups to become true versatile gundogs. In addition to these occasional events, the network of club members is always there to help owners to develop their dogs and to deal with training questions. Our Resources page and Discussion page are also great places to get advice.
Within our site, you'll find complete information on each regional chapter, answers to common questions about the breed and our organization, a detailed rationale for our breeding program, and a variety of resources for enjoying life with a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. Of course there’s a gallery chock full of griffon photos. So whether you just want to peruse some pictures, find out about upcoming club events, or carefully research the decision on your next hunting dog, we hope that you’ll find what you’re looking for here. Also, don't overlook our companion site ffor the Education and Research Foundation.